45 year old female, married, mother of two children, ages 10 and 12 years old. She noticed a lump in her left breast during her monthly breast self-exam two weeks ago. She made an appointment with her doctor who documents “a fixed round lump with irregular borders palpated.in the upper outer quadrant of left breast at 2:00. Left axillary edema noted no nipple discharge. The client denies pain.” Mrs. X began having her menstrual period at 10 years of age. She has 2 children, both of whom she breastfed for approximately twelve months. Patient oldest sister died of breast cancer. She has a diagnostic mammogram and a fine-needle aspiration biopsy. It is determined that she has stage II breast cancer.

Patient underwent lumpectomy with lymph node dissection. Drain in place postoperatively (first post-operative visit). Patient complaining of pain at surgical site, and generalized weakness.

The nurse is teaching her about possible complications of her surgery. Explain what lymphedema is, the chances of developing lymphedema, and its manifestations.
Second post-operative visit to clinic, drain removed. Plan to receive 4 cycles of chemotherapy.