Radiotherapy- suitable gifts.

[Peony1985]

I know FA about radiotherapy but a friends wife is going through it. Had 3 weeks work and will go on until next month.
I don’t live that close so can’t help with practical support. I was thinking of giving them a food hamper so a couple of meals are sorted plus nice drinks.
What happens on radiotherapy though - less hungry or lose taste or feel sick? It’s mouth cancer if that makes a difference.
Any suggestions on food or something better?

Oh that’s nice of you. I had this treatment and you do lose your sense of taste and ability to eat. The best present I was sent was lavender pillow spray and hand cream from L’occitane. It gave me a lovely moment of self care every night. I did also receive a food hamper and, although I couldn’t eat any of it, I was really touched at the thought.

If you send a parcel, make sure it includes fancy boiled sweets. My mum had radiotherapy and it makes your mouth very dry. Sucking sweets to trigger saliva production is importnwt in recovery, especially sharp ones like sherbet lemon

Sadly I know three people who have had this diagnosis and radiotherapy. Mouth can become ulcerated,swallow can be effected which can result in having a temporary feeding tube going directly into stomach to have artificial feeds if necessary.
Eating and drinking is impacted hugely. I would recommend a milkshake/ soup maker as a very practical gift . Order from Amazon and it can be delivered.
On a positive note all three have made a full recovery🙏

With it being mouth cancer she is likely not going to eat much "normal food", she may have to have things pureed, or not really be eating much other than high calorie milkshake drinks. I have a good friend who has just gone through throat cancer and their swallow reflex completely went, the burning from the radiotherapy made them not eat anything for weeks while the treatment was ongoing.

I would do a hand cream gift, or maybe a cook voucher that they can use further down the line.

Thank you. That’s so helpful. Sharp sweets will be on the list.

Does it dry the skin in general too?

I want to support my lovely friend and her wife- the food would be more for her as the carer. A meal less to think about especially if her DW isn’t eating.

They’ll end up feeling sick and possibly get a very sore mouth so food probably isn’t the most thought out gift. I’d go with nice things for them to enjoy, books, nice pyjamas, had cream, fluffy socks, those type of things they’ll enjoy without the pressure of trying to eat through the sickness 😁

It can dry the skin but the radiotherapists will give her some special cream for that.

Honestly, I wouldn’t have wanted any gifts. I’d also be bloody annoyed if someone got Dh a gift for him because that comes across a bit minimising. Unless someone is in home hospice, there isn’t a lot of ‘caring’ to do. I’m 2 years into treatment and still doing all the cooking for both of us. Best thing you can do is simply check in with your friend, not just now. 3 months from now and a year from now. Everyone forgets about cancer after the first month or two. Keep reaching out and asking specifically how it’s going and how they are coping. It’s so nice to actually be invited to talk about it.

And please not a blender for pureeing food. If someone had sent me that, I would have thrown it at them. 😂

@mindutopia sorry for what you went through.
My friend is definitely being a carer. She’s had to give up work. So far the treatments have been horrific - teeth removed, jaw and throat operated on.
I just want to give my friend practical help because the practical stuff is tough and show her wife I am thinking about her too.

I will take it all on board.