What are the risks of Mastectomy:

Mastectomy is commonly performed and generally safe. However, in order to make an informed decision and give your consent, you need to be aware of the possible side-effects and the risk of complications of this procedure.

Side-effects

These are the unwanted, but mostly temporary effects of a successful treatment, for example feeling ill as a result of the general anaesthetic and swelling around your wound.

Side-effects of a mastectomy include:

• Pain or tightness in your breast area and in your arm and shoulder, especially if you have had all your lymph glands removed

• Numbness and tingling in your upper arm - this usually goes away within a few months of your operation, but you should contact your breast care nurse if it doesn't

• A scar - the appearance will depend on the type of surgery. Ask your surgeon what to expect

• Fluid collection (seroma) around your operation site - this is usually absorbed within a few weeks but may need to be drained if it's large or uncomfortable

• Infection of the operation site - you may need antibiotics to treat an infection

Complications

This is when problems occur during or after the operation. Most women aren't affected. The possible complications of any operation include an unexpected reaction to the anaesthetic, excessive bleeding or developing a blood clot, usually in a vein in the leg (deep vein thrombosis, DVT).

Specific complications of mastectomy are rare but can include:

• Pain from your armpit to your hand (cording). It can be treated with physiotherapy and antibiotics, but may last months and may re-occur

• A build up of fluid (lymphoedema) in your arm making it swollen and painful - it can occur months or years after surgery

• Pain and sensations (such as numbness or "pins and needles") around the operation site, which can last for years after surgery (post-mastectomy pain syndrome)

The exact risks are specific to you and will differ for every person, so we have not included statistics here. Ask your surgeon to explain how these risks apply to you.