Questions for women who've had breast cancer?!
Question: My wife has breast cancer and is to have a double mastectomy. I would like to know how long to expect her to be in the hospital. Will she need someone with her 24 hours a day when she first comes home and if so for how long? We need to know how long to expect so I can tell work how long I need off and how long we might need a caregiver .
Thanks!
Answers: My wife has breast cancer and is to have a double mastectomy. I would like to know how long to expect her to be in the hospital. Will she need someone with her 24 hours a day when she first comes home and if so for how long? We need to know how long to expect so I can tell work how long I need off and how long we might need a caregiver .
Thanks!
www.breastcancer.org is the best web site I've found.
I've only had lumpectomies so far, but I'm scheduled for the double mastectomy next month. With the lumpectomies I spent one night in hospital. My roommate with a single mastectomy stayed the same amount of time. I would guess that your wife probably won't spend more than 2 nights max in hospital, unless there are complications.
It would be good for her to have someone with her for the first couple days after coming home and then to have someone within relatively easy access. You don't necessarily need a caregiver if your wife is healthy otherwise, but it would be a comfort to you and her to know that a neighbor or someone could respond quickly in an emergency or perhaps just check in.
She should go to a pre-surgery info session to know what she needs to have on hand and to learn how to deal with the surgical drains, which are the most troublesome part of the whole deal. She will need pajamas that button up the front - not nightgowns. Similarly for shirts, pullovers will be a problem for a while.
Stock up on some easily prepared meals, at least a month's worth. Treat yourselves and have a cleaning service in for the first month.
Do go to that web site, there a women there who generously give advice, not and later when your wife deals with prostheses or reconstruction.
You might want to read and post on a wonderfully supportive message board for those with breast cancer and their loved ones at iVillage.com - Your Total Health:
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-bhb...
Below is some additional information for you:
http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/brea...
The prognosis for those with breast cancer gets better each day! Good luck to both of you : )
I found this site http://www.seniorcaregiver.info/ to be very helpful if you are a family caregiver.
Good advice from hanora about aftercare..
I had a single mastectomy and was in hospital for a week, though most of the women on my ward who had (single) mastectomies did a bit better than I did and stayed between two and five days. Obviously I don't know the protocol where you are, and I live in the UK so there is no worry for patients about the cost of having to stay in a bit longer.
Mastectomy doesn't result in the pain you might expect; it is sore rather than painful and effective painkillers keep discomfort to a minimum. Your wife will need to rest, and it would certainly be desirable to have you there for the first few days, after that as hanora says, just someone who can respond to a telephone call if necessary should be sufficient.
My best wishes for your wife's treatment and recovery.