Dressing removal post-mastectomy

Going through breast cancer treatment Top tips and practical support
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Hi all

I hope you’ve all managed to have a few moments of joy over Christmas, despite the circumstances.

I’m posting for some advice and to find out what others have been told.

I had a right side mastectomy and full axillary lymph node clearance on 19th December, so it’s 10 days since my surgery today. Having some interesting feelings in my arm and armpit, the most weird of which is a fizzy elbow😊. Massaging cream into it seems to help. Not enjoying my armpit ‘aroma’ though and desperate for a shower. Shallow baths for me so far. Doing my exercises religiously, but ouch!

My question is actually about removing dressings.

I had to go back to the hospital the morning after surgery to have my drain checked as there wasn’t much in it and the surgeon thought it may be blocked.

The breast cancer nurse took off the top dressing, so I was able to see that there is a long row of small vertically applied steri strips along the length of the wound, which is much longer that I was expecting.
Anyway, there wasn’t a blockage and the nurse put another outside dressing on.

The drain came out last Friday with not much in it at all. The wound looks nicely flat apart from some general small sections of a little swelling, which I guess is to be expected as is the fact that the bruising is going through an interesting range of colours🙃

I was told to keep it all dry for two weeks, but nothing really about removing the dressing. My preference would be to get the nurse to do it, as it makes me feel a bit queasy thinking of taking it off and picking away at the steri strips, but the outside dressing it’s starting to peel off, so that will leave the steri strips exposed.

I don’t want to introduce any infection.

I’m wondering whether it will all last until next Tuesday, which will be 2 weeks, and then I could go to see the breast cancer nurse to have it removed, or whether to try to soak it off. Once it’s wet, I guess I won’t have any other choice than to remove the steri strips myself. How sticky are they? Do they actually soak off? I can’t believe that, as they must be pretty sturdy.

Any advice and experience gladly received.

Thanks all

Karen x🎄x

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Somewhere in all the paperwork you received from the hospital will be information about looking after your wound after surgery.

What I think I was told is to remove the top dressing after so many days and to leave the steri strips to fall off of their own accord. It might specify a maximum number of days for the steri strips, but equally don’t stress if any start to come away early.

It does feel a bit weird trying to pick at the edge of the dressing to get it started as you can tell that you are touching your skin, but it is numb.

I was also surprised at the length of my mastectomy scar. The leaflet I was given made it look like a neat curved line a few centimetres long. Mine goes from almost the middle of my chest to under my armpit. It may be that this was to access the sentinel lymph node without making another scar in my armpit. Many on here have said that the armpit scar causes them more problems.

Best wishes for speedy healing.

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Hi
I was asked by bcn if I wanted to do it myself to which I said no thanks, so she made me an appointment for the clinic two weeks after the op, I would ring and ask them.
Hope you get on okay
Jackie
X

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Thanks Jackie

I’ve left a message for them to call me back. It would be my preference to get them to do it, just in case, but it means my husband taking and bringing me back yet again. I’m worried he’ll lose his job with all the time off and I don’t suppose I can drive myself there :roll_eyes:

I’ve been wondering how you are as I think our surgery was the same day. Hope you are ok!

Karen x

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Hiya,

I had my lumpectomy op on the 19th December, I took my bandages off yesterday as my armpit one was peeling off and very sticky.
Just the steri strips left on.

Had a lovely shower and shaved my armpit, I was looking very ape like :joy:

Xxxx

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Well done for getting this far with your treatment.
My left side mx left me with a big smile from centre of chest to armpit. They put something like clingfilm over my dressing so I could shower carefully while facing away from shower head. When my drain was removed after 1 week the nurse asked if I was ok to remove dressing the next week. I wasn’t sure at the time. She said I could make an appointment to come back to clinic, or see nurse at my local village surgery. I decided in the end that I’m a big girl now and I’m quite capable of doing it myself.
I took it off in the shower. The outer cover came off easily. The steri strips came off with water. I told my partner if he hears me scream he must NOT come in. I think after 2 weeks I had chance to get used to being flat on one side.

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Well done! You’re a braver woman than me.

I have an appointment Tuesday for dressing removal. Part of me wants to make sure they like the look of it and that there’s no nasties lurking I suppose.

In other news: Jackie, apologies, I realised it was positivepants who had her surgery the same day as me, not you. Silly me

Xxx

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Just sharing my experience from earlier this year. I had my Mastectomy in February and then Axillary Dissection in April. Both times I went back into hospital to have my drain removed by the BCN; that was 4 days post-op.

In terms of removing the dressing I was told that I could remove it myself anywhere between 2-3 weeks from surgery, or that the breast care nurse would remove it when I came in for my clinic appointment with surgeon for post-op pathology results; (this was 3 weeks from surgery). This happened both times. The first time I waited the 3 weeks for the nurse to remove it; I thought the nurse/surgeon would check if everything looked alright at the same time but nothing like that happened, the BCN literally ripped the dressing off and nothing else. I went home and cleaned the remaining sticky glue residue with some baby oil over a few days as it was thick and wouldn’t come off in a regular steam shower/bath at once.

So the second time around I decided I’d remove it myself in 2 weeks (to be able to have a proper shower/wash hair) as there wasn’t anything additional a BCN would do for me by waiting 3 weeks for my results day to come. There were sterri-strips which I removed carefully in a steamed shower.

When I went in to have my drain removed post op, it was a bit more different because the nurse did seem to check & wipe the drain site area with a sterile wipe of some sort, and put a gauze dressing that could be removed by me at home the next day.

xx

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Don’t worry about it mine was due to be results but they were a week late.

Hope you’re doing ok, like you I wanted someone to look at it and tell me it looked like it should

Xx

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Hi Karen, left side mastectomy on 19th December for me too. The district nurse is coming to remove dressing on 2nd January, I can’t wait to get it off but feel queasy thinking about it!
I’m waiting for an appointment with results from pathology. Lots and lots of waiting in this club isn’t there?
All the very best to you all
Jane
Xx

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I was lumpectomy on the 19th December. Gut a friend over today to take the steristrips off for me. Looks ok but still very very sore, thought it would be feeling easier by now. Anyone know how it looks feels if you get a seroma ???

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Hi @jecs333

Hope your dressing removal went well today. Mine was fine. No pain, after worrying all night about it last night!

Xxx

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Dear midwife

Sorry to read you are feeling uncomfortable after your surgery hopefully it will heal very soon. Try not to let anything rub against it as regards your seroma when I had mine it was in my back, it feel lots of water swishing around. I did have it drained twice but sometimes it’s best just to leave it and it’ll just settle on its own, keep your eye on it and make sure it doesn’t get red and hot if so, call your Breast Cancer nurse could be an infection

Wishing you well going forward for a speedy recovery

Big hugs Tili :rainbow::pray::rainbow::pray:

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Hi, yes dressing gone! Hurray! I’ve had a deep bath, it was great. However, on seeing my body, minus one boob I just couldn’t stop crying. Not tears of pain, just sadness. I’ve pulled myself together now, been for a walk, cooked myself a really nice lunch and talked to my daughter.
I hope you’re ok, it’s another hurdle overcome isn’t it?
Have you got a date yet for results appointment following surgery? I’m waiting for mine.
Please keep in touch.
Sending virtual hug x

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Hi Jane

Yes, the crying is sadness more than anything, even though I’m so glad to have the tumours and dodgy lymph nodes gone. I’ve been blubbing on and off all day, but that’s partly to do with not sleeping. That lifted a bit once the dressing was off and I saw how neat the scar was. Still feel a bit nervous of getting the bath or shower. May do it later once husband is home from work, in case of any wobbles. You’re very brave and inspiring. I think my smelly armpit will spur me on, especially as I changed the bedding this morning :smile: Looking forward to getting back to the right side of the bed :bed:

Even though I had to wait SO long to get to this point, (first referred 4th October) it still feels surreal. When will I really believe it’s actually happening to me? Not part of the plan. Thank goodness for the free counselling sessions available with Macmillan and Someone Like Me sessions with Breast Cancer Now. Hopefully acceptance will arrive via them at some point. I’ll be running a few 5Ks to raise money to donate when I’m on the other side🏃‍♀️

My follow up appointment is 8th Jan. Fully expecting to have to have chemo. Urgh.

Karen xxx

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Fragrant armpits! Bliss!
I just can’t bring myself to look at my scar yet, maybe tomorrow.
Take care of yourself.
Big hug
Jane

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You’ll be fine :blush:

Celebrate it. It’s saved your life :heart:

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PS I realise my comment may sound glib, and I wanted to assure you that I know how you feel. It is really hard to see your body this way after a lifetime of it being another way.

I’m really talking to myself here too! I cry every day :upside_down_face::roll_eyes:

Love and hugs :hugs:

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I dread every morning when I get undressed to shower and see my poor boob , and every night too. Guess with time you adjust to your new body :pray:

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