Hi
I am looking for a bit of advice, I would like to put together a little care package for my sister as she goes through chemo treatment and just wondered if you have recommendations for what i should include. I heard ginger sweets might help with nausea but what else would be good to include? Also can anyone recommend good websites for wigs?
Thanks
Hi Cherry
the chemo unit will often recommend wig shops local to you when they give your sister her wig voucher…it’s often better to try them on and get the advice of the experts. I got given a list with 8 places local ( ish ) to me.
That’s very thoughtful of you. When I had IV chemo in 2019, I had the luxury of being allowed a companion so all the things I’d prepared were never used. First, remember your sister is having IV treatment so that’s one hand out of commission. Each time it moves, it might set off the alarm so it’s best kept resting. That rules out puzzle books or anything involving writing, if it’s her dominant hand.
I found having my favourite essential oil was invaluable just to distract me (lemon to stimulate me, lavender and rose to soothe me), so soft tissues (Kleenex balm?) are a boon. The initial treatment includes what’s needed to control any nausea so you’ll probably find she’s tucking into hospital sandwiches rather than wanting those ginger sweets but they are good for her reassurance. I’d add small peppermints too and a filled water bottle.
Does she have a kindle or an e-reader? Putting some good stuff on there may be appreciated but it’s very hard to concentrate in a busy chemo suite. If she’s a music fan, make sure she has good earphones and that will while away the time. You might also make sure she has some meditative stuff that will reduce anxiety that she can plug into. Headspace and Calm both have recommended things to download but I preferred a video by Progressive Hypnosis from YouTube.
Hand cream is good for afterwards. At this time of year, make sure she’s dressed in layers with flat shoes in case she’s a bit wobbly afterwards. It’s hard to predict if the ward will be cool or warm. An extra cardigan can always be draped around her to keep her warm.
That’s about all I can remember - like I said, I could never use the sudoku book and various other stuff. I hope it goes well for her. The treatment itself is easy. The days afterwards can be harder as the steroids wear off and the chemo starts to work. As regards wigs, most hospitals have a Macmillan service. Ring and check. I only wore my wig 5 times even though it was indistinguishable from my previous hairstyle. I got a buzzcut no 6 before I started shedding hair and treated it very gently so, although the roots hurt at times, I didn’t lose it all. She’ll need sleepcaps which you can get from Macmillan because waking to a pillow covered in hair you didn’t want to lose is distressing. Otherwise I lived with the buzzcut and my one luxury, 2 cashmere beanies I wore together when outside. Hats are difficult because they are fitted for a head with hair so you have to wait till you’re ready for a good fitting hat - beanies are best!
Hope it goes smoother xx
@Cherry119 - welcome to the forum, and your sister is very lucky to have you supporting her. Jaybro and Kitkat have covered most ideas, but I’ve thought of a couple of things you might want to consider.
I was given a thin fleece type blanket (you know, the lovely soft ones) for when I was curled up on the sofa at home, and it rolled up small enough to take with me to hospital for extra warmth if I needed it.
I did use a wig but most of the time I used headscarves - I used a site called Anna Bandana - annabandana.co.uk I liked the ones with the long floaty ribbon/tie things but there is a lot of choice on there. You might also spot other ideas for her.
If she doesn’t already have one, you might get her a notebook and pen - I always carried one to jot down advice about medication etc, or any questions that sprang to mind. If I didn’t write them down I would have forgotten the answers by the time I got home!
The best gift of all will be your support, someone to listen when she has a rough day and remind her she will get through it. A nurse suggested I keep a diary of symptoms/how I was feeling each day, so that I would remember what to expect when the next cycle came round, and it also helped remind me how things had gone when it came to my next appointment with my consultant.
I wish your sister all the very best. This site is for those diagnosed but also for those supporting so please do ask if there is anything you would like to know. It’s tough watching a loved one go through it so you also need to know there is support available for you. Sending hugs, Evie xx