Breast Cancer

[ladykacy]

I had a double mastectomy March 17 and 16 days later I am still getting 80-100cc of fluid from my two remaining drain tubes. One tube came out 9 days after surgery when it got below 30cc. The tube that has the largest volume is my right side (which I use more often). The side that had the lymph nodes removed have the lower volume. My question is what might be causing the the drainage to continue being so large. I read a 1979 report that stated patients who did not use their arm(s) for the first 7 days after surgery had significantly less fluid output then patients who freely moved their arms the first days. There was a slightly higher risk of lymphodema for those who did not use their arm the first 7 days but the fluid was reduced by 40 percent. My surgeon told me to begin walking my arms up the wall the day after surgery.

Can you tell me if the report might be valid? Does overuse the first week cause extra drainage? Is there anything I can do to facilitate less drainage, as I am quite eager to get this uncomfortable and awkward tubes out:)