Some pain after breast surgery is normal for the first week or so around the wound site. Your hospital team plans pain control around the operation, so tell the nurses as soon as you feel any pain.
This page covers what is typical and when to speak to the care team. The broader recovery picture is in the hub on life after breast cancer surgery.
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Wound-site pain | Normal around the wound for the first week or so |
| Armpit pain | You may also have pain in your armpit |
| Tingling or tightness | Some people feel it around the scar; usually gets better, but can take a few weeks |
| Long-acting local anaesthetic | Surgeon might place it in the wound; it can help control pain |
| Tired and sore after implant surgery | Most people feel this way for about 1 to 2 weeks |
| Pain that continues or worsens | Contact your healthcare team if pain continues or gets worse |
Sources: Cancer Research UK and American Cancer Society. This information can change, so please check the sources for the latest guidance.
Pain in the first week
Cancer Research UK says that it is normal to have pain and discomfort for the first week or so around the wound site.
The hospital team plans pain control around the operation. Cancer Research UK explains that the team may use painkillers delivered through a drip that the person controls, known as patient controlled analgesia, and that a surgeon might place a long-acting local anaesthetic into the wound during the operation, which can help to control pain for a long time afterwards. Patients are asked to tell the nurses as soon as they feel any pain, so the team can find the right approach for each person.
Specific medicines, doses and timing are set by the surgical team and pharmacist for each individual, and the instructions given at discharge are the ones to follow.
Armpit, arm and scar sensations
Pain is not always confined to the breast area. Cancer Research UK notes that a person may also have pain in the armpit if the lymph nodes were treated during surgery.
Arm and shoulder stiffness can also develop, which is why teams often provide gentle exercises. The same Cancer Research UK page says these exercises stop a person getting stiff, particularly in the shoulder, and that taking painkillers before starting can help. Swelling in the arm is a separate topic, explained in the guide to lymphedema after breast surgery.
Numbness is also common after breast operations because nerves in the area are affected. The Canadian Cancer Society explains that after a mastectomy and reconstruction, the skin on the reconstructed breast may regain some sensation over time.
Pain after reconstruction
Reconstruction adds another surgical site, and the amount of discomfort can depend on the technique. The American Cancer Society says that after breast reconstruction it is normal to feel tired and sore, and that most people feel this way for about 1 to 2 weeks after implant surgery. It adds that this usually lasts longer after a flap procedure, because more than one part of the body is involved, and that the healthcare team provides medicine to help control pain and discomfort.
A flap operation leaves a second wound at the place the tissue was taken from, so soreness there can be part of recovery as well. A week-by-week outline of healing is in the guide to breast reconstruction recovery.
Supportive habits alongside pain control
Pain management is not only about medicines. Cancer Research UK says that people need to take things gently at first, that they may feel very tired, and that plenty of rest helps. A surgeon or breast care nurse may also suggest a soft supportive bra after surgery, and a front-fastening style is often more comfortable. The American Cancer Society adds that it is worth asking the team which support garments to wear during recovery, such as a surgical bra.
Gentle movement matters too, and the care team usually explains which exercises to start and when. Rest and movement are balanced differently for each operation, so the instructions given by the team take priority over general advice found online.
It can help to keep brief notes on when pain is worst, where it is felt and what seems to ease it. Describing the pain clearly, including whether it feels sharp, burning, tight or tingling, gives the team more to work with at follow-up visits. Pain that is out of proportion to what was explained beforehand, or that changes suddenly, is worth reporting promptly.
Family and friends can contribute as well. Practical help with household tasks, lifts to appointments and company during the first days lets the person focus on resting and following the team’s guidance. Cancer Research UK also notes that the healthcare team gives instructions on how to care for the wound and who to contact if there are any problems, and it stresses that it is important to follow those instructions.
When pain lasts: post-mastectomy pain syndrome
Researchers use the term post-mastectomy pain syndrome for chronic pain after breast cancer surgery. A questionnaire study at Odense University Hospital in Denmark defined it as pain located in the area of the surgery or the arm on the same side. The researchers surveyed 258 patients and found a prevalence of 23.9%.
Figures differ between studies because the definitions and groups differ. A hospital study in China that surveyed 420 patients found that age and a history of chronic pain were independent risk factors. Findings like these describe groups of patients and cannot predict what any one person will experience.
The Odense authors describe a considerable remaining risk of chronic pain after breast cancer treatment, even though surgical techniques have become less invasive over the years. In other words, pain that persists well beyond the usual healing period is a recognised outcome for some people and not a sign that the person is complaining unnecessarily.
The practical point is that long-lasting pain is recognised, has been studied, and is worth raising with a doctor rather than putting up with in silence.
When to contact the care team
Cancer Research UK advises that people contact their healthcare team if they still have pain or if the pain gets worse. The American Cancer Society likewise lists pain or fluid leaking from the breast, underarm or donor site among the signs to report to the healthcare team right away, alongside new skin changes, swelling or lumps.
The American Cancer Society also lists fluid build-up with swelling and pain, in the breast or at the tissue flap donor site, among the problems that can occur after reconstruction. Decisions about pain relief, activity and when a symptom needs review belong with the reader’s own surgeon and care team, who know the details of the operation.
Frequently asked questions
How long does normal soreness last?
Show answer
Patient guidance describes discomfort around the wound as normal for roughly a week, with tingling or tightness near the scar sometimes lasting a few weeks. Recovery after reconstruction varies by technique.
Is armpit pain after surgery unusual?
Show answer
It is a recognised effect when the lymph nodes were treated during the operation. The care team can explain what to expect and advise if it persists.
What is post-mastectomy pain syndrome?
Show answer
It is the term researchers use for chronic pain in the surgical area or arm after breast cancer surgery. Studies report different prevalence figures depending on how it is defined.
Who should be told if pain gets worse?
Show answer
The surgeon or breast care team. Worsening pain, or pain that does not ease, is a reason to get in touch rather than wait.
