Care package for chemo?

[SureLook]

Hi all,

Sadly my Dad has been diagnosed with cancer and will be commencing chemo very soon. I have tried so far to help in practical ways ie offering lifts, attending appointments, dropping down dinners, offer to do food shopping or hire a cleaner etc.

I was googling the idea of a care package for someone who is about to start chemo but was wondering if they are a waste? The most common things that came up were fluffy socks, a blanket, a hat, ginger tea, creams/balms for dry skin/lips and a water bottle. I'm planning on giving him my iPad and earphones so he can watch something/listen to music.

If anyone has any wisdom for me I'd greatly appreciate it!

I'm really sorry about your dad,

My grandads very poorly and some of the best things I've bought him are an electric heated throw, and a thermos cafe mug. It can take him a few hours to sip a half cup of tea now so nice to keep it warm x

Thank you, and sorry to hear about your Grandad also. He already has a thermos for his tea/coffee so he's sorted there. I've heard chemo can make you feel very cold during it and in the days after it so I think a blanket/throw will be definitely on the list.

Also a lovely soft dressing gown, a thermal hat too. My grandad is always cold

DH had headphones so he could listen to his own music/books while he was at the sessions so that is a good idea. He also had a few puzzle books so he could while away some time.

Plastic cutlery, the taste of metal cutlery can be really strong during chemo and plastic can help with the nausea.

My husband was left with a really bad taste in his mouth with chemo so used to have boiled sweets and those little cartons of orange juice as they helped to get rid of it.

The local hospital gave me things like anti sickness bands and ginger sweets to suck for nausea.- they were good so ask for things like that.

Fresh pineapple is good for a sore mouth.

Can you preload links to podcasts, plays etc he might enjoy? BBC Sounds is great for this.

A good data package on his phone for browsing while at hospital.

Best of all, some companionship in small bites- from you or his grandkids etc., or even the family’s dog if that’s appropriate. My dad loved a cuddle from ours.

Some ready meals from Cook to keep in the freezer. My mother has been on chemo on and off for some years and these have been very useful and are good quality. They come in one-person portions.

When my friend was going through chemo she definitely felt cold so cosy socks/hat/heated throw were brilliant for her. I also bought her a good travel mug which could be used for hot and cold things depending on how she felt.

When she lost her hair I sent her a pack of silly temporary tattoos, clip on ear cuffs and facepaint to decorate her head. I don't know if she used them, but she laughed a lot - I did her a few themed packages to cheer her up.

If you are looking at a Cook voucher please make sure he can get to a shop easily - someone gave me one once and I found it really stressful until I was able to get to a shop as the nearest one was almost an hour away - there were stockists nearer but I couldn't use the voucher there. Once I could get to the shop it was am amazing present!

Thank you all so much for your suggestions, I really appreciate all the tips. I didn't know about the bad taste in the mouth so I will definitely look into drinks and plastic cutlery.

My friend makes me delicious soups which i realy enjoy when when im nauseous

Thanks @Maddy70. He has to take tablets for three days at each session for nausea which seems to be keeping it at bay. His main issue currently is neuropathy which is quite painful for him. I've done some research and cooling gloves and socks came up as a suggestion so I might look into them.