Node clearance and mastectomy

I had a mastectomy and axillary node clearance (17 in all). Like so many things with breast cancer, individuals react differently to much the same procedures or treatments, so it can still be hard to tell and possibly unwise to assume one person's experience will be like your own. I had four days in hospital, home without drains, and went shopping the day after. I went back to work after a week off. No pain, only a bit of tenderness, excellent arm mobility. I did get a seroma (fluid building on the scar site). I am confident that it was not caused by the drain removal as surgery fluid had well and truly stopped. A seroma can be a thorough nuisance but even my large one wasn't painful. Some people have drains for much longer, some have difficulty with arm/shoulder mobility and some experience pain/discomfort with the scar area. But for most, a mastectomy is fairly straightforward and not particularly painful - I found everyone in hospital attentive about pain to the nth degree (especially as I didn't have any!). More than happy to provide pain relief if required. There is a group on this website about breast reconstruction too (I can't advise about that, I chose not to) and I am sure you may find that helpful too. Best wishes.