the breast reconstruction workshop
TRANSCRIPT
The Breast Reconstruction
Workshop
Presenter: Bridgette Lord, Nurse Practitioner
A breast reconstruction roadmap
At home
1. Activity 7. Bathing
2. Drain care 8. Incision care
3. Abdominal binder 9. Diet
4. Exercise 10. Driving
5. Pain control 11. Bras
6. Dressings 12. Intimacy
At home (cont’d)
1. ACTIVITY
o Your surgeon is expecting you to be moving around and not
staying in bed for long periods of time during the day.
o Start with activities of daily living such as dressing, personal
hygiene, making a light snack, walking around the house and
up the stairs, as tolerated.
o Alternate periods of rest with periods of activity.
o DO NOT lift anything over 5 lbs, as it can interfere with the
healing process and cause additional swelling in the area.
At home (cont’d)
2. DRAIN CARE
o You will be responsible for emptying your drainage tube (as demonstrated to you by the nurse in Pre-
Admission) and keeping track of how much fluid is coming out. This is very important, because the
totals tell us when it is safe to remove the drains.
o The homecare nurse will check the drainage totals and remove the drains as ordered by the surgeon.
3. ABDOMINAL BINDER
o Continue to wear your binder 24 hours a day until otherwise instructed by your surgeon. You may adjust
the binder during the day as needed. Just make sure it is always snug.
o Remove the binder to shower. If the binder is rubbing against your breast or incisions try
wearing a camisole or t-shirt and then applying the binder over top.
At home (cont’d)
4. EXERCISES
o Refer to the Rehabilitation Following Breast Surgery Pamphlet as instructed by the physiotherapist and
occupational therapist.
5. PAIN CONTROL
o Continue to assess your pain and take the pain medication as ordered when it is needed.
o Take your pain medication on a regular basis for the first few days as it will keep you comfortable when
you move around and sleep. DO NOT try to do without pain medication. If the narcotic pain medication
is not agreeing with you, use extra strength Tylenol.
o The pain medication may constipate you, so you need to take a stool softener or laxative.
o DO NOT DRIVE WHILE TAKING NARCOTIC MEDICATION.
At home (cont’d)
6. DRESSINGS
o Keep dressings dry and intact. Do not remove them.
o Dressings will be removed at your first follow up
appointment.
7. BATHING
o Sponge bath only until your dressings and drains are
removed.
o Once the dressing are removed you may shower.
o If you have drains you must wait until the drains are
removed before you can shower.
At home (cont’d)
8. INCISION CARE
o You may notice bruising and swelling around the incision. This is normal and will subside within a few
weeks after the surgery.
o You may have white strips (steri-strips) over the incision. These will fall off in the shower.
o Do not apply any lotions or powders to the incision, unless indicated by your surgeon.
o Do not apply hot or cold packs to the surgical area.
o If you are having visits from the homecare nurse, they will be checking your incisions.
9. DIET
o Gradually increase your diet until you are eating your usual diet.
o We suggest small meals, more frequently and include protein, fresh fruit and vegetables,
along with fluids with each meal.
o Eating a diet high in fibre may help reduce constipation.
At home (cont’d)
10. DRIVING
o Gradually increase your diet until you are eating your usual diet.
o We suggest small meals, more frequently and include protein, fresh fruit and vegetables, along with fluids with
each meal.
o Eating a diet high in fibre may help reduce constipation.
11. BRAS
o Your surgeon will tell you if you need to wear a bra after your dressings are removed.
o We recommend a soft cotton sports bra or a camisole with a built in bra.
o Wearing a bra can keep you more comfortable, especially if you are having reconstruction
on one side only.
o Until otherwise indicated by your surgeon, avoid wearing underwire bras or bras that
are very tight.
At home (cont’d)
12. INTIMACY
o Intimacy can resume as soon as you feel comfortable.
Do not be forceful or aggressive with the breast tissue
until full healing has occurred.
Questions?
The Peter Gilgan Centre for Women’s Cancers
Women’s College Hospital
76 Grenville Street
Toronto, ON M5S 1B2
Womenscollegehospital.ca/PeterGilganCentre
T. 416-323-6400 ext. 5987