Recovery and follow-up

Recovery

Most women with breast cancer have an operation as part of their treatment. Getting back to normal after surgery can take some time. It's important to take things slowly and give yourself time to recover.

During this time, avoid lifting things – for example, children or heavy shopping bags – and avoid heavy housework. You may also be advised not to drive.

Read more about recovering from an operation.

Some other treatments, particularly radiotherapy and chemotherapy, can make you very tired. You may need to take a break from some of your normal activities for a while. Don't be afraid to ask for practical help from family and friends.

Follow-up

After your treatment has finished, you'll be invited for regular check-ups, usually every three months for the first year.

If you've had early breast cancer, your healthcare team will agree a care plan with you after your treatment has finished. This plan contains the details of your follow-up. You will receive a copy of the plan, which will also be sent to your GP.

During the check-up, your doctor will examine you and may carry out blood tests or X-rays to see how your cancer is responding to treatment. You should also be offered a mammogram every year for the first five years after your treatment.

Long-term complications

Although it's rare, your treatment for breast cancer may cause new problems, such as:

• pain and stiffness in your arms and shoulders may occur after surgery, and the skin in these areas may be tight
• lymphoedema (a build-up of excess lymph fluid which causes swelling) – this may occur if surgery or radiotherapy damages the lymphatic drainage system in the armpit

Talk to your healthcare team if you experience these or any other long-term effects of treatment.

Want to know more?

• Breast Cancer Care: Your operation and recovery (PDF, 148kb).
• Breast Cancer Care: Lymphoedema.
• Cancer Research UK: Breast cancer follow-up.
• Macmillan: Follow-up after breast cancer treatment.

Your body and breasts after treatment

Dealing with changes to your body

A diagnosis of breast cancer may change how you think about your body. All women react differently to the bodily changes that happen as a result of breast cancer treatment. Some women react positively, but others find it more difficult to cope. It's important to give yourself time to come to terms with any changes to your body.

Want to know more?

• Breast Cancer Care: Coping emotionally.
• Healthtalkonline: Body image.
• Macmillan: Effects after breast cancer treatment.

Early menopause

Although most cases of breast cancer occur in women over 50 who gave experienced the menopause, some younger women have to cope with an early menopause brought on by cancer treatment.

Symptoms can include hot flushes, vaginal dryness and loss of sexual desire. Talk to your healthcare team about any symptoms you have and they'll be able to help.

Want to know more?

• Breast Cancer Care: Early menopause and fertility.
• Cancer Research UK: Breast cancer and menopausal symptoms.
• Macmillan: Breast cancer treatment and menopausal symptoms.

Prosthesis

A breast prosthesis is an artificial breast, which can be worn inside your bra to replace the breast that's been removed.

Soon after a mastectomy, you'll be given a lightweight foam breast to wear until the area affected by surgery or radiotherapy has healed. After it's healed, you'll be offered a silicone prosthesis. Prostheses come in many different shapes and sizes, and you should be able to find one that suits you.

Want to know more?

• Breast Cancer Care: Breast prostheses.
• Cancer Research UK: After your breast cancer surgery: your false breast shape (prosthesis).

Reconstruction

If you didn't have immediate breast reconstruction (carried out at the time of a mastectomy), you can have reconstruction later. This is called a delayed reconstruction.

There are two main methods of breast reconstruction – reconstruction using your own tissue and reconstruction using an implant. The type that's most suitable for you will depend on many factors, including the treatment you've had, any ongoing treatment and the size of your breasts. Talk to your healthcare team about which reconstruction is suitable for you.

Want to know more?

• Breakthrough Breast Cancer: Breast reconstruction and prosthesis.
• Breast Cancer Care: Breast reconstruction.
• Cancer Research UK: About breast reconstruction.
• Live Well: "My mastectomy and reconstruction".
• Live Well: Breast reconstruction.

Relationships and sex

Relationships with friends and family

It's not always easy to talk about cancer, either for you or your family and friends. You may sense that some people feel awkward around you or avoid you.

Being open about how you feel and what your family and friends can do to help may put them at ease. However, don't be afraid to tell them that you need some time to yourself, if that's what you need.

Want to know more?

• Breast Cancer Care: Relationships.
• Live Well: Talking to your kids about cancer.
• Macmillan: Talking about your cancer.
• Healthtalkonline: How breast cancer affects families.

Your sex life

Breast cancer and its treatment can affect your sex life. It's common for women to lose interest in sex after breast cancer treatment. Your treatment may leave you feeling very tired. You may feel shocked, confused or depressed about being diagnosed with cancer. You may be upset by the changes to your body or grieve the loss of your breasts or, in some cases, your fertility.

It's understandable that you may not feel like having sex while coping with all this. Try to share your feelings with your partner. If you have problems with sex that aren't getting better with time, you may want to speak to a counsellor or sex therapist.

Want to know more?

• Breast Cancer Care: Sex and intimacy.
• Cancer Research UK: Living with breast cancer surgery: sexuality after breast surgery.
• Macmillan: Cancer and sexuality.

Money and financial support

If you have to reduce or stop work because of your cancer, you may find it difficult to cope financially.

If you have cancer or you're caring for someone with cancer, you may be entitled to financial support, for example:

• if you have a job but can't work because of your illness, you're entitled to Statutory Sick Pay from your employer
• if you don't have a job and can't work because of your illness, you may be entitled to Employment and Support Allowance
• if you're caring for someone with cancer, you may be entitled to Carer’s Allowance
• you may be eligible for other benefits if you have children living at home, or if you have a low household income

Find out what help is available to you as soon as possible. The social worker at your hospital will be able to give you the information you need.

Free prescriptions

People being treated for cancer are entitled to apply for an exemption certificate, giving them free prescriptions for all medication, including medicine for unrelated conditions.

The certificate is valid for five years, and you can apply for it through your GP or cancer specialist.

Want to know more?

• Breast Cancer Care: Summary of benefits.
• Breast Cancer Care: Finances and practicalities.
• GOV.UK: Benefits and financial support.
• Care and Support: Benefits for carers and benefits for the person you care for.
• Find your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau.
• Q&A: free prescriptions.

Talk to other people

Your GP or nurse may be able to answer any questions you have about your cancer or treatment. You may find it helpful to talk to a trained counsellor or psychologist, or to someone at a specialist helpline. Your GP surgery will have information on these.

Some people find it helpful to talk to other people who have breast cancer, either at a local support group or in an internet chatroom.

Want to know more?

• Breast Cancer Care: Someone to talk to.
• Breast Cancer Care: Community.
• Breakthrough Breast Cancer: Join a Breakthrough group.
• Macmillan: Online community.