Breast cancer is a menace that plagues about 1 in every 8 women. Despite putting up a spirited fight against this scourge of a disease, breast cancer still rears its ugly head into our lives. Fortunately, mastectomy always comes to the rescue.

Though we’ve concluded World Cancer Day, the campaign to raise cancer awareness and prevention is far from over. Breast cancer is the perfect place to start, seeing that it affects a huge share of the earth’s population either directly or indirectly.

A people united shall never fall. That’s why this piece will highlight some incredible mastectomy recovery tips. You can share the knowledge and information with your affected family, friends, and even enemies from a long shot.

However, first, let’s look at some ways to reduce your chances of preventing breast cancer.

Ways to Reduce Your Chances of Getting Breast Cancer

If you’re worried about developing breast cancer, then don’t be ashamed. Plenty of women are in the same boat. While there’s no sure cure for breast cancer, certain lifestyle changes could drastically decrease your chances of developing breast cancer.

If you want to keep breast cancer at bay, here are some things you could do:

Put down the cigarettes- smoking has never been an endearing habit. However, if it can put you at risk of getting breast cancer, then it’s best to abandon the habit entirely.

Cut down your alcohol consumption- Alcohol goes hand in hand with cigarette smoking. Go for only one drink a day because the more you drink, the greater the chances of developing cancer.

Watch your weight- This is like killing two birds with one stone. On the one hand, you decrease your chances of developing breast cancer, and on the other hand, you get that killer body you’ve always wanted.

Breast-feeding- Not a lot of people know this, but breastfeeding can help prevent breast cancer. Actually, the longer you breastfeed, the lesser your chance of developing breast cancer.

Three Amazing Mastectomy Recovery Tips for Conquerors of Breast Cancer

Your whole life can crumble down once you receive a breast cancer diagnosis. However, you shouldn’t lose all hopes. You’re not the first one to have breast cancer, and neither will you be the last.

Thankfully, mastectomy and reconstruction is a viable solution to eradicate breast cancer, especially in its early stages. Mastectomy is the removal of breast tissue and sometimes the nipple to eradicate cancerous cells.

Yes, mastectomy is pretty effective in removing breast cancer, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. If you’re about to embark or just completed a mastectomy journey, here are a couple of tips to help you in the recovery:

1. Have the Preparation on Lock

Preparing well for the mastectomy will take you halfway through the recovery journey. Be prepared to spend at least two to three days in the hospital for your mastectomy.

That said, remember to pack adequately for your entire stay. Some essentials you should never forget include loose tops, zip-up hoodies, or any other loose clothing. The hospital will surely provide the rest.

Nothing too tight, as you need to allow room for the tubes to pass through during surgery. Also, you don’t want your clothes pressing over your wound after the surgery.

2. Get Plenty of Rest

Never underestimate the seriousness of a mastectomy. After this surgery, your body needs plenty of rest to recover to its optimum state. Lots of rest also accelerates the healing process, so you heal faster.

Avoid activities that are too strenuous. You can save them for after your recovery. Also, try to get as much as eight hours of sleep every night, but remember, avoid sleeping on your tummy.

3. The Hospital Recovery Period

You’ll stay a while in the hospital before the doctor gives you the go-ahead to leave for home. This hospital stay period is crucial in your overall healing.

During your initial stages of healing, you’ll be in the recovery room. Here doctors keep a close watch over you in case of anything out of the ordinary. They also keep track of your vitals, including your heart rate and blood pressure.

When everything looks okay, the medics will transfer you to a normal hospital room. You may receive some pain medication during this period to manage any discomfort.

During your hospital stay, here’s a couple of things you should do to make the most of your recovery.

Don’t remove any drain pipes- You’ll have a number of them on your chest, and boy do they suck. However, each of these pipes has a function that ultimately benefits your recovery and health. Fortunately, you can ask for pain medication to manage the pain and discomfort from these drains.

Always follow the doctor’s instructions- We tend to think better, but not better than a certified medic with over five years of medical education and another fifteen experience to add to his portfolio.

So you’re better placed following your doctor’s advice to the letter.

Recovery Tips for When You Get Home

Once the doctor deems you as fit you go home, you can take your breast cancer-conquering-self back home. That said, going home doesn’t mean you can kick your feet up and relax. The battle rages on even at home.

Here are a few tips for home recovery:

Appropriate clothing- Loose clothing should be your preferred wardrobe choice. When it comes to fabric, think along the lines of cotton, modal, or jersey.

A mastectomy bra is always an ideal choice for a post-mastectomy bra. To find out more on these bras, check that link.

Expect to be emotional- If you find yourself being very emotional, it’s nothing out-of-the-ordinary. Try your best to not let these emotions get the best of you.

Care for your drain pipes- in case you still have them with you at home.

Mastectomy Recovery Boils Down to You

Having conquered breast cancer, recovering from a mastectomy should be nothing difficult. With these few mastectomy recovery tips, you’re well on your way to completely recovering from your mastectomy and beating breast cancer hand down.

For more informative pieces, be sure to check out our other pieces and learn another thing or two today.