Dr Lucienne van Schalkwyk highlights factors to consider if you are having surgery away from home, whether out of necessity or by choice.
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In an ideal world, patients who require surgery for breast cancer should be able to receive surgery of a high standard without unnecessary delays at their local hospitals. The unfortunate reality in South Africa is that specialised breast cancer care isn’t available at all hospitals, which means patients may have to travel for breast cancer treatment.
Pre-planning
Pre-planning is vital if you are having surgery elsewhere. Before the operation, speak to your surgeon to get an idea of when your surgery will be performed, and how long they expect you to be in hospital.
If your medical aid has a list of network hospitals, make sure that the hospital where you will be having your surgery is approved.
After your operation, your surgeon may request that you stay in the area until the first follow-up consultation in case any problems arise. All this will influence your planning. You may have to secure post-operative accommodation with a friend or relative in the area, or at a hotel or guest house.
Make arrangements for minding of your children and/or pets while you are away, and for house-sitting as appropriate.
It’s vital to consider the costs involved (travel, accommodation, etc.) and to budget accordingly.
You may also want to notify your employer of your surgery date and sick leave period at this time. Remember, any estimate of the duration of hospitalisation is exactly that – an estimate. Your doctor will evaluate your condition every day to determine whether you are ready to be discharged, and if a complication develops, you may be in hospital longer than initially anticipated.
Plan for the surgery date
As your surgery date approaches, you will be notified when to arrive for admission. Plan your route to your destination carefully, taking into consideration the average travel time.
Your doctor may ask you to arrive a day or so early in order to take care of admin (signing consent forms or seeing the reconstructive surgeon for pre-operative marking) or for any procedures (pre-operative tests, such as sentinel node mapping, or tests required by the anaesthetist to determine whether you are fit for anaesthesia).
If you are travelling to hospital on the day of your surgery, make sure to allow adequate time for the unexpected, such as traffic and pitstops along the way. Showing up late just adds stress to an already stressful experience.
Making a packing list beforehand is helpful to ensure that you bring along everything you will need during your hospitalisation. Remember to leave any valuable jewellery at home.
Stay in contact with your support network
Having surgery away from home also means that you may be away from your support network due to factors, such as costs or work commitments. So, it might not be possible for your relatives to accompany you to hospital when you are admitted for your surgery.
If you are going to your surgery solo, budget for airtime and data, so that you can keep in touch with your relatives and friends to update them on your condition.
Travelling back home
When you are cleared to travel home, a little forethought can make the journey much easier. Remember, you will most likely not be able to drive yourself home so plan for someone to collect you.
A long journey by road can cause mild discomfort and fatigue due to the jostling caused by lumps and bumps in the road and sitting in the same position for a prolonged period. Be sure to schedule regular stops to take a break, stretch your legs, and to take your pain tablets as prescribed by your doctor. A small pillow to put between your chest and the seatbelt is worth its weight in gold.
If you are flying home, remember to discuss thrombosis (blood clots) precautions with your doctor.
Know what to do if a complication occurs
Make sure that you have discussed with your doctor what to do should a complication arise when you have already returned home. Serious emergency situations are not able to wait, and in this case, you should visit the nearest hospital casualty. The doctors there will contact your surgeon to discuss how to manage the complication.
Less severe complications are best managed by your own surgeon but bear in mind that this will require travel back to them, possibly more than once.
MEET THE EXPERT – Dr Lucienne van Schalkwyk
Dr Lucienne van Schalkwyk is a general surgeon with a special interest in breast surgery. Her practice manages the entire spectrum of benign and malignant breast disease, and her specific interests include breast-conserving surgery and oncoplastic surgical techniques.
Images by Freepik
