Finding out you have cancer can be an incredibly emotional and challenging experience. There’ll likely be more than enough questions and concerns running through your head without having to worry about the small things - such as, “what should I bring with me to the hospital when I go for treatment?”
I’ve compiled suggestions across the Community from our members, and put them together to form a small check-list.
“Trashy TV, films on iPad or DVDs…Favourite music, comfy headphones…Magazines…Favourite duvets/pillows, plus plenty of changes as daily laundry will be needed.”
“Did anyone mention lip cream or a moisturiser? My lips in the dry air of the room cracked continuously. One other thing that was useful was an extension lead, so I could plug in all my bits and bobs by the bed and have them all to hand.”
“Ear-plugs - the chemo pumps beep incessantly, and what you crave more than anything else is sleep. Take ear plugs!!! Also, an eye-mask - again it’s never dark in the ward, and anything that gets you an extra half or an extra hour of sleep will be a godsend.”
'Anything that reminded me of home and my loved ones was a great comfort.'
“I was never without photos of my friends and family, my get-well cards, and my favourite cuddly toy. I found anything that reminded me of home and my loved ones was a great comfort.”
“Another item for the hospital bag, a shower sleeve. I was told to keep my PICC line dry and more recently a cannula. The shower sleeve does the job quite well but is too long.”
'I did find my greatest source of entertainment was talking to the other people alongside me.'
“I found that sharp tasting drinks were good, and the time when I was tired but couldn't sleep, then having something to listen to – be it music or an audiobook. The tea trolley never came around enough for my liking, and so a stash of snacks was good…you can become quite sensitive to the whiff of bedpans and having something fragrant to smell was nice. I did find my greatest source of entertainment was talking to the other people alongside me.”
“When I came around from surgery my throat was really sore so - was also glad to have mint humbugs.”
'Plenty of snacks and drinks. Something to keep you occupied such as a book or tablet'
“Wear loose comfy clothes as you will be sitting for a long time. Plenty of snacks and drinks. Something to keep you occupied such as a book or tablet, phone etc. You can get up and walk around, taking your drip with you.”
“It’s not so much something I would take, more something I would do for on the ward. Write an ‘IN-USE’ notice for the toilet or bathroom door - the lock didn't work, and twice other patients burst in on me, naked and breast-less - NOT a happy situation.”
“I take a daily paper and do the crossword, my iPod for a little relaxing music and a hand-held fan, our unit is so hot it’s ridiculous…”
The above list by no means includes everything, so if you’ve further suggestions – please go ahead and share them using the comments section below.
