Living alone with cancer

I live on my own. My partner died in 2013. I'd already lost my parents and my sister in law which effected me badly.

Being diagnosed with bowel cancer was a big shock (the surgery was successful but the cancer then spread)

Being left on my own plus I don't drive.

Having to do all the thinking.

I was diagnosed with bladder cancer last year

I've had surgery to remove my bladder, prostate, and limp nodes

So sorry to hear that. I had surgery and so far it worked for me. I just tired of having so many doctor appointments.  Chemp .  tiered all the time really sucks

Wow I ment  to say chemo all the time. 

I'm just scared that I'm going to catch a cold or flew I really don't want to spend any more time in the hospital. It really sucked spending almost two weeks there after my surgery to have my bladder removed. Being along all that time sucks

My friend helped me with bulk buying food shopping etc with a car before my operation last Sunday so l knew l would have some basic stuff at home if l could not get out to pick up shopping.

On the evening l was discharged on Friday 20th February, my sister in law and niece came over after work and having broken their fast for Ramadan with enough to last me the weekend.

My friends and neighbour checked up on me since my discharge from hospital and offered to bring food over and a friend did visit today with some delicious lychee and boroi which we devoured together.

All this has helped me with my mental and physical recovery at home living alone post surgery.

Hello everyone .... I have been so ill this week (the unwanted cough, rather than cancer-probs), so apologies for late reply ....

It is sad to hear of all your difficulties, but good that we can share ...

My very dear friend (who took the opposite route from me, and took every surgery going) went through many rounds of chemo etc .... she found a Kindle loaded with many and random book-types was a great way to ease the long hours stuck in waiting rooms and hospital beds .... obvs  have not spent long times like this, but whenever apptmts were unavoidable, my own preference was for Sudoku puzzles, or cryptic crosswords,  (oh I've gone italic, lol, does not mean anything!!) ...... also would like to say the supermarket delivery-services are great when you cannot leave the house ... generally about £40 for a year of mid-week (Tues-Weds-Thurs) deliveries, you have to spend £40 a go, but the deliveries are reliable and the people are lovely, even post letters for me .... and I have another one where I have to spend £50 a go, but can get a delivery any day of the week after 3pm lll so all-in all that's 80p a week (well £1.60 in my case as I 'm using two) but as I am totally alone, this is great, and it is nice to see SOMEONE for a few minutes, even at the safe-distance .....

Also, if you're a home-alone-all-day person, but have friends/relatives who visit regularly while you are bedbound, a little air-fryer by the bed is very handy ...  you can have a hot crusty roll (the part-baked ones are,  great) with a cheese salad filling, or whatever you fancy, or heat up a pre-made meal .... I would NOT recommend having a kettle by the bed, that's just asking for trouble when we're feeling flaky, but a flask filled with tea or, coffee, or hot water to pour over a herbal teabag should be manageable.

All my very best to everyone, I have to drag myself out of bed and do some washing - the Sun is shining! ... xx

Hello Den .... I am still not sure how to use this site, I thought I relied 'to everyone' but it seems I only replied to Bangla, so it might look like I'm ignoring you, which is not the case ........ it is sso sad to hear of all of your challenges losses, and the ongoing resultant chaallenges ... I hope you have good friends/support in your sodial life, even though all the 'dealing with things' is a constant difficulty - outsiders (no matter how kind) do not this, the ongoing solitude .... I just paid twice as much for home-insuranceas I needed to, just couldn't face all the 'does your door have a 5-lever lock?' sutff,,,, thinking of you, hope you DO have a social life, even though the tedium at home is hard ... all my best hopes and wishes.

Hello Thomas, I was just saying to Dan, I thought I'd replied to ;everyone' but find out I'd only replied to Bangla, so it looks like I ignored others, which is not the case.   I've known two ppl with bladder cancer, both very humorous men - and one of them was my beloved Dad  And yes. they are both gone now, but generally I can tell you they both maintained their humour and had good lives for quite some years after surgery .... my dear Dad was old, and had smoked heavily all of his life, so with what we know now, perhaps hic cancer was inevitable - but after the surgery and treatment, he got back to his gardening and his obsession of being a radio ham (quite famous in that field, very patient teaching newbies Morse code!!) ..... I hope you might find a Kinlde a good way of filling the hours alone-in-treatment, like my friend did - or maybe be like me and do Sudpko or crosssword puzzles - or maybe you like music ad could get a headset .... anything to tadistract yourself, and get through this idfficult time.  all bmy very best hopes and wishes to you, keep yer chin up, Thomas.

Thank you, Wayne. This is my first time online here, recommended by my Macmillan One to One nurse. I am two years into a diagnosis of advanced prostate cancer, living alone. I look forward to hearing from others dealing with a diagnosis on their own. It isn't at all easy, is it?

Hello Thank you very much for your reply.  I didn’t know what to say except for your words mean a lot thank you so much. Sorry I’m kinda shy always have been.  I hope you have a great day and keep being yourself Sincerely Thomas