Cancer Support

She will probably have a drain that goes to a bulb like container for emptying. My husband got in the shower with me at first because I was weak and could not hold the drain and wash myself. There will probably been some sticky stuff from the antiseptic they used on her skin. We got a chair for the shower (which we both used when we had our knees replaced). I made a lanyard type thing with a long shoestring and and safety pin to secure the drain container so I could take a shower by myself. The lanyard around my neck gave me both arms to use and using the arm on that side is good from the beginning. Google "arm exercises after mastectomy", there are videos. Also you can Google "post mastectomy care". She may come home with printed instructions as well.

The wound itself is not terrible painful since they do not cut much muscle. They do cut nerves so there will be areas of numbness. Assure her those will most come back, but it takes a long time. My drain was huge inside and it was painful so I avoided touching that skin as much as possible.

I did not want to look at my incision, but it was the right thing to do from the beginning.

Tell her, a 10 year survivor (diagnosed 3/19/12) is thinking about her. She is lucky you are so concerned and want advice. Make sure she drinks fluids and let her eat any damn thing she wants.