For many years a mastectomy was quite a major operation in which not only the breast was removed but also the underlying muscles on the chest and all the lymph glands under the arm on that side. This was known as a radical mastectomy.

In more recent times it has been realised that a less extensive operation, sparing the muscles on the chest wall, is just as effective for the great majority of women. This is known as a simple mastectomy.

Although for many women the loss of a breast is, very understandably, emotionally upsetting a simple mastectomy is actually a straightforward operation and recovery is usually very rapid.

In the UK the average stay in hospital after a mastectomy is 7 days. Some hospitals have even looked at the possibility of more rapid discharge after surgery and have found that younger, fitter women who have good family support and back up from their community nurses and GPs are safe to go home 2 to 3 days after surgery.

Each of us is unique and this means we all respond differently to any given situation. Some women will take longer to recover than others after a mastectomy. There is generally a tendency for older women to recover a little more slowly than younger women. Having said this, for the majority of women it should be possible to get back to gentle everyday activities within a couple of weeks of surgery.

These days every Breast Surgery Team at hospital will include one or more specialist Breast Care Nurses and they will give you and your mother detailed guidance on what she can and cannot do after surgery. They will also monitor her progress after the operation and ensure she does not go home until they are certain she will be able to cope.