The nurse's role includes teaching the patient about potential sensation changes that may follow surgical treatment. Common sensations include tenderness and tightness after axillary lymph node dissection. However, most sensations are not severe or distressing and improve noticeably during the first 3 months after surgery. Some sensations persist for up to 2 years, and phantom breast and nipple sensations have been reported by up to 50% of women after a mastectomy. These sensations occur more often in younger women.
Continue to provide support throughout the continuum of care, recognizing that anxiety may be highest before the diagnosis is known. Prescribe exercise or physical movement as soon as the patient can tolerate it. Exercise is an effective intervention with positive outcomes. Successful planning of nursing care takes into consideration pain management, psychosocial issues, self-care, dressing care, and mobility and activity limitations (for example, lifting). Protocols, when available, are helpful to standardize best practices.