Nursing essay on the care of a patient with breastcancer and lymphoedema

Irene is a thirty-three year old married woman, who has two young children aged six months and five years. She has recently been attending the surgical outpatients clinic for investigation of a lump in her right breast. During her appointments at the clinic, Irene has expressed anxiety regarding the outcome of the lump on her breast. She is therefore later diagnosed with breast cancer and has been admitted to the breast surgery ward to receive …

…by avoiding medical procedures that could cause minor trauma to the affected arm. Therefore for Irene taking blood pressure, blood samples and injections would be avoided. In conclusion to this a care plan has been devised for Irene that has addressed her post-operative needs. Pain and lymphoedema have been identified as high priorities of care for Irene following her breast cancer surgery therefore nursing interventions related to the management of these problems have been implemented.