Three Things I Wish I’d Known Before Breast Cancer Surgery

In August of 2014, just seven days after my partial mastectomy, I sat down and recorded what I’d learned about surgery. I was still wrapping ace bandages around my arm, still working on getting my lung capacity back, and still processing everything that had happened.

Watching that video now—my younger self, raw and real in the immediate aftermath—reminds me why I started sharing this journey in the first place. Because when you’re facing something scary, knowledge is power. And sometimes, the practical details matter just as much as the big picture.

The Three Things I Didn’t Know

1. The Breathing Toy Is Non-Negotiable

When you’re intubated during surgery, you’ll come out with significantly reduced lung capacity. They gave me what looked like a simple little device—an incentive spirometer—and told me to use it regularly. Right after surgery, I could barely get 500 milliliters. Within days, I was back to 1,500. It made me dizzy at first, but it was essential for recovery.

2. Lymph Node Removal Means Lymphedema Prevention

Even though my cancer was an isolated lump with clear lymph nodes, they removed three nodes from my underarm as a precautionary measure. For six weeks after, I had to wear ace bandages on my arm to prevent lymphedema (chronic swelling). It was awkward trying to wrap my own arm with my non-dominant hand, but it was crucial preventive care.

3. Know Your Tape Allergies BEFORE Surgery

This was the surprise that made recovery harder than it needed to be. I knew I was allergic to latex tape, but I didn’t realize any adhesive tape would cause a reaction. Everywhere they’d taped something—including my face during intubation—I broke out in an itchy rash. The itch was honestly worse than the surgical pain. If you’re having surgery, make sure your surgical team knows about any adhesive sensitivities.

What Came After

That video captured just one moment at the beginning of what became a lifelong treatment journey. At the time, I thought the plan was four to six weeks of radiation, a year of Herceptin infusions for HER2-positive cancer, and five years of tamoxifen.

But about a year later, the cancer metastasized to my lung, and I’ve been in continuous treatment ever since—Herceptin infusions every three weeks, daily anastrozole, and Zometa for bone strength. It’s a long road, and I’m still on it.

Why I’m Sharing This Again

If you’re facing surgery—breast cancer or otherwise—I hope these practical details help. The medical teams are usually quite wonderful (shout out to St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston, Texas), but sometimes it’s the small stuff that catches you off guard.

Take it one step at a time. That’s the only way to handle it.

When you’re ready to think about the emotional side of this journey — including how to keep your business alive while you heal — read my guide on building emotional resilience during breast cancer.

Stay Groovy!