Practical Tips: Getting Through Surgery and Radiation
Group Effort: Organize with your support team and decide who will take on the responsibilities of picking up, dropping off, cooking, cleaning, draining, hanging out, bathing, and medicating.
Medications: Check with your pharmacy to make sure that important medications will be available and covered by insurance. Home delivery is always a plus.
Nesting: Prepare your home before getting home from surgery. This includes figuring out special pillows, different blankets, and a designated space where the patient will primarily hang out and get catered to. If you have stairs, try to set up a bedroom or space on the downstairs floor, so the patient doesn’t have to ever walk the stairs alone.
Showering and bathing: Based on the doctors’ advice, ensure you have proper facilities for the patient to shower or bathe prior to having their independence.
Bed Trays: The patient will have many meals in bed. Make sure you are set up to make it easy and comfortable for them—and for you, too.
Entertainment: This includes everything from Netflix and other streaming sources, music, DVDs, headphones, games, reading materials, and so on. Scrabble was brought out of the closet, as well as the backgammon board—whatever brings some fun into the mix.
Calendar: Create one that allows all members of your dream team to have access to the times of doctor appointments and radiation sessions. It’s nice to see the whole journey, especially the finish line when all the treatments are done.
Radiation Rx: Calendula creams are great for radiated skin. I used the brand Boiron. Carry it with you when going through radiation and apply after treatments. Cabbage is also an effective home remedy for burns and radiated skin. Take a couple of cabbage leaves from the fridge, and put them on your breast to help bring moisture back into your skin.
Clothing: Ensure you have comfortable, loose clothing after surgery. This is all you will want to wear when recovering. You’ll probably get a surgical bra after surgery, but wireless, sports-like versions are better as you recover later.
Mindset: Staycation? Cancercation? Self-lovecation? This is for you. Surrender to it. Remember: This too shall pass.