Breast cancer treated by day surgery inhumane and sexist?

I would much rather go home asap. Hospital isn’t a nice place to test and recover. Hope it all goes well!

If they deem her needing to stay, she will stay - however, if she is healthy enough to go home with support, then.... she should go home

Its not sexist. Men get breast cancer too.

Kindly though, OP, discuss your circumstances at your pre-op. They will discharge you when it is safe to do so, not before.

She’s nearly 80. She has other serious medical stuff. She’s on her own with no one to keep an eye on her if her heart starts messing about. She’s clearly very frightened.

Can you genuinely not see that?

Firstly, really hope your surgery goes well.

I'm not sure this is sexism, I don't think they keep men in for very long either. There are good reasons for the NHS to want you home I think, including the infection risk of you staying in hospital.

However, if you have no one to help look after you I think they should consider keeping you in overnight really. Care in the community can be patchy in its delivery.

I know this is a total long shot but a friend of mine who is a similar age and widowed has stayed a retired member of her Trade Union (Unite) and after surgery she applied to them and stayed for a week in a convalescent home in Eastbourne. If you're a member of a Union/ Friendly Society/ Social Group/ Benevolent Fund, it might be worth checking whether they offer any kind of convalescent grant or nursing grant?

Good luck for your surgery. I hope it gets all of it and starts your road to recovery and that you heal really well.

I know you’re probably quite concerned about being discharged after something that, might not seem like a big procedure when it’s not happening to you, but can be really frightening when you think about being left on your own. Tell them about your worries before the Op and if they have any borderline concerns, they’ll know whether or not you being alone will make a difference to their decision. I’d also contact McMillan nurses and see if there’s anything they can do to help, like pop in to visit you, or even just reassure you and answer any questions. Or arrange to call a friend just before bed time and by 9 am the next morning. Have a bowl next to your bed so you’re not running to the bathroom if you react to the anaesthetic. Keep your phone by your bedside so you can call for help if you need to. All of this is going over the top, but if it’s worrying you then it might help put your mind at rest.

Start thinking about what you’ll wear while you’re healing. You’ll want soft, breathable fabrics. Nothing with lace or buttons or plackets that will rub against your wound. Do you have one of those V shaped pillows? If you can afford one, that might help you sleep more comfortably. If you’ve got time, change the sheets and give the bathroom a good scrub before you go in, so it’s nice and clean to come out to.

My mum was 40 when she had a double mastectomy and lymph nodes removed and it took ages to heal. She eventually cut all sugar out of her diet completely (probably something she’d read in the Daily Mail 🙄😁) and even her consultant was amazed at the difference in healing and the skin growth, so something to bear in mind, especially if you have other medical stuff going on (obviously I am not suggesting that cutting out sugar is a substitute for actual medical treatment because it’s not; she had chemo too and wouldn’t have survived without that, but in terms of healing surgical wounds, it can’t hurt).

Good luck, you will hopefully be home and back to normal in no time at all 💐

I am sure the hospital will not just discharge you unless you are clinically fit to leave.

I had right side mastectomy and lymph node removal in January 2024. The plan was day case and to be sent home same day. I had some complications and became unwell and ended up as an inpatient for 2 weeks.

I then had left mastectomy in February this year. The pre-OP assessment nurse booked me a bed for one night just incase the previous problems recurred. This time everything went well, I felt fine afterwards, and had to spend a miserable night in hospital when I just wanted rest which is impossible in a hospital ward. I'm very grateful for the care and the staff were truly angels, but hospital isn't the best place to be unless really needed for medical reasons.

You will have to attend a pre-op clinic where they make sure you are fit for anaesthetic, discuss your concerns with the clinic staff and make sure they are aware of your home situation.

crass suggestion.

do you have several comorbities? do you live alone? are you 80?

OP - in your shoes i would also prefer to stay overnight, do you have someone who can take care of you at home?

I’ve just had a mastectomy and sentinel lymph node removal as a day case and it’s fine. Not sure what the issue is with a lumpectomy as a day case?

You should have the choice, though as others have noted, being back at home may be the better one.

The hospital isn't a hotel.

Find a hotel/ Premier Inn nearby amd book yourself in for the night before and day of surgery. Rest up. Take it easy the following day. Get someone to take you home.

Best wishes for your surgery.

I think day surgery is generally better for if possible. You can try to get comfy on your own bed or sofa. That said you definitely need to drive you home and keep and stay with you for the first few days. Do you a friend who could drive and stay at yours until you are up have managed a shower etc. If not speak to the breast care nurse for putting help in place. Good luck for your surgery.

I was in hosp after my lumpectomy - got offered no food after op and couldn’t sleep so interminable night and breakfast ,toast I think, at 8.30 - awful -I would have loved to go home

When was the last time you had a hospital stay op? It's not a very restful experience any more and most people would opt to get out as fast as they can. Obviously that's more challenging if you have no one to care for you afterwards and a hospital won't discharge you unless you are fine to be up and about. You could prepare before hand getting freezer meals prepped, get the things you will need in one place.

@Toadlover you sound very overwhelmed and frightened by your situation and the prospect of having surgery as a day case. Do you have anyone who can stray with you for a few days post op and to offer you some support?

Have you had your pre op appointment yet? That would be a good time to outline your fears and see if they can be addressed. If you are on a day surgery ward then demanding to stay isn’t really an option as they are closed overnight. Of course sometimes they have to find a bed for someone who is unwell but that’s not necessarily easy.

Id recommend calling one of the breast cancer support lines to discuss your worries and also looking at what you can do to ease your recovery. Could you afford some help in the house for a while?

Good luck, sometimes the things we are most worried about turn out to be fine. In this situation it may be best to keep an open mind.

nb both SIL and a friend have both recently completed BC treatment. Both doing well and hospital stays very minimal.

She'd rather have a GA? Eh?
OP has said she's on her own. She's probably scared to be on her own immediately after having major surgery. Have some empathy.

Breast cancer also affects men, although not as many as women. My experience of breast surgery is that I had to go back to hospital to have fluid drained after a couple of days, so it’s helpful to have someone on hand to drive you. Otherwise I’d rather go home the same day.

For really high risk people breast surgery can often be done with loco-regional anaesthetic rather than GA - depends on the patient and the lump/operation planned, but sometimes the GA is optional.

Another anaesthetist pov….you may be pleasantly surprised by the actual procedure compared to what your imagining it to be. Even big lumps are fairly unstimulating surgery and post-op nausea is pretty uncommon these days, particularly in your demographic and for this sort of surgery. If you’re having a complex reconstruction/will have drains in & whatnot then staying in may be the plan anyway. It there is a medical reason to stay in then of course that will be planned. Most people prefer to go home (where there will be fewer bugs/fewer disturbances to sleep/ better food (hopefully!). If that’s not practical/ you don’t have support then it’s better to let them know ahead of time. There is nothing sexist about any of it - men with breast cancer are also routinely done as day cases.

My mother in law spent her last 15 weeks of life in hospital she barely got a wink of sleep during the night because there are still ward rounds and well lit up hallways and people going to the toilet and looking for additional support. I wonder if there is a step down care that you could look out for in this instance that would give you a better chance at recovery. I would speak to them about not having support at home after the surgery because you are correct no one should be completely unsupported after surgery. Everything crossed for you that it all goes well.

I live close by and am under the same trust as you @Toadlover .

I didn’t have my surgery at HH, but some of my appointments are at the the Sussex Cancer Centre, as I suspect yours are.

I had a lumpectomy and lymph nodes removed as day surgery again with a GA. I gladly went home that night and was fine.

However, when the surgeon visited me in the evening before my discharge, he was clear that if I wanted to stay overnight I would be accommodated, so I’m sure you’ll be advised the same.

Hope all goes well.

I dont see how it is sexist? I have had 3 day surgeries i dont see the issue?

on your own, with no support, a few hours after major survey, at almost 80? I mean really????

I agree with pps that you're better in your own home, or as you live alone, could you stay with a friend or family member for a couple of days?

If there are any complications they will keep you in. I've had a couple of procedures under GA, and both times was day surgery, so it is standard now. I wasn't sick after either.

By avoiding a night in hospital, you're avoid a risk of infection, and haveva much better chance of getting some sleep.

Please don't feel awkard about asking friends or family to put you up - you need support going through cancer treatment, people are generally delighted to be able to do something practical to help.

I hope the treatment goes well.