Present for a friend about to start chemo

[GeekyGirl42]

My very dear friend is about to start chemo and I wanted to put together a little package of things for her. I was thinking a nice big bag for her to have all her bits and pieces in - something like this

miatui.com/products/jennie-travel-bag

And then fill it with a couple of bits.

I have no idea if that would be any use for someone in her situation

Can’t comment on the bag specifically but what a kind friend you are

I'm sorry to hear about your friend
That's a really sweet thought, and the bag is lovely. As for some bits to put in, maybe a nice blanket, a flask for a hot/cold drink, lip balm/body cream set, a warm hat, cosy socks.

Best idea I ever heard of for someone about to commence treatment for cancer was a fabulous bottle of champagne given at the start to crack open when treatment is done and that all clear is given.

Your idea of a care package is also fab!
Lip balm definitely, a couple of novelty ice cube trays as when nausea & vomiting starts, ice cubes are a lovely refreshing thing to have.

HTH

I used www.notanotherbunchofflowers.com/ when I put together something similar because it turns out there are certain things cancer patients can and can’t have by way of food / additives in toiletries etc.

I chose a couple of bits from there (including some Queasy Drops which did amazing things to ease her nausea) along with puzzle books, pen and a Spotify gift voucher credit (in case she wanted to distract herself but couldn’t hold the book/concentrate to read). They also do fab non schmaltzy cards if she’s someone with a sense of humour.

I’m so sorry about your friend.

Sorry to hear about your friend. When my friend was having chemo, she was constantly cold, her lips were really dry and she lost her sense of taste. She liked lip balms, hand cream and boiled fruit sweets to take away the dryness in her mouth. She also a soft fleece throw that she used to take with her and use when laying on the sofa. Earphones were also useful if she doesn't have any. I'm sure she'll appreciate the gesture whatever you get

That sounds lovely. Some magazines she likes, in case she can’t focus enough to read longer things? Lovely slippers, robe or pyjamas to relax in? Is she doing inpatient or outpatient chemo?

The two best chemo presents I was given were a plug in heated blanket and a notebook to write my medication schedule in.
Meant I just had to tick off what I'd taken when I took it instead of trying to remember and counting what was left etc. There are a lot of meds and your brain is like mush.
I carried a bag around the house I already had and I kept a water bottle, the notebook, meds, Elizabeth Arden 8 hour protectorent for my lips, phone and hand cream in it.
This is a lovely idea and I'm sure your friend will appreciate it a lot.
Also in case she doesn't know tell her once your hooked up to the chemo drip you can wheel it around to go to the bathroom so she can drink lots of water with abandon
Drink lots of water the morning she is starting and a hot water bottle for her arm to help get the line in is also helpful.

When my mum started chemo she really felt the cold.

So I'd suggest things like warm fleecy PJ bottoms, dressing gown, blanket, fluffy socks, slippers.

A nice fleece lined hat for winter as she'll most likely have no hair for most of it.

My mum also spent lots of time doing puzzles so we brought a roll up puzzle board and Disney puzzles (Disney fan!)

Hand warmers.

Neck pillow

Perhaps a subscription to something she likes as chemo can mean whole days in hospital with no WiFi.

Obviously it's all budget dependent on what you can/want to spend but me and my siblings got mum all of the above over the first 6-8 weeks and 4 1/2 years in and her 6th round of chemo she's still finding them useful.

Oh and if she is likely to lose her hair, Seasalt bamboo Handybands are great as a head cover - less uncomfortable, hot and itchy than a hat and come in nice colours and soft bamboo fabric.

www.seasaltcornwall.com/bamboo-cotton-jersey-handyband

Please not a present for the so-called ‘all clear’ . Many people don’t get that, and some of those who do find it a sort of pressurising anti-climax.

My mum’s best things were a plug in heated blanket, and a coffee flask.

Kindle filled with good reads is another good one.

Or Audible subscription if they’re not up to really reading.

Wireless headphones.

I've just finished chemotherapy. I was/am very nauseous so had to stop using scented products, and also need some prescription creams instead of the usual brands.

I burn a candle (unscented) at home most days just to feel a bit less shit, have something pretty and special (also disguises the smell of vomit/diarrhoea side effects). So that would be a nice gift.

Also sucky sweets (like boiled sweets/humbugs) as I often got/get a horrid taste in my mouth. Not sugar free ones.

I would send her some flowers so she has something pretty and cheerful to look at.

Maybe make her a playlist of music to listen to during treatment.

I would also send her little postcards...even if you text each other every day, it's a nice lift.

Good luck to your friend!

Aww bless you how kind. When I had chemo things that helped me was fluffy socks, a blanket, ginger biscuits as I was sick often, a scarf to hide my hair falling out in clumps. Then for activity I got word searches, books, colouring books, earphones. Oh and I found my skin went absolutely awful so I was reliant on face masks and heavy moisturiser

When I finished treatment the very last thing I would have wanted is a bottle of Champagne. Also wouldn't have been allowed / advisable to drink it (my poor kidneys !)

Yes to the notebook for writing down meds etc.

Water bottle could be nice as you need to drink loads.

My sister is having chemo. I put together a care package for her which consisted of:

A shawl that could be used as a turban if she didn't want to wear her wig.
Anti-sickness wrist bracelets (the ones that go on the pressure points)
A pack of tissues
Slippers
A loose nightie and a PJ set that had inspirational quotes on
A heatpad that also cools (their temperature can go up and down during chemo)
A drinking cup with straw and lid (you know the kind Primark usually have at the checkout)

My sister is having chemo. She also always feels cold so something cosy like a blanket or snuggly socks. She is very fatigued and nibbles at sweets like jelly beans, jelly babies etc for a little energy boost quite often. Her fridge is full of chocolate so she can have a bit ready!
A special notebook sounds good as there is lots to remember, and something to do whilst having chemo as it takes a few hours and can be very boring. Likewise she is having regular blood transfusions which also take several hours so boredom is a big thing.
Largely just being there as someone for her to sound off to is a great help too. We have had all sorts of weird conversations - positive and negative. Naturally thoughts can turn to what might happen if the chemo doesn’t work and it’s not always comfortable for the ill person to voice their thoughts. Most people are very ‘you’ll be fine…’ but what if they’re not? It’s natural to want to talk about it. Practical support can be helpful too - shopping, lifts, meals etc.
You sound like a lovely friend.

I bought my beautiful sister the softest blanket that I could find, and a smaller version for her toy koala.
Also a silk pillow.
The socks and PJs idea is great too.
Please do it. You're lovely.

I bought hand cream and lip balm from not another bunch of flowers, and every time I see her, a fancy non alcoholic drink. She has to drink loads on chemo day but water is super dull... a little glass of something nice is appreciated.
When she was in hospital, I videoed her children reading her a bedtime story at night.

Heated warmer things are good. I was always cold and when you're cold it's harder to get veins for bloods or drips so heat helps that too.
A good, unscented moisturiser! I'd try and stay away from anything scented because your friend might feel sick all the time. A fancy water bottle. One of those rainbow pill boxes that have four or five little compartments for every day to help keep her organised with her meds. Chances are, she'll be on a lot. Lip balm. A book that's good to dip in and out of, like Slug (cool book of poems) or photobooks or magazines if she's into that. Sweets, biscuits, cake... The usual! The headspace meditation app subscription. It's a complete life saver, and I think you might even get it free for a year if you have cancer.

Definitely drinking cup with straw. I was often too exhausted to sit up and drink.
Definitely heated blanket, or big soft furry blanket she will get very cold.
Definitely pitch up with a ready cooked lasagne or roast chicken and chocolate cake! Sometimes just crossing the kitchen to put a pizza in the oven is more effort than you can possibly believe!
Also i found very useful an iPad and headphones. Especially for hospital where there’s a lot of things you don’t want to see or hear.
A blender to make smoothies when she is too ill to eat.
Hugs.

A tray with legs. One round of chemo had her confined to bed for several days so she was eating (very little) mostly lying down. The leggy tray was helpful.
Hugs and a shoulder to cry on/rage with/whatever she wants.
It's unutterably shit.

So many lovely suggestions already posted

You are a very thoughtful friend

When my DM was in hospital staying overnight after chemo amongst the things she really liked that I took was a small zebra toy (other toys are available) as she would hug him when we had all gone home

I hope things go smoothly for your DF

Another vote for not giving an “all clear” bottle of champagne. I’d have hated that. I’d have liked socks, hat, pyjamas. A book.

Kindle. Notebook and pen. Adult Colouring in book and good pens (therapeutic). Nice water bottle. Ear plugs. Cooling eye mask. Ginger tea. Rescue remedy. Magazine subscription for a year of her fav mag. Jellycat teddy.

Cashmere socks from eBay!