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Main Content
Breast Cancer Surgery
Getting prepared
Learning about breast cancer
Types of breast cancer surgery
Getting ready for surgery
Day of surgery
At home after surgery
Your incision
Concerns or complications
Personal care, nutrition, and activity
Integrative and complementary therapies
Appearance
Emotional self care and awareness
Drain care
Arm and shoulder exercises
Scar massage
Emergencies and when to get help
Resources
GET HELP
Massaging your scars is important. It keeps the tissue around the incision loose so it doesn’t “stick” to the tissue underneath.
Wait until after your skin has healed before you start massaging your scar. Your skin will be healed when the edges of the scar are well closed with no gaps, and have no drainage. You can do the massages here for breast, chest, and armpit scars.
If you’re having radiation treatments, you may be told to stop doing scar massage during your treatments, because it may be uncomfortable and your skin is fragile during radiation. You can start again when your skin has healed from your radiation treatments.
You may feel some pulling. Loosening the scar may be more comfortable to do while the skin is warm (such as after a shower). Make sure your skin is dry and do not use cream so your fingers do not slide while you’re trying to do the massage.
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