What are the risks of a mastectomy for breast cancer?

Complications can include infection, bleeding, poor wound healing or a reaction to the anesthesia used in surgery. Blood or clear fluid may also collect in the wound and need to be drained. You may have feelings of pulling, pinching, tingling or numbness.

If you have lymph nodes removed from under your arm, there is a chance of getting lymphedema (swelling of the arm). This is because fluid is less able to drain out of the tissues through the lymph system after this procedure. Tell your doctor or nurse right away if you have swelling or pain in your arm on the side where you had your surgery. The nerve that controls skin sensation on the inner upper arm also is in the area of these lymph nodes. If the nerve is damaged during surgery, you may have numbness in this area.

The risks from a mastectomy surgery for breast cancer can be either acute or chronic. Immediate or early risks may include bleeding/hematoma, infections, seroma, cellulitis, skin necrosis, pulmonary embolus, deep-venous thrombosis, and anesthesia related complications. Later risks may also include: fat atrophy, stiffness and pain to the shoulder, swelling/edema to the axillae (lymphedema), and nerve damage to the arm, back and chest muscles.