Idea for something to send to a friend

[Thismummyrunstheshow]

My friend has just been diagnosed and will be starting treatment soon. The prognosis is positive but I would really like to get her something thoughtful to cheer her up/let her know I'm here.

My mind has drawn a blank and all I can think of is flowers which I fear is lame.

I don't have a huge budget 😔

Treatment will involve a lot of sitting/ lying around- my dd made me a lovely blanket I used at chemo, and at home.
lots of lovely throws / scarves around. Etsy etc do cancer care kits etc. Something growing - bowl of bulbs?

Some thing I often do for friends going through tough times is to send them a daily email with some sort of of 'smile' attached. It could be a cartoon or photo that made you smile some thing on Utube , Since it is not that long past Christmas maybe start with this on which always makes me smile.

I had a different illness and my colleagues sent me a lovely fluffy pyjama top and I really appreciated it.

Don’t send flowers. It’s a lovely lovely thought but when I was diagnosed it made me feel I was walking in to a morgue I had so many (love them normally). Nicest thing I got were some headscarves that were copied from a design that made them not fall off which my friend made (my chemo made my hair fall out). It was also lovely that she took the time to research my cancer and treatment so I could talk about it and she understood. You don’t need to get her anything, just don’t isolate her and keep being a good friend. Wishing her well.

https://shop.macmillan.org.uk/collections/cancer-care-gifts/products/spacemasks-5-pack?variant=39445231861842

https://www.theelephantintheroomgifts.ie/en-gb/products/medicine-bag-holding-all-my-meds-and-shit-together?srsltid=AfmBOor3jDdonfDMolvFRxUlmqErXpPB0t8AX3Ky-GEhEqskeAe6WTqM

If she's having chemo it makes you super cold. A nice fleece blanket

I used to send my friend themed parcels when she was having a particularly rough time with her treatment. The first was a hospital survival kit - fluffy socks, nice hand cream, scented hand sanitiser (pre pandemic so it was a novelty), boiled sweets, herbal teabags, lip balm, an eye mask and ear plugs, a crossword book, sweets and an activity based on a book series we enjoyed. All very simple and inexpensive, but she loved it.

Others included My Favourite Things (everything listed in the Sound of Music song and instructions to guess the theme), a Welcome to Hogwarts, Jodi Taylor's St Mary's, a beautiful baldy parcel (temporary tattoos, facepaint, huge earrings, a cloth headband with a big design). Not expensive but took a bit of time and planning, and were very personal. Lots of fun to put together too!

Things my dad found most useful

• Puzzle book
• novel
• Ipod/pad (Puzzles, games, reading, keeping up with friends)
• Hand cream (you wash your hands A LOT with handling treatment, public transport/toilet in or en-route to hospital, and frequent D+V)
• Nice blanket for the car when travelling/ the sofa or garden lounger when you need to snuggle, but aren't quite sick enough for bed.
• Thermos for when you know you'll want more hot tea/squash in 20 mins but walking to the kitchen is such an effort.

-A bird feeder or bird bath for the garden (if applicable) with some bags of bird seed/fat balls.
-Heated blanket
-Hand cream, lip balm, eye mask and ear plugs

Maybe a voucher for a home pedicure/ manicure. Your nails can be quite affected by treatment. It might be easier for her if a mobile beauty therapist do it at home if she's feeling tired.

Thank you. Some excellent ideas here.
Thanks again all

My friend sent me beautiful flowers when I was diagnosed, I really appreciated them so don’t dismiss that as an idea. Also a work colleague came round with magazines, ginger biscuits for the nausea and tictacs for the dry mouth, small things but thoughtful!

Satin pillow cases, warm socks, head scarves