Breast cancer education for patients — and the healthcare professionals who care for them.
Learn on your own. Explore together during a treatment session. Share trusted resources with someone you care for.
Your Practical Guide to Preparing for Breast Cancer Surgery
Early Healing Phase:
Why Temporary Restrictions Matter
What to expect for the first 1–4 weeks after surgery. (depending on your surgeon’s restrictions)
You may be asked to:
Limit overhead or repetitive arm movements.
Why This Helps Your Body Heal
1️⃣ Reduces Pain
Less movement stress on mending tissues helps calm the nervous system, encourages healing, and decreases post-surgical discomfort.
Practical Tips for the Early Healing Phase
During the first few weeks after surgery, your goal is to reduce unnecessary reaching, lifting, and upper-body strain. A little preparation at home can make daily tasks easier and more comfortable.
Surgical Drains:
What to Expect & How to Manage Them
After a mastectomy, axillary lymph node dissection, or breast reconstruction, you will likely have surgical drains placed.
Seroma Savvy - Protection Strategies
A seroma is a pocket of fluid that can form after surgery when tissue is removed, and a space is left behind. Your body naturally fills that space with fluid as part of the healing response.
The fluid inside a seroma is made up of normal healing fluid. It includes fluid from small blood vessels and lymphatic vessels that were affected during surgery, along with cells that help your body heal and prevent infection.