9 Things I Wish I'd Known Before My Breast Cancer Surgery

But breast cancer surgery comes with issues that you might not anticipate, and women often go into the procedure not knowing what to expect. Many don't anticipate how they'll feel after the surgery, what complications they'll have, or what their breasts will look like after reconstruction.

We asked five breast cancer survivors to share things to know before breast cancer surgery so you will be more prepared when you go into the operating room.

1. You Have Control Over Your Treatment

Your breast cancer surgeon is the lead person on your procedure, but they're not the final say. Cancer treatment is a collaborative effort. "You don't have to let your doctor dictate to you," says two-time breast cancer survivor Liz Benditt. "I have found that the doctors who have been the best for me have been those who were really open to two-way conversation."

2. You'll Wake Up With Drains

These flexible plastic tubes remove fluid that builds up where breast tissue was removed, but the sight of them protruding from your chest could be shocking. Even a trained doctor and public health advocate like Sheri Prentiss, MD, wasn't expecting to wake up with a drain after her partial mastectomy in 2008, and it added a challenge to her recovery.

3. Nausea After Surgery Is a Real Possibility

4. Loose-Fitting Clothes Are Best

Rigley used a wrap that someone had brought for her, so "I didn't have to put my arms through anything. It was almost like a poncho — something that I could wear home pretty easily," says Rigley.

5. Lymphedema Is Preventable

6. Losing Your Breasts Won't Erase Your Femininity

7. Moving Your Arms Could Be Difficult

Stiffness and reduced range of motion in your arms and shoulders are common after breast cancer surgery. "I wish I would have known that you can't lift your arm over your head for quite a while," says Daphne Ortiz, a publicist and two-time breast cancer survivor. She learned that exercise was an important part of regaining mobility.

8. The Right Recovery Tools Are Everything

9. If You Want Help, You Have to Ask for It

After Benditt's two breast cancer surgeries, well-meaning friends brought her food, flowers, and pink T-shirts with inspirational messages. That wasn't at all what she needed. "I wanted ice packs I could tuck under my arm, and I wanted lotion," she says. The disconnect between what people with cancer need and what they receive led her to found Balm Box, a company that creates care packages for people undergoing cancer treatment.

As caring as the people around you might be, they won't necessarily leap to your aid when you need them. Prentiss was upset at first when she didn't get support. "But at the same time, I realized I didn't really ask for it," she says. "There are people in your life who want to help. They simply don't know how."

Instead of making a vague request like "I need help," be specific about your needs. Tell friends and family, "Please pick up eggs, milk, and apples at the store," or "Take my kids home from school this week."