Discharge Instructions for Cervical Cancer

Activity

You may have to limit some activities for a while. You may need extra rest throughout the day. But try to get up and move around often. Ask family members or friends to help with shopping, meals, housework, and other tasks.

Here’s what to do at home after treatment for cervical cancer:

• Take your medicines exactly as directed. Use your pain medicine as needed so you can be up and moving around. Don't stay in bed.

• Don’t drive until you are no longer taking pain medicine. This may take 2 to 4 weeks.

• Plan rest breaks to avoid shortness of breath.

• Do the coughing and deep breathing exercises you learned in the hospital.

• Increase your activity slowly. Start with short walks on a level surface.

• Don’t overdo it. If you get tired, rest.

• Limit stair climbing to once or twice a day. Go slow and stop to rest every few steps.

• Avoid any heavy straining, lifting, or exercise until your surgeon says it's okay. This may take several weeks.

• Don't lift anything heavier than 10 pounds for 6 weeks, or as advised by your surgeon.

• If you ride in the car for more than short trips, stop often to stretch your legs. Don’t drive until your health care provider says it’s okay.

• Ask your provider when you can expect to return to work, your regular daily activities, taking baths, and swimming.

Other home care

To help with your recovery and avoid problems:

• Take only those medicines prescribed by your health care provider. Don't take over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, supplements, or herbs unless your provider says it's okay.

• Check your temperature every day for a week after your surgery.

• Take pain medicine exactly as directed.

• Continue the coughing and deep-breathing exercises that you learned in the hospital.

• Some procedures have cuts in the skin (incisions) and some don’t. Talk with your provider or nurse about taking care of any incisions and managing bandages.

• Shower as needed. Ask a friend or family member to stay close by in case you need help.

• Don’t put anything in your vagina. This includes tampons or douches. Don't have sex until your provider says it's okay.

• Try to prevent constipation:

  • Eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

  • Drink lots of water and other healthy drinks.

  • Call your provider if you are having trouble with bowel movements. You may need medicine.

Follow-up care

Make a follow-up appointment as directed by your health care provider. During this visit, your incision will be checked and, if needed, stitches or staples will be taken out.

When to call your doctor

Make sure you know how to reach your health care provider or their office staff anytime, even on weekends and holidays. Call right away if you have:

• A fever of 100.4 °F (38°C) or higher, or as directed by your provider.

• Chills.

• An increase in the amount of vaginal discharge, or changes in discharge.

• Bright red vaginal bleeding or vaginal bleeding that soaks more than one pad over several hours.

• Pain or burning when you urinate.

• Belly (abdominal) pain that gets worse.

• Pain that's not relieved by medicine.

• Redness, swelling, increased pain, or drainage around any incisions.

• Nausea or vomiting.

• Diarrhea that does not go away.

• New redness, pain, swelling, or warmth in your leg(s) or arm(s).

Call 911

Call 911 right away if you have:

• A rapid, irregular heartbeat; chest pain.

• Shortness of breath, especially at rest.

• A cough.

• Trouble breathing.

• Lightheadedness or dizziness.