Breast cancer develops from mutated breast cells that begin to divide uncontrollably and form a tumor. One of the first-line treatments for breast cancer is surgery. There are a number of breast cancer removal surgeries, which vary by how extensive they are: Some surgeries remove the tumor while conserving healthy breast tissue, and other surgeries remove the entire breast, as well as some surrounding tissues. Any surgical procedure comes with risks and complications, and there are a number of possible side effects of breast cancer surgery.
Infection
One possible effect of breast cancer surgery is infection. Infection at the incision site is extremely common, and affects more than one in 20 patients, reports BreastCancer.org. The organization also reports that the rate of infection is even higher in patients receiving breast reconstruction after their breast cancer surgery, with one in eight patients developing infections after surgery. Infection at the site of surgery can lead to redness and swelling, and may present a serious health risk if the infection involves antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Taking antibiotics before and after surgery can reduce a patient's risk of developing an infection.
Lymphedema
Another common effect of breast cancer surgery is a condition called lymphedema, which develops when lymphatic fluid cannot circulate properly. Several breast cancer surgeries involve the removal of some or all of the lymph nodes in the armpit. These lymph nodes normally aid in circulating lymphatic fluid, and when they are removed, sometimes lymph fluid collects in the arm on the affected side of the body. According to the University of Virginia Health System, lymphedema can occur shortly after surgery, or develop months later. Patients with lymphedema experience pain in the affected arm. The joints may feel stiff due to excess fluid, and patients may experience muscle weakness.
Pain and Stiffness
Patients may also experience shoulder or chest pain and stiffness after breast cancer surgery. In more aggressive surgeries, some or all of the chest muscles may be removed. In some cases, smaller chest muscles must be removed to allow for lymph node removal, whereas in other cases all the chest muscles are removed if they have been invaded by the breast cancer. Removing these muscles helps contribute to shoulder and chest pain after surgery, as well as muscle stiffness. Patients may also experience "phantom pain" in the chest as the nerves re-grow and adjust after surgery.
