Present for someone going through chemotherapy

[User56770987]

Ideas and advice needed.
Not a very close friend but someone who has been good to me in the past.
Budget about £25.
Some lovely things (gift sets with natural hand cream, candles, soap) on etsy but I'm a bit worried if the scent isn't right it might make her feel worse.
Flowers in a vase but also worried about the nausea thing and also they are maybe bit of a hassle if not feeling well.

Can anyone advise. I feel like I am massively over thinking this and therefore procrastinating.

Try here:

www.notanotherbunchofflowers.com

chemo's massively dehydrating for her skin, so unperfumed hand/body cream.(you're right about the scent, btw)
A book she can dip into while she's having her infusions.
She'll have a water jug, but water gets boring after while, so juice/cordial, etc.
Sucking sweets.

Agree on the no-scent thing. I bet treat woolly socks would go down well.

You can make care packages on Don’t Buy Her Flowers. I put one together for my dad when he was having chemo - nausea sweets for bad days, giant chocolate buttons for ok days and a gchq puzzle book for days when he was feeling pretty good and up for doing something, but you can personalise them as much as you want to fit the person. It’s a lovely company too.

I agree anything scented made me nauseous during chemo. I still can't stand the smell of shea butter 12 years on! I did a lot of reading so books are a great idea. I enjoyed doing puzzles as well. Just having something else to think about was a huge boost. I had a thing for ice lollies too!

I got my friend one of those little beanbags to hold a tablet, she found it useful when sat having chemo to have the tablet held up in place, also useful after surgery (breast cancer) when she was in pain moving her arms.

Like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/iBeani-Tablet-Cushion-Devices-Surface/dp/B00ZF9EALQ/ref=sr112sspa?dchild=1&keywords=Bean+bag+tablet&qid=1609415953&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExU1A2Nk9GOVdaSVhMJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTQwMTI1S1czM1o0MklHM1lVJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA4NjE2MjlWVlRYU0IxS1o4VFkmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

@AuntieStella

Try here:

www.notanotherbunchofflowers.com

I second this recommendation!

DH felt the cold during his chemo, so a soft rug/throw which your friend can wrap round themself?

Books, adult colouring books, etc to keep her occupied

www.treatmentbag.co.uk

I bought one of these bags for a friend at the start of her chemo, and she's used it all. - especially the cashmere hat and the skin creams.

If you can't stretch to a treatment bag, maybe use the suggestions of the items in the bag? They were selected by people who have been through treatment themselves.

This won't be for everyone but DF's partner lost her sense of taste so really loved crazy chilli and spices so she could taste something

Something to keep warm that's easy to put on and take off.

My mum found ginger very helpful, her tastebuds went haywire and everything tasted metallic, but ginger beer, crystallized ginger, ginger tea cut through that.

Thank you so much everyone. Great ideas. I went in the end for chemo care kit stuff from 'not another bunch of flowers' handcream, lipbalm and tin of the nausea sweets. Loved all the suggestions but sadly some out my budget. Hope it helps make it a little better.