What is in store - can I do this?

I am not sure about the post-surgery for mastectomy but my husband had intestinal surgery recently. He was in a high dependency ward for a few days post surgery then moved to a ward and was discharged 1 week after surgery. The district nurses came in every couple of days to change his dressing. It was a good 6 weeks before he was feeling more 'normal' but he is an impatient person and was wanting be be good again after 3! Prior to his cancer diagnosis in February this year he was fit & healthy.  

Try speaking to Dr about District nurses and about care going forward for both your mum & dad when you're not able to be around. There will be something that can be put in place.  

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/treatment/going-home-from-hospital

Have a look at this page. 

Not sure if any of this is useful!! 

Hope you can get something sorted that suits all of you x

Thank you so much for the link - that was really useful and answered a number of questions I had.

Have also managed to have a good chat with the Breat Care Nurse team too and now have a much clearer picture as to how we can put together a care plan that includes district nursing support. So feeling much more positive plus they are now recognising that they need to keep me in the loop with information as my mum really doesn't have full capacity.

Glad to hear it was useful. 

There is a lot of support out there if you know where to look and who to ask. 

When my husband was first diagnosed and started chemo we had numbers for the oncology nurses but they also gave us a cancer helpline. He preferred to talk to his own nurses who knew about his case (cancer is rare) but unfortunately he always seemed to get worse over the weekend when the nurses weren't around. He seemed to think how he was feeling was just something he had to get through but after talking with the nurses & the Dr he accepted that he needed to tell them exactly how he was feeling as his reactions to the chemo were extreme. They changed his chemo from IV & tablets to all IV which made such a difference. 

It is amazing how much more positive have a plan & support makes you feel about the situation. It will give you reassurance that there are people close to hand who can help your mum & dad when you aren't able to be there. 

Good Luck. Hope the op goes well. x