flying 2 weeks after mastectomy

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Balbina
Balbina Member Posts: 5
edited June 2016 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

Hello Ladies,

I am new here and this is my first post. I have recently been diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma with some node involvement. I am supposed to have a mastectomy with level 1 and 2 nodes removal.

I need to travel for 2-3 weeks to Europe and I am trying to decide if I should have my surgery first or postpone it.

My surgeon says it would be OK to fly after 2 weeks as the drain (drains) should be out, but I am quite worried about a long, 10 hour flight both ways and about any complications during my trip.

On the other hand, waiting another month with the surgery can be quite stressful as well.

What would you advise me to do? How long is the recovery after this type of surgery?

How many weeks it took you to feel better?

Thanks so much!



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Comments

  • muska
    muska Member Posts: 1,195
    edited June 2016

    You didn't mention whether you would be getting single or bilateral mastectomy and whether reconstruction would be done at the same time as mastectomy. After BMX + reconstruction the healing takes longer than after mastectomy alone.

    I had a successful BMX + reconstruction and healed well afterwards but had to have drains for five weeks. Having drains for that long is more of an exception but I doubt anybody can predict the exact amount of time one would need drains.

    I would probably postpone the surgery after you return from Europe - unless there are very serious medical reasons to have it right away.

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  • xxyzed
    xxyzed Member Posts: 230
    edited June 2016

    I am 2 weeks out from surgery today. My drains came out at day 8 and I have had no complications so far. I feel I am recovering well. Yesterday was the first day mentally I felt I could complete tasks without having to really concentrate on them. Physically I can do my normal tasks for about an hour before I feel like I have overdone it and need a rest for an hour. I really don't think I could sit on a plane for 10 hours. I suppose if I was heavily medicated for the flight I probably could. I expect i will continue to recover and could manage it just fine in a week or two but what you're considering at two weeks out would be too much for me. Your other concern should be your high risk of Lymphadema with your axillary node dissection. Flying can be a further risk factor and at two weeks out you will not have learnt how to practically manage these risks

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  • Maya15
    Maya15 Member Posts: 323
    edited June 2016

    Welcome and sorry for your diagnosis. No way would I go on a 10 hour flight that soon after surgery. I am also 2 weeks out and drains just came out today. When they come out depends on how much they output and you may have them more than 2 weeks. I couldn't navigate an airport, security lines etc and I think you'd be pretty much guaranteed to get lymphedema. I am healing well but things are far from back to normal where the lymph nodes were removed. I was told no flying for 6 weeks. Then there is no knowing what complications you could get (if you read through the May surgeries thread it will give you an idea).

    I think what I would do would depend on the reason for visiting Europe. If it's a holiday, I would cancel it and have the surgery, then take the holiday another time. Almost any airline will give you a full refund with proof of a cancer diagnosis even without travel insurance (did it myself when diagnosed). If you're travelling for an unmissable event like a wedding etc, I would postpone the surgery.

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  • Balbina
    Balbina Member Posts: 5
    edited June 2016

    Thank you so much to all the Ladies for tuning in and offering some advice and support. Based on your replies, I decided to take a quick trip first and I scheduled my surgery after my return.

    I will talk to you soon!

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited June 2016

    Balbina - that is the best decision for your health! You will be happy you did it that way.


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