Hey Bel
I can relate very well to where you are coming from.
I think I mentioned to you before that I live rural. I have been in town for nearly 4 years. I worked from home so didn't get out and about much and mainly did my essential shopping in a big town 65klms away. Therefore I knew very few people in town. No family and friends to speak of in town and hubby worked away..
I agree if I had have belonged to a church or was known around town then maybe? only maybe I would have got some offers of help but I didn't.
Needless to say I was pretty much on my own. I have a big dog who loses hair rapidly and I have some chooks. Some days I struggled to get out of bed to care for them but I would make the effort but not at 6am which is what they were used to.
I really really would have loved someone to come in and clean my house (just vacuum and mop floors and clean bathroom)or weed the garden or do the washing or ironing or even bring me a cooked meal occasionally. Anything but unfortunately it wasn't forthcoming. People knew I was unwell but help just wasn't forthcoming. I do know the older people in town get meals on wheels and some help with housework and gardening etc.
I am not winging because I did survive and so did my animals hee hee and I am still managing on my own following treatment because I need to plan my day around the fatigue as when it hits all I can do is lay down. It is getting better but I have to pace myself and vacuuming the floors at present feels like a mammoth task which I have to psych myself up for. It is very slowly getting better each week but slowly slowly.
I did get $500 susbsidy through being in contact with Rural Cancer Nurse Coordinator which was through Cancer Council, this paid 2 of my bills for me which was great. Prior to getting sick I worked 3 jobs and then all of a sudden I couldn't work at all. Through this same lady she organised for a cleaner to come in for 1 hour as I needed it but only after she had visited me at home and seen that I wasn't coping and wasn't able to physically do these things myself.
I also found the breast care nurses through McGrath Foundation were fantastic. Plus because I had to do so much travelling for surgery and specialist appointments there is a place called PATS over here which subsidise a small amount for your travel.
With regards to my wig. I paid $400 for my wig because I needed to look good for my daughters Hens night at the "Duxton" and her lovely flash wedding while I was going through treatment. I bought my wig from a wig shop. I was given $75 voucher through the hospital (Charlie Gardiners) which the breast care nurses can help you organise plus my health fund HBF paid out the full $400 for my wig so I was able to get a lil cotton type thing to go under my wig to help with wig getting itchy and stuff to wash wig etc with the $75 voucher so that worked out really well.
Plus if you spend something like $1350 on scripts through your pharmacy in one year (prob will be from Jan to Dec but I not sure) you go on to PBS Safety Net where you then get your scripts for $5.80 (majority of scripts but not all). It is amazing how quickly your pharmacy costs add up. Try and always go to one chemist or I think you can get a form where pharmacist signs it or something.
Also if you spend $2000 on medical expenses in a tax year you can claim that back as well. It all needs to be documented in a list. Photocopy receipts from Pharmacy because they fade and become unreadable.
If you are having hardship with accounts such as electricity, water, etc. if you ring and explain your circumstances to the company involved then they may be able to put a payment plan in place for you. Not sure if you have a mortgage but your bank or society can probably help you out there as well.
I do live in W.A. so it may be different but it is worth looking in to all these things.
I hope that has helped in some way. If I think of anything else then I will let you know.
LOL, (lots of luv), Mich xoxoo
