On your breast cancer post-surgery, you may at one point feel the triumph of living again without cancer. But this feeling of triumph is accompanied by the feeling of fear and uncertainty of the cancer striking back again. The reaction of those who have undergone breast cancer surgery to the after effects is quite different.
Some common after effects they might experience are nausea, scar, unusual sensations, stiffness, swelling, wound infection, bruising, pain cording etc. And thus to cope up with the condition it is very important to know the breast cancer post-surgery care.
Following are some of the things that should be done for the follow-up care:
1. Always keep your scheduled appointment. In the first three years of the surgery, you must see your doctor every three to six months. Depending on how long you have been cancer-free, your need for visiting the doctor will decrease.
2. You will be required to go through regular mammograms even if you have done mastectomy. However, routine x-rays and blood tests in women are not a good option to check the spread of breast cancer to other parts of the body.
3. Always be alert and look out for any unusual changes that take place in your body. Do not hesitate to discuss it with your doctor if you notice any changes. It could be an indication that the cancer is recurring.
4. Those women who are taking Tamoxifen must get their pelvis checked by their doctors during the appointment as the side effect of this medication can cause uterine cancer.
5. Take care of your emotional and physical well-being. And yes, do not compare your outcome with that of others as every diagnosis differs from one another.
Strictly follow your doctor’s instruction on how to take care of your wounds after surgery. Light stretching exercises are a must after surgery to regain the mobility of your body. Keep the incision clean and dry for about a week as there is a high risk of infection. And always self-examine your breast since a woman who already has had cancer in one breast is at a higher risk of developing another one.
Call your doctor if you notice swelling in your arm, fever, loss of appetite, change in menstrual cycle and drainage from the surgical drain increases.
For more awareness, our articles - prevention of breast cancer and celebrities with breast cancer are a must-read. And feel free to share your views.
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