Tips for a single dose chemotherapy

[FredaMountfitchet]

Looking for top tips advice and any experience of a single dose carboplatin chemo.
I know everyone’s experience is different but what little comforts should I consider ?
Asking for dear friend .
she’s moving in with us for her 21 days treatment cycle as we have an unused granny flat .
Aware of infection risk so we’ll be separate but able to help if needed .

I am exhausted following it and can't stomach many foods. I would do her a basket with some ginger biscuits (you can get little packets), mints, boiled sweets, cordial for her water, fruit, lip balm, moisturiser as hands and feet can get dry, a blanket to snuggle in and maybe add some books/magazines.
You sound lovely!

Is she quite vulnerable? That seems quite dramatic. While I haven’t had this drug specifically, I’m on cancer treatment for 2 years (was on a different treatment for 12 months before that), so will be 3 years total by the time I have a break. I am a bit tired and food tastes funny, but I’ve gotten on with life, solo parenting, going on holidays, doing all the school runs, hiking, going to the gym, just getting on with it. I’m sure she’ll mostly just need an afternoon nap.

Maybe @mindutopia she is scared and needs the company? I am single and it's very very lonely.

Those reusable hand warmers devices were a godsend for my late OH when he was on chemo, along with an oodie. He said he felt cold all the time but also his skin was very sensitive so something nice and soft to cuddle into helped.

Confirming PP's advice for stuff to take the taste away. He ate a lot of fox's fruit sweets and fisherman's friends, and couldn't tolerate plain water. He loved tea but found touching the cold milk in the fridge very painful. I had to go put the milk in for him as he hated UHT milk, but if your friend doesn't mind it maybe get some in.

He mostly just wanted simple easy activities to use as a distraction as having something to take his mind off things and keep him busy helped him ignore the side effects. He ended up commandeering my playstation for the duration of his treatment as games made for a great distraction.

(BTW he died of something else more than 5 years later and was completely cancer free at the time - hopefully chemo will be as much of a success for your friend as it was for him).

Thanks all - great advice .
It’s a one off cycle ( think it’s called adjuvant) . Not vulnerable but lives alone normally initially we offered to take her dog as she might not feel up to walking him

Then we chatted about it and since my MIL passed her wee apartment has been empty ( has been decorated we were thinking of air B&B but just never got organised !) So we all reckon she’ll be fine but also think if she does become unwell or needs help or fancies some different food we’ll be able to help her out . She doesn’t have a tv package so has already decided she’ll benefit from ‘Rivals’ while lodging with us !

Ice cream was my saviour, just vanilla no exotic flavours, and yes, yes to the ginger biscuits with a cooler than normal cup of tea. My wonderful DiL arrived one day with a whole box of gingers.
Just couldn't even think of meals as such.
I was fine for a week and then almost to the hour was very sick and shivery, everyone is different though.