One of the most prevalent types of cancer is breast cancer, and doctors may perform a mastectomy to eradicate it. However, are there any recommendations for recovering from a mastectomy? The lines that follow contain the solution.
The medical care team suggests a few strategies that could hasten post-mastectomy recovery. Following a mastectomy, use the following advice:
Advice after a mastectomy
Following a potential partial or total mastectomy, the following top suggestions may help with recovery:
1. Make an effort to take painkillers
Since painkillers can be taken in the hospital and then continued at home, the specialist doctor may prescribe some to help with mastectomy pain relief.
2. Wound care
After a mastectomy, one piece of advice is to properly change the wound dressings and take care of the mastectomy wound site.
3. Surgical Drainage Care
When there is bleeding in the breast or armpit following a mastectomy, a surgical drainage tube is frequently inserted. This tube can be removed both before the patient leaves the hospital and during the patient's initial visit to the specialist doctor, but the doctor must explain how to do so in order to prevent complications.
4. Perform arm exercises
Specific exercises may be recommended by the doctor to prevent arm and shoulder stiffness after mastectomy as well as to prevent the formation of scar tissue. Following the surgical removal of the drainage tube, doctors frequently suggest beginning these exercises.
5. Keep an eye out for infection symptoms.
In order for the patient to alert the doctor if any of these symptoms arise, the specialist doctor must explain the signs of infection or inflammation in the mastectomy wound as well as the appearance of lymphedema signs.
Other tips to speed up recovery after a mastectomy
Recovery at home usually takes longer than recovery in the hospital for a period of up to several weeks, as the speed of recovery depends on several factors, such as: the patient’s health, the type of activities practiced during the recovery period, and other factors that change the speed of the recovery stages from one case to another, but it may happen During the recovery period at home, try the following suggestions to recover more quickly:
- Rest: Since mastectomy is one of the major surgeries that necessitates a longer recovery period, getting enough rest is one of the most crucial post-mastectomy recovery tips.
- Showering should be avoided during the healing process because there are stitches and sutures in place. Showering might remove them, which would slow the healing process. You can wipe the body with a sponge instead of water.
- Helping friends: Some friends may assist you with labor-intensive housework so that you can get more rest, and they may also offer you moral and psychological support to help you feel more at ease and content.
- Healthy eating: Due to the potential side effects of some of the medications used, such as constipation, one of the recommendations after mastectomy is to drink plenty of fluids and eat foods high in fibre.
- Application of ice: Applying ice to the chest or the area under the armpits may help ease the pain and swelling associated with a mastectomy.
- Following the advice of the doctor: The patient is required to follow the advice, instructions, and medications prescribed by the specialist doctor after the mastectomy.
- Continue exercising: You should exercise when you are ready for it, such as walking for a period of 10-15 minutes or more, to improve your mood and stimulate blood flow, which may help the healing process go more quickly.
- One of the most crucial post-mastectomy tips is to get enough rest. If you have trouble sleeping on your side, try sleeping on your back with a few pillows if necessary.
When should you see a doctor?
After a mastectomy, if you experience any of the following issues, you should see a doctor right away:
- The presence of pain that does not go away when using painkillers.
- Feeling of fever or chills .
- Excessive bleeding in the wound.
- excessive swelling
- The appearance of secretions or an unpleasant odor from the wound.
- allergic reactions.