Friend starts chemo next week, would could I get her? .

[MonkeyTennis34]

Looking for some gift ideas for her. Any ideas?
She’s going in as a day patient.

Thank you all for all your lovely suggestions.
My friend has a silk pillowcase.
So far, I’ve ordered her a pair of Fuck Off Cancer socks from Etsy.
I love the idea of the M and S cream tea through the post!

Blanket and fluffy socks
extra strong mints
ginger biscuits
hand cream
your support 😀

A DAB (digital) radio (because reception is bad in the wards) and a comfortable set of headphones - it can take a few hours - I just fall asleep.
A card is nice.
Various things that are easy to eat.

It's not about gifts. It's about. Walking their dogs, doing their shopping. Just nipping round for a coffee

Not another bunch of flowers do 'chemo' gift boxes.

https://www.notanotherbunchofflowers.com/product/the-womens-cancer-care-package-gift-box/

I haven’t had chemo but was in hospital with something else for a long time. I bought a soft eye mask with Bluetooth speakers and found listening to audiobooks a great way to escape. (Not the motivational bullshit, that makes you feel worse. Trashy fantasy novels etc…)

Cashmere socks. Amazing moisturiser. Lip balm.

My mum liked these and it made as a nice gift. On offer currently. Recommended by clinical teams is moogoo
https://moogooskincare.co.uk/collections/oncology-cancer-care

I believe this range was developed by a nurse who had been working with chemotherapy patients.
https://www.nursem.co.uk

Cashmere socks defo. It's really cold ! also nice warm blanket ,light magazines Hello or similar .Also some ready meals will be handy for her.I agree with Cold Cap worked well for me .some hair loss but minimal .Sending love to her and you .You sound an amazing friend xx

my chemo really affected my mouth - constant thrush and horrible taste, sherbet lemons, mints, etc really helped, might be good to chuck some in with whatever else you get - I wish her well x

@MonkeyTennis34
My Cancer ward gave me a prescription for Nystatin for the mouth thrush - it works well.

A bracelet that says "fuck cancer" in morse code
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1552284853/fuck-cancer-sterling-silver-morse-code

Really super-soft socks and gloves. Chemo makes fingers & toes hyper-sensitive, feeling freezing cold but unable to bear the roughness of ordinary fabrics.

I would have said a Graze subscription but I think they have been discontinued. Anyway, small tempting savoury snacks like graze boxes or whatever similar kind of thing you can find. It's tough trying to eat when you have no appetite and the very thought is exhausting.

I hated flowers, it felt like I was preempting my funeral but that might just be me, luckily my neighbour agreed to take them off me
Cold cap was amazing, kept most of my hair which was really important to me as my children were small a the time and I didn’t want to scare them.

Hair after cold cap plus full chemotherapy, radiotherapy and the rest!

@Puffin98 you've done well with the cold cap! 😀

For mouth ulcers get zero alcohol listerine. Use a very soft baby toothbrush and get that high fluoride content toothpaste from the dentist.

It'll vary by person. The main thing I found nice was people who cared enough to ask me how I was and genuinely care about the answer. I did not need any help with anything as had a lovely husband who did that but someone who is on their own / has not helpful partner might well really appreciate help though best to ask first. Flowers I would have loved but I have met others who found them distressing and link them with death. Some people prefer things not linked to cancer so they are still seen as a person rather than a cancer patient. I would have liked hand creams or bath foams best but anything is lovely. Symptoms can vary too - I was actually hot in chemo (maybe sending me into menopause and hot flushes and the chemo suite was tropical) but others report freezing temps.

She’s opted not to go for the cold cap.
Regarding eg bath foam…will she be able to have any brand or does it have to be a particular type..less chemicals, for sensitive skin etc?