National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute
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Surgery Choices for Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer
    Posted: 10/22/2004
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 1" box and "Resources to Learn More 2."
  • 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 1" box and "Resources to Learn More 2."
  • 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 1" box and "Resources to Learn More 2."

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Table of Links

1http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/breast-cancer-surgery-choices/page3#aboutlym
phnodes
2http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/breast-cancer-surgery-choices/page8
3http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/breast-cancer-surgery-choices/page5