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Surgery Choices for Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer
    Posted: 10/22/2004
Step 4: Compare Your Choices

5. Will I have feeling in the area around my breast?

Breast-Sparing Surgery Mastectomy Surgery Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Surgery
Yes. You should still have feeling in your breast, nipple, and areola (the dark area around your nipple). Maybe. After surgery, you will feel numb (have no feeling) in your chest wall and maybe also under your arm.

This numb feeling should go away in 1 to 2 years, but it will never feel like it used to. Also, the skin where your breast was may feel tight.

 No. The area around your breast will always be numb (have no feeling).

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1http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/breast-cancer-surgery-choices/page5