Home → Treatment & Side Effects → Planning Your Treatment → Ask-the-Expert Conferences: Treatment Issues → May 2008: After Surgery: Short-term and Long-term Effects → Biggest concerns, precautions with surgery?

Biggest concerns, precautions with surgery?

Page last modified on: August 21, 2008

Question from Messalina: If YOU were having breast surgery next week, what would be your biggest concern about post-surgery, and what precautions (if any) would you be taking to avoid problems?: Answers —Kristin Brill, M.D., F.A.C.S.: That's a good question.; Linda Miller, P.T.: Working as I do with breast cancer patients, I would share their concerns of developing lymphedema, even though as I said earlier most women do not get it. Probably the most important thing that I would do is to make sure that I get my shoulder motion back to normal as my comfort level dictates, and to get as active as I could as soon as I could.; Kristin Brill, M.D., F.A.C.S.: Embarking on a breast surgery requires that you have a good understanding of what's being done, not only with the surgeon but other members of your team, including the radiation oncologist, medical oncologist and physical therapist. Make sure that your questions are adequately answered and you have realistic expectations.

On Wednesday, May 21, 2008, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called After Surgery: Short-term and Long-term Effects. Kristin Brill, M.D., F.A.C.S. and Linda Miller, P.T. answered your questions about short-term and long-term side effects of breast surgery, and what you can do about them.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Kristin Brill, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a breast surgeon and clinical instructor at the Thomas Jefferson University Department of Surgery in Philadelphia, PA. She also maintains a practice in Cherry Hill, N.J. Dr. Brill is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. In addition, she has published breast cancer research in medical journals such as Annals of Plastic Surgery and Cancer, and she has presented research at the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Linda Miller, P.T. is the clinical director of the Breast Cancer Physical Therapy Center, LTD, a private practice serving the Philadelphia, PA and southern New Jersey areas. Linda specializes in treating post-operative complications of breast cancer surgery, including lymphedema.