Mastectomy Recovery Tips
We have an amazing community! Earlier this year, one of the incredible women in our community reached out to us with some helpful tips after her personal recovery from a mastectomy. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we asked if she’d be willing to share a bit about her story here on the blog and the resources she found most helpful, and she agreed. How amazing that as Noelle went through this most difficult and challenging time in her life, her instinct was to help others…and to share her experience in an effort to support other women facing the same challenges.
You’ll find additional helpful breast cancer awareness tips for skin and style here and here.
Meet Noelle
In April of 2023, Noelle Rumler had a mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer a second time at the age of 53. She visited our Busbee Style site searching for some outfits she could put together when she returned to work at a high school office. She said, “I feel like I am a different person, who has been through one of the hardest physical and emotional times of my life. I want to [wear] something to match the change on the inside.” But she also realized through her journey, that there weren’t a ton of resources for women to prepare for their post-surgery recovery time. She wished there had been a place to go with a list of items summarizing what she’d need after her mastectomy. And what to have on hand before she returned home from the hospital. It’s such an overwhelming and emotional time, she explains.
Mastectomy Preparation
Noelle found herself spending a lot of time researching what would be helpful in recovery. And then post-op, she really grew to know and understand exactly what it is that women need after surgery. She said that women with breast cancer are dealing with so much already. Having a resource with must-have finds would have been so helpful for her. So, she created a list and offered to share it with us. She loved the idea of helping others who were in a similar situation as her. So, thank you, Noelle. Thank you for being inspired to share your resources with our community…and for thinking so selflessly in order to help others. We really admire you and your strength!
Noelle is pictured in the collage above along with other Busbee community breast cancer survivors. We are so honored to support you this month… Ann, Noelle, Stephanie, Amit, and Jenny. We wish you continued health and healing!
Mastectomy Pre-Surgery Tips
Noelle’s top pre-surgery tips include:
- Treat yourself to a manicure and pedicure pre-surgery. You might not have the energy to do much for yourself, especially the first 5 days after surgery.
- Have Thank You cards on hand. She says you will receive gifts and meals. Once you are feeling better, you’ll be glad to have these at the ready.
- Bring GasX tablets to the hospital. The gas pain combined with the surgery pain is extremely uncomfortable. So, it’s better to have these from the get-go.
- If you are a family member, friend, or caregiver who wants to help someone in their recovery, her gift recommendations include extra pajamas, a meal, a gift card for DoorDash, a book to provide an escape, and most importantly, a text to check on them. She said knowing others were thinking of her truly was the best gift she received.
Things You Need After A Mastectomy
Keep scrolling below for the key items that really helped Noelle in her recovery. She also shares some key details about each item. If you know someone affected by breast cancer who might benefit from Noelle’s recovery story, tips, and must-have items, you can share this post directly with them using the share buttons at the very bottom of this post.
A huge thank you again to Noelle…for putting your beautiful self out there and for having the grace to share your experience and pointers. THIS is what community is all about. We are so grateful!
Thank you so much for posting this. I hope this list helps anyone going thru this. XOXO
Thank YOU, Noelle! We so appreciate your sharing your story and tips…We know this will help other women! ~Team Busbee