About this topic
This is a surgery to remove some of your breast tissue. This is done to treat breast cancer and keep it from coming back in the same breast. ‚
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Take your drugs as ordered by your doctor.
- Talk to your doctor about how to care for your cut site. Ask your doctor about:
- When you should change your bandages
- When you may take a bath or shower. You may not be able to take a soak in a bathtub, hot tub, or swimming pool until your surgery cuts are fully healed.
- If you need to be careful with lifting things over 10 pounds
- When you may go back to your normal activities like work, driving, or sex
- When you should start arm exercises.
- Be sure to wash your hands before and after touching your wound or dressing.
- If you have a drain tube, empty the cup or bulb when it gets full. You may have to measure the amount of fluid and write the amount on a paper or diary. The amount of drainage should go down or become a little less each day.
- Walk around the house often when you get home. Try to walk a little more each day.
- Your doctor may have you wear special stockings. These will help to prevent blood clots.
- If you have had lymph nodes removed, talk to your doctor about how to avoid fluid buildup in your hand or arm.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- If you have stitches or staples, you will need to have them taken out. Your doctor will often want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks.
- If you have a drain tube, the doctor will want to remove it a few days after your surgery.
- The test results from the tissue will help your doctor understand what kind of problem you have in your breast. Talk to your doctor about breast reconstruction surgery and if that would be right for you. Together you can make a plan for more care.
- Talk to your doctor about other treatments you may need like radiation or chemotherapy. You may need to see other experts like a plastic surgeon, or radiation or medical oncologist.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Prevent or fight an infection
- Kill cancer cells
- Block hormone receptors
Will physical activity be limited?
You may have to limit your activity for a while. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Infection
- Fluid buildup in your arm or hand if lymph nodes were removed
- You may feel sad or depressed about the change of your body
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, wound that will not heal.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Drain tube comes out or has lots of drainage
- Cough, shortness of breath, chest pain
- Upset stomach and throwing up that are not helped by nausea drugs
- Redness, warmth, swelling, stiffness, or hardness in the arm or hand on the side where the lymph nodes were taken out
- Lumps or skin changes in tissue left in your breast
- Low mood
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you how to care for my cut site and drain tube.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have swelling, redness, or warmth around my wound.
Where can I learn more?
American Cancer Society ‚
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breast-cancer-treating-surgery ‚
National Cancer Institute ‚
http://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/surgery-choices/surgerychoices.pdf ‚
Last Reviewed Date
2015-11-23 ‚
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Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care provider 's advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2016 Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved. ‚