Post-Operative Measures after Breast Surgery

It is very unfavorable for a woman who is diagnosed to have breast cancer. It’s difficult to adjust and the coping mechanisms of the subject are affected. Family members of the cancer patient should remain strong especially in dealing with the problem. A surgical procedure is performed to treat breast cancer. Breast Cancer Surgery is the final option suggested by the physician. There are significant measures that are very useful during the recovery period right after the surgical procedure.

The most common question from a patient who undergone Breast Cancer Surgery is the extent of the recovery period; the longer the period a patient stays in the hospital will also determine the amount of time spent for the recovery period at home. Having drainage and stitches at the operative site is very common to most cases of operation. Therefore, careful and hygienic management of the operative site is very essential to avoid serious complications.

Usually, right after the Breast Cancer Surgery, a home care instruction is provided by the nurses and other health care provider to the folks of the patient. An actual demonstration of wound care is shown and discuss so that the instructions are easily understood by the folks.

Care of the Incision of Operative Site

One of the responsibilities of the nurse is to perform hygienic dressing into the operative site while the patient is still hospitalized after the Breast Cancer Surgery. It is advisable that someone from the family of the patient should carefully observe the proper way of performing the incision care. The purpose for this is to promote home care management. Usually, medical supplies are being provided by the hospital or sometimes lists of these items are included in the home care instructions. The instruction is given to the patient or folks before discharging from the hospital. Care of the incision site includes procedure on how to apply topical medication, perform wound dressings, application of gauze using aseptic technique and other antibiotics are taken orally to prevent possible infection.

When performing wound care, it is advisable that the person who is doing it should be gentle enough especially when taking good care of the operative site. Removing of the gauze should be done carefully. The purpose of this method is to prevent tearing of the site which can worsen the condition. Application of the topical medication must base on the instruction of the physician, this is to maximize the effects of the medications at the wound site.

Care of the Drain

After the Breast Cancer Surgery, the draining tube is placed in the operative site to remove unnecessary fluids such as pus that can cause infections. The draining tubes remain for several days. An actual demonstration for proper management of the draining tube is performed by the nurse. Someone from the family of the patient must observe the proper way of cleaning and draining of the tubes. Measuring of the fluids is sometimes required by the surgeon. This is to monitor the amount of fluid draining out of the operative site. This is an indicator of bleeding, so it should be accurately measured and referred to the surgeon.

For further management, the patient should regularly visit the surgeon to monitor the progress of the recovery. At the same time, it also prevents the occurrence of complications related to Breast Cancer Surgery such as bleeding and infection. It should be done as early as the patient is capable of ambulating. Danger signs and symptoms should be reported to the surgeon as soon as it appears, in order to avail for the prescribed medications and practice safe management for the condition.

These are the post-operative measures that are very important for the patient and the family members to understand in order for them to provide sufficient assistance to the patient who is suffering from the agony and pain of their condition. Total support and encouragement from the family members should be strengthened especially most cancer patients are not happy with their condition plus the fact that the length of their life span is limited if in case that cancer worsens. The best way for this is to have the patient join a certain support group with the same condition to the patient. This is to allow them to ventilate their feelings and experience that can help them deal with their condition.