Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Get Started

Free

E-Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer

How you prepare

By Mayo Clinic staff

Before your surgery, you'll meet with a surgeon, and perhaps an anesthesiologist, to discuss your operation, review your medical history and determine the plan for your anesthesia. This is a good time to ask questions and to make sure you understand the procedure, including the reasons for and risks of the surgery. One important issue to discuss is whether you'll have breast reconstruction and when. One option may be to have the reconstruction done immediately after your mastectomy, while you're still anesthetized. Breast reconstruction may involve:

  • Using breast expanders or gel or silicone implants
  • Using your body's own tissue (autologous tissue reconstruction)
  • Using a combination of tissue reconstruction and implants

Breast reconstruction is a complex procedure performed by a plastic surgeon, also called a reconstructive surgeon. If you're planning breast reconstruction at the same time as mastectomy, you'll meet with the plastic surgeon before the surgery. Some doctors, called oncoplastic surgeons, are trained to do both mastectomy and reconstruction.

You'll be given instructions about any restrictions before surgery and other things you need to know, including:

  • Tell your doctor about any medications, vitamins or supplements you're taking. Some substances could interfere with the surgery.
  • Stop taking aspirin or other blood-thinning medication. A week or longer before your surgery, avoid medications that can increase your risk of excessive bleeding. These include aspirin, ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants) such as warfarin (Coumadin).
  • Don't eat or drink eight to 12 hours before surgery.
What you can expect Risks
References
  1. Kass RB, et al. Breast procedures. In: Souba W, et al. ACS Surgery: Principles and Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: BC Decker Inc.; 2007.
  2. Benson JR, et al. Early breast cancer. The Lancet. 2009;373:1463.
  3. Breast cancer. Merck Manuals Online Medical Library for Health Care Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec18/ch253/ch253e.html. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.
  4. Sabel MS, et al. Mastectomy and breast conserving therapy for invasive breast cancer. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.
  5. Breast cancer. NCCN Practice Guidelines in Oncology - v. 1.2009. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/f_guidelines.asp. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.
  6. Iglehart JD, et al. Surgical treatment of breast cancer. In: Townsend CM, et al. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery, 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders, 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/154656547-3/875806831/1565/335.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3675-3.50038-1--cesec62_1699. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.
  7. Hayes DF. An overview of breast cancer and treatment for early stage disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.
  8. Surgery for breast cancer. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Surgery_5.asp?sitearea=. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.
  9. Mastectomy. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002919.htm. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.
  10. Giuliano AE. Breast. In: Doherty GM, et al. Current Surgical Diagnosis & Treatment. McGraw-Hill's AccessMedicine. http://www.accessmedicine.com/popup.aspx?aID=2064014&pr. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.
  11. What's new in breast cancer research and treatment? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_6X_ _Whats_new_in_breast_cancer_research_and_treatment_5.asp?rnav=cri. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.
  12. Abeloff MD, et al. Cancer of the breast. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology, 4th Ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2008.  http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/159336554-2/0/1565/335.html?tocnode=54737888&fromURL=335.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3675-3..50038-1--cesec57_1694. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.
  13. Breast cancer treatment (PDQ). National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/breast/HealthProfessional. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.
  14. Phan GQ, et al. Breast diseases. In: Klingensmith ME, et al. The Washington Manual of Surgery. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins;2008. http://ovidsp.tx.ovid.com/spb/ovidweb.cgi QS2=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. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.

MY00943

Oct. 17, 2009

© 1998-2010 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Print Share Reprints

Text Size: smaller largerlarger