best present for friend with breast cancer?

[sphil]

A good friend of mine is going into hospital on Thursday for a mastectomy. I'd like to send her something. Has anyone got any ideas? She is very unsentimental!
Thanks

Id want something really luxurious . something that stimulates the senses . |Prehaps a really gorgeous feeling cashmere scarf ...... Or a pair of Super soft woolen bed socks .......
Either that or some good new CDs ....to play on my personal cd player when im post op and feeling shite .
OR Hows about you bring her in proper food .
An M&S salad tasted INcredible when I was in Hospital .

Or I Know ...Pay some one to go in and give hera really good foot massage or reflexology or suchlike...... Maybe ....or a voucher for it to look forward to during her recovery .

Has she got an ipod? If so you could get her an itunes voucher; if not you could get her an ipod, or a cheaper MP3 player if that would be a bit much - time hangs heavy in hospital and she will be in for several days (and maybe chemo later? Lots of waiting around for that too) so her own choice of listening would be a great escape.

What a nice friend you are, sphil

OOh Agree with WW . music is a godsend when youre in hospital .... Or even a small portable CD and radio player .... That works on Batteries . Some Hospitals Wont allow you to use your own electrical stuff if it plugs in .

when I had my mastectomy i was in hospital for 10 days, i had a friend bring in a chinese take away one evening (yummy...) another bought me a portable dvd player!! (which was very much appreciated) lots of magasines etc. but I also had a group of friends who bought me a course of reflexology which started when I had chemo - for me it was the best!! It got me through some horrible days... and I still have the odd one now, nearly 2 years later!

I've been given white company cashmere bed socks. Fantastic!

Audio books? Got some for my friend when she was having chemo - she said they were helpful when she didn't have the energy to read or watch tv. She also swears by reflexology...

Maybe some gorgeous pyjamas or a robe? She may not want to get dressed after her surgery and some lovely nightwear could cheer her up a bit.

Also luxurious smellies, piles of books, some face/skin care products?

You have to be careful with massage when you have cancer so probably best avoided for now. It may be ok when she has recovered from her op and they know what the plan is re chemo/radiotherapy.

Thanks for great ideas - she is very musical so CDs would be a good idea. She lives miles away so I probably won't get to see her .