After a right radical mastectomy, which activity may be most difficult for the client with her right hand?

After a right radical mastectomy, the client may experience significant challenges with fine motor skills and strength in her right hand due to the surgical removal of breast tissue and surrounding tissues, including lymph nodes. This procedure can impact the range of motion and dexterity of the shoulder and arm on the affected side.

Combing her hair is an activity that requires reaching and rotating the shoulder, which may be difficult due to pain, stiffness, or postoperative limitations. Additionally, control and grip strength may be compromised after such a surgery, making the motion of bringing the comb through the hair harder to execute.

Conversely, buttoning a blouse, eating breakfast, and brushing her teeth might involve less intricate movement or can be adapted to make them easier. For instance, with some modifications, a person could manage eating or brushing teeth using more of the left hand or with assistive devices. However, combing hair often requires more coordinated movement of the arm and hand, which is why it is particularly challenging in this scenario.