carried away so readily. Your doctor may recommend that you shave your armpits with an electric razor or wear gloves while gardening to avoid getting cuts on your hand or arm. You might consider avoiding manicurists, too.
You may also have numbness or tingling in the arm, or notice some restriction in your arm and shoulder movement. Lymphedema, swelling in the arm that’s caused by the buildup of lymph, occurs in about 25 percent of patients and can be very uncomfortable. Some women find stretching exercises helpful.
One stretch involves raising your arms straight up, extending them horizontally, then bringing them forward and together in front of you, and finally down to your lap.
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What happens after breast surgery?
You’ll probably have a drainage tube inserted in your breast after the operation so that the lymph that normally flushes toxins out of a wound can drain into a bag. It’s normal for a lot of lymph to flow to a wound or surgical site, but too much may cause swelling or infection. The tube and bag are removed once the lymph has stopped draining and it’s safe to close the wound entirely (usually in about two weeks).
You may wear a sling to avoid too much arm movement, or your doctor might prefer that you start moving your arm as soon as possible. You’ll probably have a set of mild exercises to keep your arm muscles limber. Many women find that the breast area doesn’t hurt so much, but the area where lymph nodes were removed feels tight and sore.
Will I need chemotherapy and radiation?
Your treatment after surgery depends on the specifics of the cancer you have. Lumpectomy patients usually receive six to seven weeks of radiation therapy. Women who’ve had mastectomies usually don’t get radiation unless the tumor was larger than five centimeters, there were multiple lymph nodes involved or the cancer metastasized to other parts of the body.
The decision about whether you’ll need chemotherapy or any other kind of drug therapy will depend on factors such as the type and grade of the tumor, lymph node involvement, the size of the tumor, and your age and overall health.