Gift for friend getting chemo

[FoxesEat]

I have a dear friend who will begin receiving chemo next week and I'd like to make a care package up for her. Could anyone suggest useful additions as I'm struggling.

I was thinking some jogger and hoodie sets to help her feel comfortable and dressed in her hospital bed, but still relaxed enough for lying down and getting doctors access. Slippers and some pjs too. I read ginger biscuits can help with nausea.

Anything else? She's never been into makeup or hand creams etc or anything like that. Any suggestions would be so appreciated.

What about a book? Nice takeaway cup? The joggers are a good idea. Fluffy socks?
An aromatherapy rollerball scent thing?
Hope all goes well

Mints
Joggers/hoodies as suggested
Peppermint tea
Aromatherapy oils (a range of fresh flavours like lemon, tea tree, eucalyptus, peppermint)

Oh fluffy socks would be well received, and I think the takeaway cup could be good as well. Thank you!

Will she lose her hair? Sleep caps or a pretty scarf are nice gifts ( square scarf) - you can see a large selection on Amazon and then google the maker if you prefer to shop elsewhere.
Nice shampoo/ conditioner or scalp wash if appropriate.
Before you go to the expense of hoodies - check if she will have a picc line inserted in her arm, It makes sleeves tricky
. So maybe a shawl, poncho or pashmina to keep her cosy when she is on a drip.
💐 for you and your friend. It’s those close to us that get us through the crap.

One of my friends went through this last year and a group of us got together and took turns to send her a little gift each time she had chemo. I used the website Not Another Bunch of Flowers for one gift, and another time got some rose quartz crystals to hold and a scented candle. She also loved woolly socks and one friend sent her some home made chocolate brownies.

She most likely will lose her hair, though it always has been short so she said she's not too upset about that but I thought maybe a hat/some scarves could be good for keeping her warm if it's a soft material?

She getting a picc line inserted on Thursday, so would a zipper be better? Or maybe I'll stick to blankets and shawls like you say WhiteXmas21

She's not the type to ever ask for anything, but she's the most generous person so I just want her to feel loved and like her needs are cared for

This lovely irganisation sell bags for people going through chemotherapy I gave one to my friend for her breast cancer treatment and she said she used all of it. From any profits, they donate more bags to people who can't afford such gifts at hospital etc.

www.treatmentbag.co.uk/

Forgot the link.

How kind of you. She will appreciate anything tbh. I loved books - though found my brain was frazzled so light reading best, nothing too heavy. Chocolate/ hot chocolate. I actually got hot during chemo so was stripping off layers - everyone is different. Depending on circumstances, a TV package subscription might be a kind gift if there's a few of you - box sets are great to watch.

@SilverHairedCat
Thank you for that link. I have a dear relative just about to start chemo. He has bone cancer.

A posh lip balm for dry/chapped lips.

@blueflavour oh, I hope things go well for him. I can't imagine going through it. They have a mens bag too.

Thank you. Yes I saw the men’s bag! He’s such a good egg. He’s only 50.
Best wishes to everyone going through this

I've heard that chemo can cause mouth ulcers, & that ice lollies can help.
You could get her a set of regular ice lolly moulds that you just fill & freeze. Or something like these silicone ice pop moulds. We have some ikea ones, they're pretty handy too, just put juice in & freeze.

@SilverHairedCat that link is brilliant, thank you so much.

@BlueFlavour really hope things go well for your friend

@Thank you so much. It’s so hard. You too

Genigel Mouthwash

Genigel Mouth gel

Limbo for the arm so she can have a shower.

The skin peeled off my hands in clumps, so I had to remove my biometric access to apps.

I have just started chemo and had two weekly ones. You are a lovely friend to send such a thoughtful present.

She may find her skin dries and need a plain handcream, some people do also do makeup for first time in their lives when go bald as the face is more obvious. But if she has not used make up before I would not bother and there is a scheme to teach you and give you free makeup if you want Look Good Feel Better which is excellent. I have not done it but if you friend feels later its worth approaching them as everyone loves it and the free gifts.

Re hoodie and joggers, people wear all types of things there, would say its just something comfortable - you do need to be able to adjust top easily for cannula or PICC etc and some women with cancer treatment have issues getting things over head from treatments if she has had surgery first like for breast cancer or similar and need front opening things. I loved one woman had came in really bright multicoloured clothes and it was cheerful to see, it looked a bit like a morgue in there.

I just take ice gloves, ice socks (doing Pac weekly which is linked to neuropathy) and these help with a coolbox and I take ice lollies to help with mouth sores and they taste nice. Other people take something to read ipad as its quite long. Hair is a big one and a lot of women cry for days over their hair, even if she says it won't bother her it may well do. Though having short hair before does help, I have long and apparently will come out in chunks all over the bed. You can get some nice chemo scarfs and hats or just a beanie, I have gone for just a normal beanie so don't feel like a cancer patient and one with puffins as its cheerful.

At home I am lucky DH does all the cooking but any help with food is often appreciated. Taste buds can go though, mine is just sore. Some women take sweets to suck to chemo. I took ice lollies. But the most important thing is having a friend that cares like you and what you get is very minor compared to that. I also have a fleece onesie which I love for home and like it has a hood though some women get hot. I get cold. But cushions / soft things are good with cancer treatment as well.

The picc line itself is generally covered with a protective cuff and you can dress as normal, it just when it’s attached to a drip / pump that sleeves/ anything you put your arm through are hard to get on and off.
Some treatments have patients continuously on a drip to flush their systems , and that’s where the shawl comes in.

You sound like a lovely friend.

When I was in that position a friend gave me a lovely silk pillowcase and a bottle of lavender pillow spray - very much appreciated !

I had chemo last year and to be honest I would have hated some of the suggestions here.

No special clothes are required. I would have hated a hoodie as the hood part would just be uncomfortable down my back. Best thing I bought was some turbans, easy just to shove on your head, no faffing with scarf tying. Try Surburban Turban.

I used Aveeno baby shampoo on my bald head. Also the Aveeno Skin Relief body wash and moisturiser that has no scent. Couldn’t bear strong smells.

Best gift I had was a large box of posh chocolates. Chemo didn’t affect my taste buds for sweet things. However, I did need strongly flavoured and spicy food as otherwise it was too bland. I did try the Cook! frozen ready meals but these were dull. My mum ended up making lots of tasty meals. Perhaps gift vouchers for a local takeaway, or some homecooked meals.

Steroids and anxiety meant I had the attention span of a gnat. I struggled to follow tv programmes or read long books. So magazines and puzzles were good.

Chemo is given cycles and usually the last week of my cycle I felt really good. So being able to have visits from friends and being taken out by friends and family made me feel normal.

Getting flowers made me cry.

I didn’t have breast cancer, but I found Liz O’Riordan’s blog helpful and there’s suggestions on helpful products and things to buy during chemo: liz.oriordan.co.uk/2015/11/26/how-to-cope-with-chemo/

I organised a box of stuff for a work colleague who was going through chemo. From what I can remember we included puzzle and colouring books, a cooling pillow, an aluminium free strong deodorant (odour ban?) both the deo and pillow were because I read you can get really hot, sweets for if she got dry mouth, an Amazon voucher for her to buy Kindle books, a decent lip balm, a scarf/pashmina thing in case she got cold. There were other things but can't remember what they were.

I googled something like presents for people with cancer/ gift boxes for people having chemo. I think the best site I found was a US one so had to find equivalent items here.

My DDis found that bamboo fibre hats and scarves were great because her skin was so sensitive and they were far less irritating. Also, a metal taste in the mouth is quite common so good quality plastic cutlery in a carry box so she can take out with her was really useful too. For her, during chemo 1 week out of 3 she was bedridden and survived on food that was prepared and brought to her for those weeks.

The hair loss is really hard .I would have been grateful for bamboo turbans or similar ans something to wear in bed at night because it's really cold without your hair .

I caught an episode "your body uncovered "on BBC 2 and the amazing breast cancer patient Annabelle wore turbans with v big earrings to go with them .I thought it was an amazing idea and worked really well .

I'm a v v low maintenance person when it comes to appearance but spent more time on this during my treatment so don't dismiss the idea if your friend doesn't seem the type .

Hello everyone,just a quick update. I had a message from my friend who is doing well. A lot of your ideas made their way into my final package and she especially liked the GinGins, a hat I found with a silk inner bit, the lip balms and a good shawl/blanket thing we added in. Thank you all for your suggestions, it was really very much appreciated.