context: These are general guidelines for recovering from breast cancer surgery. Always follow your doctor's specific instructions for care after your operation. After your surgery, you may be discharged from the hospital with an external drainage device in place. The drains will remove and collect fluid from the surgery site. Your doctor will show you how to care for the device before you leave the hospital. This usually includes emptying the drains, measuring the fluid, and keeping an eye out for any problems. The amount of fluid that drains will gradually decrease. The fluid color may also change from a cherry red to a yellow-red, and then to a straw color. Usually the drainage system is removed within 1 to 3 weeks after surgery. You'll get a special bra that holds bandages in place after surgery. Your doctor will tell you when this bra may be removed and will also show you how to change the dressings from your surgery. If possible, have someone help you. Keep your incision clean and dry for 1 week after surgery. You may need to take sponge baths rather than showers. Bathing in a bathtub is OK if you keep the incision area dry. Small pieces of tape will remain over the incision. They usually fall off by themselves. Don't go swimming until your doctor and surgeon say it's OK. The area may be black and blue right after breast cancer surgery. This will go away in a few days. You might be numb, uncomfortable, or have tingling on the inner part of your upper arm or in your armpit. This is normal. A warm shower feel nice, but wait at least a week after surgery. When shaving under your arm or applying deodorant, look in the mirror to avoid irritating the incision. As it heals, the incision may feel thick and tough. Massage the area with a mild lotion, vitamin E, or pure lanolin. Highly perfumed lotions and any product containing alcohol may be irritating. After several weeks, the scar will soften. Your doctor will give you a prescription for pain medication after breast cancer surgery. Ask about taking over-the-counter pain relievers in addition to, or instead of, your prescription pain medicine. Don't take aspirin or products with aspirin for the first 3 days after the procedure. They can make you more likely to bleed. Daily stretching exercises can help you regain mobility, but talk to your surgeon about when to start them. Arm lifts. While standing or sitting on the edge of a chair, lift both arms over your head with your elbows close to your ears. Hold for a count of five and repeat. Arm swings. While standing, swing both arms forward and back from your shoulders (like a pendulum). Keep your elbows straight. Increase the distance of the swing each time. Repeat 10 times. Wall climbing. Stand facing a wall with your feet close to the wall. Put your arms out in front of you with your hands on the wall. Climb the fingertips of both hands up the wall, until your arms are stretched over your head. Climb your fingers back down the wall. Repeat 10 times, trying to reach higher each time. Ask your doctor before you get back behind the wheel. Most women can start driving again 10-14 days after surgery. Regular follow-up visits are important after breast cancer treatment. Your doctor will watch you closely to ensure that the cancer hasn't returned. Checkups usually include exams of the chest, underarm, and neck. From time to time, you'll get a complete physical and an annual mammogram. No other regular X-rays, scans, or blood tests are usually needed. A woman who's had cancer in one breast has a higher-than-average risk of developing cancer in her other breast. You should continue to do monthly breast self-exams, checking both the treated area and your other breast. Report any changes to your doctor right away. It's best not to have blood taken, or an injection given, in the arm on the side of your body where you had breast cancer surgery. If you have to have blood drawn or get medication in this arm, tell the health care professional that you've had breast surgery. Give the office a call if your arm or hand or the area near the incision or under your arm swells. A small amount of swelling is normal for about 1 month after surgery. Sometimes raising your arm on pillows will ease some of the swelling. You should also let your doctor know if you have a fever over 100.4 F, more drainage from the incision, or pain that's not controlled by your medication. Other physical problems your doctor should hear about are: Loss of appetite or weight Changes in menstrual periods Blurred vision Dizziness, coughing, or hoarseness Headaches Shortness of breath Digestive problems that seem unusual or that don't go away in 2-3 days