World Cancer Day is February 4th.
Cancer recovery is challenging for the patient and everyone who loves them.
This guide offers tips on how to prepare yourself, or help a loved one going through it, along with gift ideas that are sure to bring a smile.
Preparing for my own mastectomy and reconstruction surgery helped to give me back some sense of control. Here are some things I did to prepare for my own recovery:
~ I took advantage of the support program my plastic surgeons office offered. I attended Zoom meetings, and had a phone call with a woman who had had the same type of surgery (DIEP Flap Reconstruction) that I'd soon be undergoing.
~ I paid someone to clean my house.
~ I grocery shopped- heavily.
~ I stocked my freezer with home-cooked meals in individual portions. That was a win-win, with the busy work of food prep keeping my mind preoccupied.
My post-surgery self was grateful to my pre-surgery self for weeks worth of home-made chicken soup and dinners, along with a fridge stocked full of ginger ale, ice cream and emergency prune juice. Don't forget the prune juice, girls, pain medicine is so constipating!
Here are some products I found super helpful in supporting my recovery:
1. Contour BackMax Wedge Cushion Set- You can't sleep on your side or stomach post mastectomy surgery, and this cushion set is a comfortable alternative to sleeping in a recliner.
2. Grabber Reacher Tool- You can't move your arms much in the first week or so post mastectomy, and this tool makes it easier to reach items while not having to extend your arms.
3. Pockets of Hope- An amazing non-profit that will send you a FREE zip-up sweatshirt with extra pockets sewn in to hold the drainage bulbs you'll be sent home with.
4. Button Front Pajamas- You'll want these affordable, comfy pajama's in a few different colors. The button front is the important part, offering easy access for drainage bulb care.
5. All-Natural Cream Deodorant- It's common to have an axillary node dissection with a mastectomy, and the last thing I wanted to do was to apply a commercial anti-perspirant, brimming with aluminum salts and parabens. The soft cream formula allowed me to apply it ever so gingerly with a finger tip, and feel confident in the ingredients. This deodorant works really well for me for a full 24 hours.
6. Drainage Bulb Holder with Shower Bag- This one comes with four drainage bulb holders and one mesh bag for showering. Check with your doctor before purchasing, sometimes they'll gift you this type of product in advance!
7. Adjustable Round Shower Chair- A smaller sized, sturdy shower seat that made showering so much easier. In those early days, I wouldn't have been able to shower without it.
Lastly, if you're looking for a gift, I've rounded up a few gems! These gift ideas are sure to make her feel special and pamper her during her recovery from mastectomy surgery:
1. The SimpliciTEA Gift Box
2. Crystal Happenings | Palm & Pocket Stones
3. Luvons Luxe Slipper | Slippers Nice Enough for Company
4. Poppies With Purpose | Give The Gift Of Courage
5. Comfort Company | The Giving Heart Weighted Pillow
6. Jeni's Pint Club | Artisan Ice Cream Subscription
7. Stella Chroma Big 5-Free Nail Lacquer | Mystery Polish Gift Subscription
8. Lavender Soap & Candle Gift Box
9. Not The Breast Year of My Life: Finding Hope and Resilience After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
More general gift ideas:
Soft, Supportive Pillows: Specialized pillows, such as heart-shaped or back rest pillows, can provide comfort and support during recovery, especially for breast surgery patients.
Skincare Essentials: No-water bathing wipes are very helpful when you first arrive home. Unscented lotions and balms can help soothe radiation-treated skin or post-surgical scars, keeping skin moisturized and reducing irritation.
Entertainment and Comfort Items: Journals, cozy blankets, audiobooks, or streaming subscriptions to help pass time during recovery. These can provide much-needed relaxation and mental distraction.
Gift Cards: For food delivery services or online shopping sites.
If you'd like to help in other ways, being more specific helps:
For instance, instead of saying, "Please let me know if you need anything over there."
Say, "I'm going grocery shopping tomorrow, would it help if I picked up a few things for you? I can drop it off on your front porch."
*Pro tip: Before you go, leave a large cooler on your front porch for people who'd like to drop off food- aka Earth Angels!
Of course these are just my own thoughts, but I hope this helps!
If you are the patient, remember, your body has just undergone a major change and it needs your attention and care in helping it heal. Accept help, have patience and be kind to yourself.
