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



Introduction






Step 1: Talk with your surgeon






Step 2: Learn the facts






Step 3. Find out about your surgery choices






Step 4: Compare your choices






Step 5: Think about what is important to you






Step 6: Make your choice






Resources to Learn More



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Step 4: Compare Your Choices

7. What other problems can I expect?

Breast-Sparing Surgery Mastectomy Surgery Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Surgery
  • You may feel very tired after radiation therapy.
  • You may get lymphedema-- a problem in which your arm swells.To find out more about lymphedema, see the "About Lymph Nodes" box and "Resources to Learn More."
  • You may have pain in your neck or back.
  • You may feel out of balance if you had large breasts and do not have reconstruction surgery.
  • You may get lymphedema-- a problem in which your arm swells.To find out more about lymphedema, see the "About Lymph Nodes" box and "Resources to Learn More."
  • It may take you many weeks or even months to recover from breast reconstruction surgery.
  • If you have an implant, you may get infections, pain, or hardness. Also, you may not like how your breast-like shape looks.You may need more surgery if your implant breaks or leaks.
  • If you have tissue flap surgery, you may lose strength in the part of your body where the flap came from.
  • You may get lymphedema-- a problem in which your arm swells.To find out more about lymphedema, see the "About Lymph Nodes" box and "Resources to Learn More."

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