After you perform breast surgery, how do you work with your patients to help prevent lymphedema and manage any side effects?

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drbreastsurgery (Physician - Surgery - Surgical Oncology (Verified) ) - 06 / 20 / 2011

luckily this is less of a problem with many more women these days who undergo sentinel lymph node biopsy, rather than a complete axillary dissection and therefore removal of most of the lymph nodes. women who have a complete dissection must be careful with that arm, e.g. no blood draws to that arm, or to wear gloves when gardening, to prevent injury/infection. if signs of lymphedema should occur, it is important for a woman to see a physical therapist and/or occupational therapist e.g. to learn arm exercises and to get a compression sleeve to reduce swelling.
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