Post-mastectomy orientations: The nursing role

Abstract

The treatment of breast cancer, especially the surgery, results in serveral emotional and physical consequences to women. Among them, we emphasize the ones related to the performance of their daily activities and social roles. The rehabilitation of the women submitted to a breast cancer surgery requires, therefore, a multiprofessional care, in which nursing plays an important role. During the rehabilitation process, the woman must receive information on the care after the surgery, orientation and information about the different stages of the recovering process, care with the upper limb on the side of the surgery, exercises to recover the functional capacity of the arm and the shoulder, as well as on other treatments such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormonal therapy. The presente study has the purpose to identifying the orientation received by a group of mastectomized women regarding the care with the arm after the surgery and the discharge from hospital, as well as to find out the profissionals who give these post-mastectomy orientation. Data were collected in a data bank. The sample was formed by 324 women from 29 to 86 years old and most ofthem (53,07%) were ftom 41 to 60 years old, 48,45% had only elementar school education and 62,34% were married. Authors verified that 227 (70%) received limited orientation on some physical exercises, among them: with the little ball (41,9%), to lift the arm (55,86%). The orientation was given with more frequency by the doctor — 123 (37.96%)) and by the nursing team — 104 (32,09%)). Data showed that the nursing team needs to be better prepared in the process of rehabilitation of the patients, which begins in the diagnostic phase. Therefore, authors discuss some important aspects of the care, such as orientation on self-care; the performance of daily activities, physical exercises and specific care with the upper limb in the operated side, preventing lymphedema, among others.