"care after mastectomy"

Anything else?

From clinic to operation was very speedy. MRI and CT scan teams work together to orchestrate both scans into the same short space of time. Surgeon and breast nurse gave me positives to take home after the clinic, which was very important to me to hang on to. Staff understood my nervousness just before op and talked to me to make me feel better. Haven't had courage to look at scar but am told it is very neat, certainly the dressings are straightforward and minimal and not scary. The staff on Dahlia ward looked after the patients very nicely. That is the best word I can think of to describe the care. Plenty of cups of tea or coffee, (even one at 4a.m. when I was awake) plenty of care with dressings. Plenty of being asked if we needed anything, you felt they meant it when they said to buzz them. Ward and toilets were clean. Food was fine. Physio and breast nurse visited and explained aftercare. Worst things; clinic waiting times, but that's the nature of them. and as ever in hospitals it takes a long time from being told you're discharged to actually walking out of the door. Shape of the long narrow wards doesn't make socialising easy! Tho' my bed was opposite a corridor so there was plenty to look at. My first cancer op was at Harold wood where there were people opposite to chat to. However, you do get chucked out much earlier these days.