What this course covers?

Physical preparation and recovery

What happens to the body during and after mastectomy.

Early movement and shoulder range, managing scar tissue, lymphoedema risk and prevention and cording.

What physiotherapy support looks like and when to seek help after surgery.

Setting realistic expectations for recovery, function and returning to movement.

Psychological and emotional preparation.

Common emotional responses before and after mastectomy.

Body image, identity, and grief: what’s normal and what’s often unspoken

How to prepare psychologically for changes to your body

Tools to reduce anxiety, build self-compassion, and support adjustment

Bridging the gap between medical care and lived experience

Questions to ask your treating team

How to advocate for your physical and emotional needs

Understanding that preparation is not pessimism, it is empowerment

Who this course is for?

This course is for people preparing for mastectomy who want honest, grounded information and support, without minimisation, platitudes, or overwhelm. It is equally relevant whether surgery is imminent or still being planned.

Why this course matters

Many patients report that no one prepared them for how mastectomy would feel physically or psychologically. This course exists to change that. Preparation improves recovery, reduces fear of the unknown, and helps individuals feel more informed, supported, and in control at a time when much feels uncertain.

This is not therapy and it is not rehabilitation, but it is a critical first step in informed, whole-person care before surgery.