HOSPITAL CHECKLIST

SUPPORT AND ADVICE YOUR HOSPITAL checklist

DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE ON YOUR BREAST CANCER JOURNEY, YOU MAY BE PANICKING ABOUT WHAT TO TAKE FOR YOUR CHEMOTHERAPY OUTPATIENT APPOINTMENTS AND HOSPITAL INPATIENT STAY. FUTURE DREAMS’ AMANDA HANISON SHARES SOME PRACTICAL ADVICE

A sudden breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment and surgery plan is not something any woman is ever prepared for. Your head is spinning with stuff you feel you need to do and things that have to be organised.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago, it was a shock to both myself and everyone around me.

It wasn’t just the emotional bombshell that knocked us all for six but all the day-to-day practicalities of looking after two young children, running a home and working.

I remember saying, ‘I can’t be ill, I can’t do this – I’m everything to everyone.’ But like some of you reading this, I had no choice! I also had no idea what I would need and made mistakes, often sending my mum back to the shops to exchange and buy what I would really need while in hospital and having treatment. I know I was lucky having her to help me.

Since my recovery, I have supported other women on a similar journey, answering their questions and offering what practical advice I can, based on my own experiences.

One of the questions I’m often asked is, ‘What will I need in hospital?’ So I have created the following lists for patients, carers, friends and family.

‘YOUR HEAD IS SPINNING WITH STUFF YOU FEEL YOU NEED TO DO AND THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE ORGANISED’

Pack a chemo day bag Your medication/list of current medication – take a photo and save onto your phone Mobile phone/headphones/charger (extra-long cable in case you are far from a socket point) Electronic tablet/headphones/ charger (again, take the longest cable that you have) Kindle/books/magazines/puzzles Contact lenses/solution/glasses/ sunglasses Handheld fan for hot flushes, plus extra batteries Flip-flops/disposable slippers to visit the bathroom Ear plugs/eye mask in case you want to sleep If you are a chemotherapy day patient

Wear soft, comfortable clothing, loose-fitting bottoms and front-fastening top with short, wide sleeves as you will be sitting in the chair for a few hours. It also means you and your medical staff can have easy access to your port or when they need to take blood.

Due to the recent Covid-19 pandemic you may also want to include: Disposable gloves Face mask Hand sanitiser Antibacterial surface wipes

Sanitary wear

Pocket tissues

Lip balm, as lips can get very dry Hand cream Water bottle – it’s important to stay hydrated Boiled sweets to suck to ease dryness or funny tastes Dried snacks, such as crisps. Make them nut free in case other patients have allergies Warm, cosy blanket Hot water bottle/hot pad – these are great if you are using a cold cap as it can get very chilly Woolly hat, even in summer, to wear after cold cap if you are using one

Pack a hospital stay bag Your medication/list of current medication – take a photo and save onto your phone Front-fastening, post-op support bra and post-op support knickers. You’ll be guided on what you’ll need by your breast cancer care nurse, depending on the type of surgery you are having Front-fastening nightdress so the nurse can open it with ease to check the site and dressings Dressing gown Bed socks in case your feet get cold Flip-flops/disposable slippers to walk/visit the bathroom Ear plugs and eye mask if you want to rest or sleep – hospitals are noisy places! Mobile phone/headphones/charger. Take the longest cable you have in case you are far from a socket point and cannot stretch or get out of bed following surgery Electronic tablet/headphones/ charger (again, remember to pack an extra-long cable) Kindle/books/magazines/puzzles

Contact lenses/solution/glasses/ sunglasses

Handheld fan for hot flushes, plus extra batteries

Toothbrush and toothpaste

Toiletries/sanitary wear

Sponge/flannel/towel Dry shampoo/hairbrush

Tissues/cotton wool

Face wipes

Handheld mirror

Makeup

Lip salve for dry lips

Hand cream

Dried snacks, such as crisps. Make them nut free in case other patients have allergies

For when you go home: Pack a comfortable, soft, front-fastening top that is easy to pull up and down. You’ll also need loose-fitting bottoms and comfy slip-on shoes

ASK AMANDA

I am happy to answer questions about my recovery following surgery.

If you would like to chat about this or anything else, please contact me at Amanda@futuredreams.org.uk

Help and support for everyone living Manage your symptoms and ADVERTORIAL ADVERTORIAL ADVERTORIAL ADVERTORIAL ADVERTORIAL ADVERTORIAL and dealing with cancer Help and support for everyone living Help and support for everyone living and dealing with cancer understand when to contact your clinicians Manage your symptoms and Manage your symptoms and understand when to contact your clinicians A cancer diagnosis is daunting. There’s a lot of information to take in, treatments and appointments to juggle, symptoms, and dealing with cancer A cancer diagnosis is daunting. There’s a lot of information to take in, treatments Help and support for everyone living and dealing with cancer Track your vital signs, including temperature and heart rate understand when to contact your clinicians Track your vital signs, including temperature and heart rate Manage your symptoms and understand when to contact your clinicians medications and responses to monitor - and a whole new way of being to understand and adjust to. At Careology, we believe that putting you more in control of your cancer journey can make your diagnosis that little bit easier to manage. Careology has been specifically designed to help you feel supported, organised and A cancer diagnosis is daunting. There’s a lot of information to take in, treatments and appointments to juggle, symptoms, medications and responses to monitor - and a whole new way of being to understand and adjust to. At Careology, we believe that putting you more in control of your cancer journey can make your diagnosis that little bit easier to manage. and appointments to juggle, symptoms, medications and responses to monitor - and a whole new way of being to understand and adjust to. At Careology, we believe that putting you more in control of your cancer journey can make your diagnosis that little bit easier to manage. Careology has been specifically designed A cancer diagnosis is daunting. There’s a lot of information to take in, treatments and appointments to juggle, symptoms, medications and responses to monitor - and a whole new way of being to understand and adjust to. At Careology, we believe that putting you more in control of your cancer journey can make your Log your medications and receive reminders Keep your treatment journal Share information with your care team in real-time Track your vital signs, including temperature and heart rate Log your medications and receive reminders Keep your treatment journal Share information with your care Log your medications and receive reminders Keep your treatment journal Share information with your care team in real-time Track your vital signs, including temperature and heart rate Log your medications and receive reminders Keep your treatment journal in control. Beside you every step of the way Careology has been specifically designed to help you feel supported, organised and in control. to help you feel supported, organised and in control. Beside you every step of the way diagnosis that little bit easier to manage. Careology has been specifically designed to help you feel supported, organised and in control. Keep tabs on where you are in your treatment plan Keep friends and family up to date team in real-time Keep tabs on where you are in your treatment plan Keep tabs on where you are in your treatment plan Keep friends and family up to date Share information with your care team in real-time Keep tabs on where you are in your treatment plan Beside you every step of the way the Careology mobile app helps you track your treatment, understand your symptoms, monitor medications and much more. It also lets you keep family and friends updated with any information you choose to share – so they know exactly how you are and what they can do to help. Every cancer journey has its ups and downs. But, at Careology, it‘s our mission to make the down days more manageable, and help create more up days for everyone living and dealing with cancer. Beside you every step of the way Beside you every step of the way the Careology mobile app helps you track your treatment, understand your symptoms, monitor medications and much more. It also lets you keep family and friends updated with any information you choose to share – so they know exactly how you are and what they can do to help. Every cancer journey has its ups and downs. But, at Careology, it‘s our mission to make the down days more manageable, and help create more up days for everyone living and dealing with cancer. Beside you every step of the way the Careology mobile app helps you track your treatment, understand your symptoms, monitor medications and much more. It also lets you keep family and friends updated with any information you choose to share – so they know exactly how you are and what they can do to help. Every cancer journey has its ups and downs. But, at Careology, it‘s our mission to make the down days more manageable, and help create more up days for everyone living and dealing with cancer. Beside you every step of the way Beside you every step of the way the Careology mobile app helps you track your treatment, understand your symptoms, monitor medications and much more. It also lets you keep family and friends updated with any information you choose to share – so they know exactly how you are and what they can do to help. Every cancer journey has its ups and downs. But, at Careology, it‘s our mission to make the down days more manageable, and help create more up days for everyone living and dealing with cancer. “ Careology helped me keep on top of medication, taking the right stuff at the right time, and I now find the most useful thing in the app is the ability to put symptoms in one place and Get helpful tips, articles and recipes to improve your daily wellbeing “ Careology helped me keep on top of medication, taking the right stuff at the right time, and I now find the most useful thing in the app is the ability to put symptoms in one place and Keep friends and family up to date Get helpful tips, articles and recipes to improve your daily wellbeing “ Careology helped me keep on top of medication, taking the right stuff at the right time, and I now find the most useful thing in the app is the ability to put symptoms in one place and Get helpful tips, articles and recipes to improve your daily wellbeing “ Careology helped me keep on top of medication, taking the right stuff at the right time, and I now find the most useful thing in the app is the ability to put symptoms in one place and Keep friends and family up to date Get helpful tips, articles and recipes to improve your daily wellbeing have a record that I can refer have a record that I can refer have a record that I can refer have a record that I can refer back to with my nurses. ” back to with my nurses. ” back to with my nurses. ” back to with my nurses. ”