Learning Objectives
➤ Identify factors to consider before returning to daily activities.
➤ List general guidelines to follow post-treatment.
3.1.1 Week 1 To Week 6
After your breast cancer treatment, your ability to return to the normal activities of your life will be variable (Lymphedema Support Group, 2012). Various factors including:
- when you can return to work,
- what your recommended exercises are,
- and how long it takes to heal (Lymphedema Support Group, 2012).
These factors depend upon the type of surgery you underwent and your overall wellbeing.
3.1.2 General Guidelines
Although everyone recovers at different rates, there are some general guidelines you can follow (Lymphedema Support Group, 2012). These guidelines include:
- Wearing clothing that is comfortable and easy to put on and take off.
- Avoiding unnecessary strain on your arm.
- Wearing light support bras or sports bras that do not have an underwire (lumpectomy or partial mastectomy).
- Wearing a light and breathable tank top (total mastectomy).
- Not driving if you are taking medication that has narcotics in it or if your drain is still in place.
- Increasing daily activities gradually.
- Not carrying your purse on the side you had surgery on.
- Not raising your affected arm above 90 degrees.
- Not using your affected arm as support when getting up from sitting or lying down.
- Exercising lightly multiple times each day. (Boudarra et al., 2020; Lymphedema Working Group, 2012)
