After being discharged from breast cancer surgery, there are many precautions, and only by remembering and doing these things well can you truly get rid of breast cancer. These precautions are like guardians, guarding your health and allowing you to embrace the beauty of life again. Follow them and you will have the light of day.
(1) Wound care
At 2-3 days after discharge, we need to change the dressing. During this time, we need to keep the dressing clean and dry, and closely observe the condition of the incision for redness, induration, hematoma, exudate or suppuration. Once these conditions are recognized, they should be immediately returned to the hospital for treatment such as dressing change and debridement. To better protect the wound, we can raise the shoulder of the affected side so that the affected limb is raised, and at the same time apply pressure to the wound with an abdominal band. However, it is important to note that the blood in the distal part of the affected limb must be monitored at all times to avoid accidents. In addition, the role of the drain is to drain fluid and blood and promote adhesion of the flap, chest wall, and axillary tissues. For patients discharged with a tube, it is important to secure the drain and keep it open. The bag should always be below the midaxillary line, whether lying down, standing or moving, to prevent infection from reflux of the drain. We should also change the drainage bottle daily and carefully observe the shape, color, and amount of drainage. Normally, the fluid drained should be bloody, then gradually lighten in color, eventually turn yellow and fade away. In general, the amount of bloody fluid drained per day should be 50 100 ml for 1 2 days after surgery, after which it will gradually decrease. 4 to 5 days after surgery, when there is no fluid in the wound cavity and the wound surface is close to each other, the drain can be removed. However, if there is any abnormality in the drainage fluid, such as purple color or increased drainage volume, we should contact the doctor immediately for professional treatment. 
(2) Edema of the affected limbIn patients undergoing axillary lymph node dissection, once the lymphatic vessels are damaged, the lymphatic fluid will be blocked, which can easily lead to edema of the affected limb. This condition can cause people to have limited movement of their limbs and even difficulty lifting their hands. If left untreated, it can also lead to lymphangitis, which can seriously affect quality of life. In fact, it is important to prevent edema of the affected limb. The key to preventing upper extremity edema is to follow two principles: avoiding excessive blood flow in the upper extremities and reducing resistance to lymphatic return. In order to achieve these two principles, patients need to pay attention to the following:1Protects the affected upper limb from injury and infection;2.Avoid drug injections, blood draws, and immunizations, as well as blood pressure measurements in the upper extremity on this side;3.Prevent the affected upper limb from prolonged exposure to high temperatures, such as hot water immersion, sun exposure, or sauna4.Avoid wearing underwear, necklaces and suspenders that are too tight**;5.Avoid activities such as high-intensity exercise or heavy lifting of heavy objects in the affected upper extremity. As soon as symptoms of upper extremity edema appear, a professional body should be sought as soon as possible**. Current methods are mainly focused on relieving symptoms and preventing exacerbations, and have limited effect on advanced severe edema. Therefore, the implementation of preventive measures is particularly important. By following the above recommendations carefully, patients can effectively reduce the risk of edema of the affected limb and thus improve their quality of life. 
(3) Functional exercise of the affected limb
Functional exercise of the affected limb after surgery is crucial, which not only accelerates the functional recovery of the affected limb, but also improves the patient's ability to take care of himself. The duration of the workout should be longer than six months, especially the first three months, which is a critical period for recovery. During the recovery process, patients should pay special attention not to perform activities such as blood pressure measurement, blood drawing, intravenous injection, and heavy lifting on the affected limb, and the weight should be controlled to less than 5 kg. At the same time, in order to avoid ** breakage and infection, patients also need to guard against mosquito bites. Patients can learn from the exercise methods during hospitalization, especially the exercise of raising the upper limb with a wall, which is very beneficial for the functional recovery of the affected limb. In addition, patients can perform rotation, extension exercises, rope pulling, and even try some simple household activities such as sweeping the floor, washing dishes, drying clothes, etc. However, it should be noted that when performing these activities, patients should avoid moving too loudly and violently, so as not to affect the healing of the wound. Focus on Breast Health Quality Authors List