Gift for niece about to start chemo

[OrsolaRosso]

I would like some advice and inspiration on something to get for my 18 year old niece who is about to start chemo. Perhaps a book or journal or something else? I would like it to be uplifting.
Can you recommend anything that has been well received?
Thank you 😊

To echo other posters, awful this is happening OP and especially at such a young age x

I really would recommend the headphone headband. Have you ever been so tired and you’re trying to listen to something but it digs in? You take one ear out, you can’t hear it all properly.. this sounds amazing to me. Even just for scrolling tik tok

Thank you everyone for your advice and thoughts. I just want some how to do something for my niece and my sister, as I feel so helpless. And on the one hand I can't imagine what they are going through, and on the other hand I have my own DD who is 15. It's such a shock to us all for her to get this diagnosis.

If she's an in patient then I've found it useful to have a little zip up bag to keep all my useful stuff together because there's so little storage space at hospital - phone charger, eye mask, ear plugs, lip salve etc. I was given a beautiful Elizabeth Scarlet mini pouch for Christmas which I'm using for this. It looks good and is useful.

For my friend last year, I filled a box with a small heart lego set, an adult colouring book and pencils, thick bed socks, a crystal candle, face masks, a really nice lip balm. I can't remember what else. Just a few things that would help give her something to do. Have a think of the side effects of the chemo if you know. For example my friend was told she would get cold hands and feet, and wouldn't have great sensation, hence the socks.

Hope her treatment goes well.

One thing that made a huge difference to my friend last year was tops where a seamstress friend had cut the sleeves and put buttons or poppers in, so it could be put on without her arm going through a hole. It meant she could put layers on and off over the arm with the infusion in without having to ask the nurse to unplug her or just awkwardly drape. As her temperature fluctuated, it was great to be able to add/remove clothes easily.

I agree, I was unable to concentrate during chemo but my friend bought me a load of trashy Take A Break-style magazines which I loved 😁 The puzzles are really easy on the brain too.

Manicure/pedicure not a great idea as chemo can cause fungal infections under the nail bed 🤢

The thing I appreciated most from friends was silly memes and jokey messages every day, anything that causes a giggle is a massive boost.

Is there a particular coffee chain in the hospital? Our local hospital has a Costa in it. In that case you could get a gift card?

My husband had to spend over a month in hospital and he would often walk to the coffee shop just for a change of scenery.

A pillow.
I liked certain cordials.
Audio books, music etc. A radio.
Some long sleeved, long legged bathers for swimming when chemical treatment causes skin to be extra sensitive to sunlight.
Phone calls on a certain day per week.

And what a lovely auntie you are @OrsolaRosso I wish your niece all the best ❤️

Such a nice thing to do, OP.

I completely lost.my appetite, so food and drink gifts would not have been helpful. I read voraciously throughout though, so books, or a Kindle or Amazon voucher, maybe, if she's the same. And someone gave me a heated throw, which I love! I also did a lot of crosswords, in an actual crossword book. Stopped me staring at my phone the whole time.

What about a new Stanley water bottle and a fleece from a trendy brand, Primark do nice fleece leggings too. I think these are nice presents a teen girl would like to stay comfortable and be a nice treat too.
If you want to splash out Ugg slippers are really comfortable and cozy.

I’ve had chemo and I’d say anything related to physical comfort like a heated throw. I’ve seen something on Facebook called a pillow pod which look like a giant oval pillow. I spent a long time on my bad days lying on the sofa or on a bed but one of those type of pillows would have made lying on top of the bed under a throw really comfy. That way you don’t feel like you’ve gone to bed - just resting.

a music or Audible subscription or gift card could be good.

avoid any treatments like manicures and pedicures. To be avoided for people having chemo for lots of reasons.

Sleep headphones, were an absolute lifesaver when I was in and out of hospital. I used them so much in hospital and at home.

That’s a lovely thought @OrsolaRosso. I would suggest chocolate (for some reason a stupidly sweet tooth goes along with chemo) also wrist warmers (or fingerless gloves) plus warm bed socks. If she is a reader then a good book/voucher, or ear buds with a podcast subscription. I like reading in the middle of the night (breaks the cycling doom thoughts). I don’t journal either. Foot or face cream is nice.

I tend to agree with @mindutopiareally.

A heated blanket would probably go down well. After chemo people always complain they ar freezing cold, especially fingers and toes. Turtle dove cashmere hand warmers. Fluffy socks.

As others have said, think soft, warm
and cosy! Also, particular food cravings are commonly developed - my son had a huge thing for olives! So perhaps a gift of whatever snacks bits your niece is craving if that happens. Sending positive thoughts - it’s a long process but it sounds like your niece has excellent support x

Thank you everyone for the kind wishes for my niece, and for the ideas. At the moment I am really liking the idea of the Audible subscription, but I will wait to hear back from her mum to see what would be best received.
At the moment they don't yet know how she will react to the chemo, and I can send more bits later. And knowing my sister, she will have most things covered already.

I’m so sorry she’s going through this. My friend who had chemo said anything warm as well as others here with personal experience. She could only handle dairy milk - anything else wouldn’t stay down so I’d stay away from food for now. However - for your sister - I’m guessing she is spending 0 time or effort on herself so I’d be tempted to send a care basket for her. I’d do a nice zipped cosmetic bag with protein bars, lip balm (hospitals are so dry), hand cream, some trashy magazines if that’s something she’s into, good comfy headphones, mints… that sort of thing. And a family audible subscription for them to listen to books together.

Seconding silk pillowcases.
A light silk shirt or nightie. Comfortable for sensitive skin.
A poncho. Warming but without sleeves so good for drips etc.

I am so sorry she is going through this at such a young age.

I did chemo and it varies by type of chemo and person to person. I was tired and would have not wanted to read / journal. My chemo unit was boiling, like 35C, (I think with the NHS you only get two temps of freezing or boiling) and I felt hot during chemo as I went into menopause.

Food is tricky, I didn't have much nausea but it varies day by day what you feel like eating so would probably avoid. The treatments did dry out the skin so nice skincare products might be good. If she will lose her hair I've heard people recommend silk pillowcases, not used one myself but my DD who is a similar age loves them (and asd DS snaffled hers so I got another one) - Dunelm do cheaper ones or there are posher ones which are pricey. You do have to be careful with infection risk though I found going out once a month somewhere nice really helped me through - I did outdoors and wildlife - her Mum might know best. Swimming /spas weren't allowed though are lovely for after treatment but they can change treatment plans. I liked soft things like velvet, I found that comforting when in there.

She actually has a poncho which I crocheted for her a few years ago 😊

Oh your poor niece and her family. You sound like a wonderful Auntie to want to do something for them. I send her all my best wishes.

I think Nordic socks look lovely and keep seeing ads for them around the place. They might be useful if she should suffer from cold feet. They are knitted in loads of lovely patterns (I think anyway 🙂).

Maybe for anything else it would be best to wait until you see how she is going to react to the chemo? Everyone is different I suppose.