Page 29 - Inspire Magazine 2019
P. 29
When Catherine’s mum, Dorothy, was We consulted it all the time. Mum had her
diagnosed with lung cancer, she was given surgery in the autumn and so it was cold
some of our literature by her nurse. outside. She’d go out for a walk – because the
guide recommended she do so – and people
After a couple of weeks of coming to terms would say “Are you sure you should be out in
with the diagnosis, and with her surgery the cold weather?” But we knew it was ok.
looming, Dorothy decided she needed to
understand what was going to happen. So she She also got quite breathless to begin with.
turned her attention to our ‘My Lung Surgery The booklet explained this was completely
booklet’, or as she now calls it, ‘her bible’! normal and to keep exercising. Without it,
we may have been more apprehensive about
“When it comes to information and support, pushing her to exercise which would have
I believe it very much depends on each person. actually slowed her recovery.
For Mum, the literature worked.
Instead of dealing with gossip or hearsay, we
It told her step-by-step what was going to were able to deal in facts and, because of
happen and when – and it did, to the letter! that, it took away a little bit of stress at an
incredibly anxious time.
It said that on the second day, two nurses will
come and take your drain out. And on day That was nearly six years ago, and Mum still
two, the nurses came and took her drain out! has her original copy!
It was really reassuring to have some idea of
what was going on. Since her diagnosis, I have climbed
Kilimanjaro last year. It’s my way of saying
NHS staff are so busy, they simply don’t have thank you. Roy Castle Lung Cancer
time to tell you everything. Roy Castle Lung Foundation was in Mum’s corner, so I wanted
Cancer Foundation’s information fi lled that to be in theirs.”
gap tremendously.
gap tremendously.
INSPIRE 2019
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