Friend having chemotherapy - what can I do/send?

[Molehillmountain]

She is in a hospital a king way from home, away from small children and family. I have some idea of what helped me during hospital stays but no experience of chemo. Please can anyone help me know what she might like or would help during treatment and would let her know that we're thinking of her.

Sorry-a long way

Hi, I suggest a nice toiletry/perfume spray to help her feel fresh, a magazine or two, or if she likes reading a little book of light short stories. Fruit is also very nice, except bananas which taste horrid during chemo. If you're actually going in person, a little plastic box of freshly cut pineapple - my favourite during chemo and its good for the mouth.
All suggestions from when I had chemo. I am sure she'll appreciate things like that.

All suggestons from when my Mum had chemo,

Perfume spray / fresh wipes that Ctrabtree & Evelyn or L'Occitane do so she felt fresh & feminine, lovely hand cream & body lotion as made her feel she was at home, fresh fruit - I did her melon & pineapple, a little lavender sachet that she hung on her bed as she liked the smell wafting at night time, a family photo of us all together that she liked looking at, a snugly fleece blanket thing for when she felt cold, a sift cashmere beany for her head for when she was cold
Visiting her unexpectedly to say hello & to hug, dropping little things off , holding her hand

Good wishes to your friend x

No flowers or plants.
Something snugly and warm - a nice big scarf (like a pashmina) as you can sometimes get very cold.
Sooky sweets - appetite may be small and mouth dry.
Music and something good to read.
Manicure set (or maybe there is a manicurist in the hospital you can get to visit to do her nails?).
Does she like to draw or knit/sew? Boredom is a real pain in the backside.
Nice bikkies for visitors or passing staff/other patients. Good for starting a chat of she is feeling lonely.

Best wishes for a quick and full recovery.

Thank you! I gave her a pretty bag to take with to the hospital with knitting and magazines Thinking of making a snuggly fleece blanket too and I'll keep sending little bits and bobs. All suggestions really helpful and lots I can post. I just feel helpless - I've been I'll before but never supported someone through it. Do you think it's okay to send things quite frequently? I don't want to go into overdrive but little cards and gifts seem to be the only tangible help I can give her, although I'm also doing some meals and childcare for the family back home.

FIL is going through chemo and one of the few things he can taste are fruit jellies - those weird boxes of sugar-coated stuff like this

Hospital food was an issue for him.

OP you know your friend but I was thinking if it were me far from home etc I would love little things more often than one big go of everything IYSWIM ? I woulkd also love a picture drwan by DS that I could prop by bed to mnake me smile.

Last time I was in hosp (though not for chemo), I took an aroma stone electric diffuser and essential oils. Everyone who came into my room commented on how lovely it smelt. You can use diff oils to uplift eg Geranium or relax eg Lavender depending on your mood. Neal's Yard is good for oils and you can find the Aroma Stone on amazon. Best wishes to your friend x

BeaLola-that was my thinking too. When I was in hospital I was closer to home so had plenty of visitors. I was really lonely when I au paired and the people who wrote to me seem very special still, twenty years on. A day without a letter then was pretty grim. Do hospitals have wi fi now? Or plug in? I feel a muppet now-lent and old iPhone to her for existing apps on it and hoping she'd connect up so somehow but like a muppet I forgot the charger. I'm sending texts without questions, just thinking of you and a funny thing happened today sort of things, so she doesn't feel as if they need replying to. Be honest with me-is that okay?

Mole - personally I would be thinking how lucky I was to have such a kind friend............ & any text would be well received. I hated being in hospital with no visitors but luckily the ladies on the ward kept me going & looked after me (my Mum sadly not around by then).

Not sure re WIFI - could you look at hospital website ?

I think the aroma thingy mentioned sounds lovely - I had a snall roll on rlax type oil from Aromatherapy Associates which calmed me/was a relaxing smell.

This may not be at all suitable but I throw it in FWIW - my Dad recorded one of those children books at Xmas for my DS so as he turns the pages he hears Grandpas voice - if her children are old enough could they do that but in reverse - I think they do a recordable Guess How much I love you book - hope that doesn't sound daft/offend.

Just heard that friend is feeling well. If anyone wonders, when people say they're thinking of you, it's not just an idle expression. Lovely friend in my thoughts all day. Going to call this evening and send little parcel off tomorrow. Hope to send something smelly, something tasty and something warm (if I manage not to eat the jellies-I love them ;-) )