What I Bought for my Double Mastectomy
The day of my double mastectomy. Boob Voyage! 👋
(editor’s note: there are links to products in this post but there is absolutely zero kickback for their presence. Every product represented here is meant to help you find what you might need for your surgery!)
I’m a list maker by nature.
If there’s a life event, there’s a list to be made.
That didn’t change when I had my double mastectomy in February 2023. I wanted to be prepared, and I went on the hunt for every product that would make recovery easier for me, but also for my husband who was taking care of me in a house with 3 young kids.
This is a list of every single thing I purchased, organized by Must Haves, Nice to Haves, Gifts, and some notes
Please share with anyone who has an upcoming breast surgery and is looking for what to buy, or if you are trying to figure out what to buy someone in your life about to go through this surgery. A special thanks to the incredible Hil Moss who wrote the most helpful list I could find here, which many of these products are borrowed from! I’ve also created a printable version of this list here.
My friend Katie nursing me back to health with my recovery pillow and bra!
Top 5 Double Mastectomy Recovery Must Haves
1. Airplane neck pillow - this is a MUST for the hospital and recovering at home. Bring this to the hospital! Helps so much with sleep!
2. Wedge pillow - this is also a MUST, helps so much with sitting upright at home
3. Bed pillow - don’t turn your nose up at this! It was recommended to me and amazing for recovering in bed and was awesome for easy access to my water and my glasses.
4. Lanyard line - also not a very pretty gift, but needed for showers + dealing with your drains. You need this if you have drains. I recommend buying two so you have a dry one on hand.
5. Recovery Pajamas - these were my favorite because they had pockets to tuck my trains in (for reference, I had 4 drains).
Nice to Haves
Bolster PIllow: You need to put something more supportive than a regular old pillow beneath your knees to encourage blood flow and ease the pressure on your lower back.
Full Body Pillow: You want to avoid rolling over and putting undue pressure on the breast area, and these pillows provide a barrier to prevent that
Recovery Pillow Set: You use these across your chest while you heal, and under your armpits if you’re having lymph nodes removed. *This has been a must for me while I’ve entered week 3-4 with my drains out and starting to roll to my sides with my spacers. I’m wast still using it at 6 weeks as I got used to side sleeping again.
Single Recovery Pillow: I bought a second to keep downstairs in my house (kind of like a boppy, you want to have a few hanging around)
Seat Belt Cushion: You’ll need this for driving, I didn’t find it super useful until I started getting filled and will need it for radiation. I was able to drive once my drains were removed and haven’t needed it.
Nice to Have Clothes: (I found I didn’t really need all of this. I made due with big baggy shirts, but I did find these helpful for the 2 weeks I wanted my drains out of sight!)
1. Drain shirts: (I didn't want to be carrying my drains around for the 10+ days I needed them, so I bought these shirts)
2. Pajamas:
Pajama Set 1
Pajama Set 2
Pajama Set 3 (these are fun, great gift)
Drain bathrobe (this is cute, great gift)
3. Bras: (for context, I had temporary tissue expanders implanted during surgery)
Recovery bras (after drains are removed)
Dana Farber gives you this brand of bra after your surgery. They’re great. Ask for extra (I ended up ordering a few), and go a size up b/c you’ll be swollen.
4. Recovery Clothes:
Recovery clothes: You can only wear zip up shirts for a few weeks, and home from the hospital, so I bought these. You need easy to pull up pants as well:
Sweatsuit to wear home from the hospital (get yourself something nice!)
** I dug out my old nursing shirts (ironic!) that were large and buttoned/zipped in the front to keep my drains tucked away. I ended up out to eat a few times once I was out of bed, and went to a school event for my kids - you couldn’t see the drains at all!
5. Other:
Gifts
A top question I get is “what should I buy someone?” Check to see if they’ve purchased any of the must have items above.
Aside from things that are helpful for recovery, I really appreciated the gifts from friends that didn't make me feel like a sick person. Here are some of my favs, along with what not to buy:
Beauty products: under eye patches, nice hand cream, face masks, lip treatment) - nice products not branded for people with cancer.
Non-cancery high end pajamas & clothing (no better way to say it!) that front wrap/zip/button down- because you won't be able to lift her arms for a few weeks):
Personalized gifts: My girlfriends got me this bracelet with the first initial of me + husband & kids' names so I could have my family with me on the days I'm alone recovering while they're carrying on with their lives. This gift has been my absolute favorite, so meaningful and I have not taken it off.
Things to avoid - coloring books, "cancer branded" get well things (although they have with the best intentions, I did not want my house covered in pink ribbons), cookies/baskets (again, thoughtful - but I found I ended up having to then manage my kids eating tons of shit when our house was already kind of chaotic).
Notes
Notes on Brands
Of everything I bought, Kelly Bee Designs is the best quality, worth the investment to feel good!
https://www.anaono.com/ is great too, more clothes for after recovery.
General Notes
Get the drain holders for the shower!
Buy a bunch of ABD pads & drain gauze squares and/or ask the hospital to give you tons to take home. You’ll need them.
Reminder: You’ll need to go a size up in bras from the hospital from the pads and swelling. Ask for a bunch from the hospital to take home.
I met with the Dana Farber nutritionist who recommended Juven as a healing supplement. I purchased it and took it 2x per day until it was gone. I also requested it when I stayed at the hospital. I think it made a big difference in my quick recovery.
Notes on Recovery In General
Move your body : ) as much as you may not want to, get up and move. I had my closest friends come by and take me for short walks the first 2 weeks. Getting outside and showered and dressed makes a huge difference. After my drains were removed my focus = 10K steps per day.
I got something called chording and ended up working with an amazing physical therapist who came to my house to help me heal, prevent lymphedema, and get started with something called the “Strength after breast cancer” workout program. Even if you don’t get chording or lymphedema, I can’t recommend proactive physical therapy enough.
Sending anyone who needs this list love and healing vibes! 🌊 - Julie