Treating and Preventing Breast Cancer

A mastectomy is usually recommended to treat existing breast cancer, particularly where the cancer is more widespread within the breast or where breast-conserving surgery (removing just the lump) isn't a suitable option. Detecting and treating breast cancer early gives the best chance of a successful, full recovery.

For those at very high genetic risk, a preventive (prophylactic) mastectomy on a currently healthy breast can substantially lower the chances of developing breast cancer in future — by as much as 90% for some high-risk individuals — though it's a significant decision, and your care team can talk through the benefits and risks in detail before deciding what's right for you.

Getting Ready

Before your operation, you'll usually have a pre-assessment appointment to check your general health, which may include blood tests, X-rays, or a heart tracing (ECG). This is also a good opportunity to ask your surgeon or specialist nurse any questions about the procedure and what to expect afterwards.

You'll typically be asked not to eat or drink for several hours before surgery, and to avoid smoking for a few weeks beforehand if you smoke, since this can affect healing and increase surgical risks. Compression socks may also be offered, to help lower the risk of blood clots.

Most people go home either the same day as surgery or the day after, though if reconstruction is done at the same time, a longer hospital stay of a few days is more common, depending on the type of reconstruction.

What to Expect Afterwards

Recovery generally takes several weeks, with many people able to return to most usual activities around 3 weeks after surgery, though this varies from person to person, and wounds typically take about 6 weeks to fully heal. It's normal to feel tired, sore, and a little swollen or bruised around the wound in the early days — painkillers can help manage this, and your team will show you how to look after your wound before you go home.

Getting moving gently as soon as you feel able generally helps recovery and reduces the risk of complications, though it's important to be guided by your own comfort and your care team's advice rather than rushing. If you've had a mastectomy without reconstruction, you'll usually be given a soft, lightweight prosthesis to wear inside a comfortable, non-underwired bra while your wound heals.

Results from the tissue removed during surgery usually take a few weeks to come back, and your surgeon will discuss these with you along with any further treatment that might be needed, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or hormone therapy.