What can I send for my wonderful friend who’s just had breast cancer surgery?

[Mackmama]

Just that really. I would like to send her something but she’s somebody who I associate with parties and fun and bottles of wine and somehow nothing seems right in these circumstances, can anyone suggest anything?

What about some nice toiletries ? or I'd like an Amazon voucher for my kindle.

Would she like something really soft and cuddly like a cashmere throw and some cashmere socks or maybe a home or salon beauty session.

I would get her a lovely shower set of toiletries in a bag that she can use in hospital. I'd check first there aren't any particular rules on what can be used, given where her surgery will have been located.

What stage of her treatment is she at? Is the op after or before chemo?

My op was after chemo and I got flowers, also a delivery of fruit that looked like a bunch of flowers and books.

I ordered gousto meal boxes too as my parents stayed and it avoided them going food shopping or getting takeaways.

I found yoga stretches beneficial for the scar tissue too, so maybe something along those lines, but anything you feel will make her smile really. Wine would have been welcomed by me, or my Mum got me a lovely teapot with loose leaf peppermint tea but that was one of the things that tasted the same during chemo….

A funny/ nice card with a lovely message will be massively appreciated and a gossipy visit 😁

I hope your friends op goes well x

Fantastic bed sheets? If I was going to be resting up for a bit I’d really like that.

Maybe with one of those brilliant pick up claw things if she’s going to struggle to bend.

Mini fridge for her bedroom if she’s stuck in there (she can stick wine in it when she feels better),

Home reflexology if there’s someone with good reviews.

IOU voucher for lunch / afternoon tea / cocktails for when she’s back on form. With some nice cordial or something to tide her over.

Or just a few great books.

After surgery my house looked like a florists. Lovely, but what I really appreciated whilst undergoing chemotherapy was friends turning up with a cottage pie, a lasagne or a curry etc
Feeding the family was particularly difficult when feeling so nauseous. Or perhaps an offer to do ironing or drive to chemo/radiotherapy appointments would be nice.

www.dontbuyherflowers.com/

This company specialise in bespoke care packages

A monthly magazine subscription...woman and home, good housekeeping

When my friend had a mastectomy I made her up a hamper of things like colouring books and pencils, a rubix cube, crossword books, I got her a little hand exercise thing as she struggled with her hand and arm afterwards and it helped her strength, some sweets I knew she loved, some of the trashy magazines that you get (chat and similar) a Google play card so she could buy games, a v shaped pillow, which she said was a god send for getting comfy, I also put in jar of pickled boobs (absolutely her sense of humour and she found it hysterical, it's totally not everyone's taste but we have that type of dark humour).

I hope your friend is OK op

Sorry, misread that, I hope her recovery goes well x

Your poor friend! Hope she’s ok. When I had breast surgery, the best present I got was a really nice pair of front opening pjs. It’s really difficult to put things over your head after surgery so everything needs to be front opening. If she’s going to have more treatment, you could give her a nice blanket to rest under. The other really nice present I got when having breast cancer treatment was a box of chocolate brownies from gower cottage brownies - they are amazing. Xx

Thanks, some great suggestions here x

Second the suggestion of don't buy her flowers (the website!). It's really good at giving you all sorts of options to create something bespoke & thoughtful. Plus the woman who started it is a MNer, so she's been there, done that. Hope your friend recovers well.

The wife of one of my husband's colleagues sent me a gift bag with lots of little things wrapped up. She said someone had given her one of these bags when she was diagnosed. I was supposed to pick a parcel and open it whenever I was feeling a bit down. Of course I opened everything at the one time😄😄 One of the best things was a pair of slipper sock slipper type things. My feet were always cold as I recovered from surgery and chemo and I still wear them now. There was also stuff like handcream, mini chocolate bars, nail files, face masks and stuff like that.

I have still never met that woman. I can't even remember her name but that small gift idea was great and I will always remember her kindness.

I am going through breast cancer treatment at the moment, had 2 times surgery and now on chemo. You sound like a lovely friend and having someone just keep in touch at key appointment dates means so much.

After surgery if she has drains in (I didn't) you need front opening things as you can't put arms over head. The other thing is everything is a bit sore so lots of fleece, cushions, anything soft really but she probably has those already. She may actually like something fun as you don't want to be seen as just a cancer patient now though alcohol is not recommended. I would avoid flowers, I would be quite happy to receive flowers but have met other women who get a bit distressed by it due to the association of flowers with a funeral and its also a constant reminder.

I would have appreciated anything but something very soft would be good, or fairly plain creams / nice shower or bath gels, a box with little presents things like 1 handcream, bath foam, 1 heart pillow, a teddy, biscuits, hot chocolate etc and could maybe put a mini alcohol in for when she is better. Some of the charities do ones you can buy.

www.treatmentbag.co.uk/