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

Trying to think of everything that's helped us. Queasy drops (a boiled sweet that apparently helps with nausea), lip balm, thermal socks, a powerbank phone charger, travel sickness bands, a good insulated cup/water bottle.

Top things that helped me

Cosy socks as my feet were extremely painful from the chemo (nerve pain in the extremities can be awful)
Cosy thick slippers and comfy insoles for shoes were also a must.
Notebook for writing meds/drs notes etc as chemo brain is a thing and it can take a while to get your head round all the drugs you need to take plus times to take etc
Lovely water bottle and loads of different squash. Plenty of water is needed to flush you after chemo and it gets boring quickly so different flavours help to keep drinking.
A chillow - basically a cold water mat you can put on your pillow, help to cool you when you get hot flushes.
A folding table - mine literally went everywhere with me, next to the sofa, upstairs etc helped to have everything I needed near me when exhausted but also very helpful after surgery to minimise strain and bending.
Comedy dvds/netflix etc anything light hearted that you can dip in and out of as concentrating is hard plus most "dramas" always have a cancer theme at some point and it's hard to get away from so light hearted comedy to distract your mind helped me.
Most of all though just be there for them. Call them, not just to check on them but as you would normally. Still invite them to stuff even if you know they might be exhausted let them know they can drop in and out of plans whenever they want. Worst thing is how lonely it can be and how you really see who your true friends are. It's so hurtful the people who just drop out of your life as they can't deal with you being sick.

Sorry realise that was a very long list. Hope it helps x

The best thing I ever brought during chemo was a silk pillow case. It's just wonderful

I was also given a ton of gifts from Friends and family and whilst I am super grateful to have such lovely people around me, I now have about 10 tubes of hand cream, 4 lip balms, 3 water bottles etc.

Honestly, silk pillow is the way to go x

A bag of some sort to put her chemo days stuff in. We have a boring rucksack for dh (40) with the stuff he takes to chemo (thin soft blanket, thick socks, drinks & snacks, iPad power bank, head phones, note pad and pen) it has a great front pocket that all his paperwork goes into (bloody loads of the stuff). We also put in extra boxers, toothpaste & brush and extra medication just in case he has to stay in for any reason.

I check it and refill when he gets home from chemo, then The bag lives in the cupboard by our front door and we use it as a hospital bag if he ever has to go in. He's not fussed what bag or if the stuff inside is pretty etc, typical man!
I would love a nicer bag with all the pretty stuff like pens and cups.

Just before my friend went into hosp for a 5 week chemo treatment, I got her a neck pillow (which she said she found really helpful), a nice reusable water bottle, boiled sweets to suck on as your mouth gets dry, an eye mask (as it's always too bright to sleep) and some other treats.
Hth xx

Another for adult colouring in book. But not one with endless detail. Larger images. I like the Crayola twistables as they colour smoothly and don't need sharpening.

Also long charger cables which can be life changing when lying in bed or at the chemo center to plug in your devices.

A light blanket would be appreciated. I go to an infusion center and in winter I sometimes feel a bit chilled.

Some ideas on an old thread

Radiotherapy..... presents? www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/3294746-radiotherapy-presents

The best thing I got at that stage was a lovely soft blanket. And a friend gave me a teddy bear which had a sling on it's arm and a plaster on it's head - she said the bear was sick too, and he could be a companion on my journey. It was a lovely thought.

Thank you so much for all these wonderful ideas. She's well surrounded by siblings and friends, so I'm guessing she will get many blankets and socks. I've gone for the bag, a silk pillowcase that can be machine washed and a matching sleep mask. All in her favourite colour. Really looking forward to giving it to her 😊.

I think I'll be surprising her with a couple of extra bits over next few weeks - so please do keep the ideas coming.

A silk pillowcase because it can really help delay hair falling out and is also more gentle in the head once hair has fallen out x

She loves her hair, she has so much of it, so beautiful and thick. I'm worried how she'll feel if she looses it.

Loads of lovely ideas from PPs and what a wonderful friend you are, OP.

May I suggest, in addition, a hot water bottle with a knitted or furry cover. Sheer bliss!

I went with my lovely friend to choose her wig. That was a hard day.
She lost her hair after the first round of chemo.

The bag is a lovely idea, I bought myself a big bag which went with me to every session.
The other best thing you can give is yourself. Ring or message frequently. Not just at the beginning, it's a long old haul and people lose interest along the way.
Also tell her she is allowed to be miserable and complain to you. Putting on a brave face is so hard and you don't want to constantly whinge to friends and family.

I'm seeing her on Thursday. Day after her PET scan. We've planned a big night out. I'm going along with this (and it will be so cool if we get to do that), but I'll completely understand if the plan changes. Will be giving her the goody bag then 😊

The first time I saw my friend after her diagnosis, I cried. She'd gone into hospital for something routine and it had all gone crazy from there with a sudden admission and then her diagnosis. I was just so bloody relieved to see her.
These days we mostly watch tv and bitch about the things we always bitched about. It's all shit but having people to lean on is important. She's lucky to have you.

My best chemo present was a box of things I would probably regularly use: neutral ph shower gel, a packet of polos, heatable hand warmer, hand cream etc. Was so kind and thoughtful.

I'm very lucky to have her. I'm there for the long haul. I'll be looking for ideas for little bits to send her over the next few months. There are some lovely ideas here. Thank you everyone

@GeekyGirl42

I'm very lucky to have her. I'm there for the long haul. I'll be looking for ideas for little bits to send her over the next few months. There are some lovely ideas here. Thank you everyone

That's how I feel about my friend too. She's bloody brilliant, and always has been. I'm not one for sympathetic noises but I'm more than happy to clean her loo or make her dinner or pop to the shops. I've listened to how she talks about it - to her, it's not a fight or a battle. Those are metaphors she doesn't use, so I don't. Other people will have their own approach. Amazon vouchers were also a welcome gift. She bought books she could read on her kindle.

Just scanned the thread and didn't see an Audible subscription. Recovering from surgery I just wanted to lie down on my side so watching something wasn't comfortable. Listening to audio books with some soft ear buds was.