PART XVII: Post-op

It's been a tough time.
We logged over 2000 km on the car: 12 trips of 85 km to the city hospital.

Social and emotional stress abounds, as we change up our routines, I've picked up all hubby's chores.

There are costs for individuals:

• workplace: on the job stress, or being unable to work, the self-employed or those on hourly wages without benefits,
• social issues: not having a social life, friends phoning too much,
• emotional issues: grief, pregrieving, worry, insomnia 
• financial costs: spending nights in the city before early a.m. appointments, 
• physical demands: doing extra laundry, getting up in the night is draining, 
• meal prep: having the energy to make meals, eating in restaurants isn't cheap while on the road to and from appointments, finding palatable foods for the patient...

Parking isn't cheap or easy to find

Screening tests should be banned. Mammograms have a 20% false rate. Awaiting results, you find it stressful, as you await a further result in subsequent tests. Unfortunately, many screening tests are terribly inaccurate, and oncologists usually demand new, better, more sophisticated tests be done.

Hubby's still having some issues, and our dear surgeon has been good at getting back to us.

Cancer's hidden price tag: lost earnings, extra expenses and higher bills

Employers and banks must do more for patients, giving support and advice in what can be a financial as well as a health crisis
Macmillan research shows four fifths of people living with cancer are hit with an average cost of £570 a month as a result of their diagnosis.