Mastectomy

In the Name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Aria Specialized and Subspecialty Hospital

Self-Care Pamphlet in Illness:

Mastectomy

Oncology Ward

Mastectomy is a type of surgery in which the breast is removed with or without lymph nodes below it as needed. Therefore, if you have undergone such surgery, you should:

1. Avoid carrying heavy objects.
2. Avoid injuries such as bruises, cuts and burns.
3. Avoid any arbitrary action on the operated hand, such as phlebotomy, cupping, leech therapy, etc.
4. Avoid smoking.
5. Avoid hanging the operated hand.
6. Place a soft and short pillow under the operated hand while sleeping.
7. Do not sleep on the operated hand.
8. Avoid tasks such as sweeping, washing clothes by hand, etc.
9. After complete recovery, use a warm shower, mild detergents and soaps to relieve muscle pain.
10. If you see any discharge or bleeding from the surgery area, inform your doctor or nurse right away and keep the area dry.
11. Injections, taking blood samples or measuring blood pressure from the operated hand are prohibited.
12. Take seriously the exercises recommended by the doctor.
13. Lubricate the affected area several times during the day with softening cream or lotion.
14. For better control when necessary, and to enhance the elasticity of the skin of the operated area, consult your attending physician or surgeon.
15. Carry out periodic tests regularly and keep the results with you.
16. Limit the use of frying materials, spices and animal fat as much as possible.
17. According to the doctor’s opinion, avoid pregnancy for at least a few years after the treatment.
18. Drain is a plastic tube that helps to vacate secretions from the operation area. If you are discharged with a drain, make sure that the drain is open and if you need to drain, after informing your doctor or nurse, first close the end of the drain with a clamp, empty the chamber, and then open the clamp again.
19. It is essential to carry out shoulder movements after surgery to prevent swelling.
20. If an activity or an exercise causes pain in your arm, it means that you have used your hand beyond tolerance.

* Post-operative sports

Exercises after mastectomy should be done three times a day, three times each time, including:

1. Brushing the hair
2. Palm pressure for 5 seconds
3. Shoulder rotation
4. Turning and bending the head around
5. Stretching the arms up
6. Climbing the wall
7. Elbow rotation
8. Pushing the elbows backwards (Place the hands behind your neck. Bring the elbows forward and then backward, and after 5 seconds of rest, repeat this again).
9. Stretching the towel to the back of the waist
10. Jump rope
11. Touching the back
12. Raising and lowering the bar
13. Elbow stretch