<p>Hi,</p>
<p>A friend was recently diagnosed with breast cancer (stage iiiA) and starts chemo next week. We will be working out meals for the family, but I wondered if any of you have any ideas for small gifts that might come in handy during this time.</p>
<p>She’s a knitter so she’ll probably have that to keep her busy during chemo.</p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>A supply of books and magazines to read?</p>
<p>Definitely either a fun video reminding her that her whole family is and will be supporting her forever no matter what happens, or a voice recording/mp3 of you guys saying encouraging and supporting words. Also those stuffed animals holding get well cards and pictures (you can custom make the cards to fit the animals so it looks like they are holding them 
are really meaningful. I remember several years ago I was hospitalized for one month and these things really kept my spirits up and thoughts positive. I hope this helps! :)</p>
<p>I have three friends in Chemo right now. </p>
<p>for small gifts…magazine subscriptions, DVDs that they can watch on a laptop that they bring with them, books on CDs that they can listen to, etc.</p>
<p>But if you can, go with them sometimes and sit with them. They will “nod off” so have something for you to do as well. After Chemo, they’re often dizzy/lightheaded so they often need someone to drive them home.</p>
<p>Hand or body lotion. My skin turned to sandpaper during chemo. And pretty (and inexpensive) scarf.</p>
<p>Along with working out a calendar for family meals, if the they would like, work out one for drivers to and from chemo. Sitting with them at chemo may be appreciated at times, too.</p>
<p>If there are school aged kids involved, having another class parent eyes on the “lookout” can be helpful…for those projects, permission slips, due dates, etc. can be helpful</p>
<p>Comfy, cozy socks!</p>
<p>Comfy, soft, loose, cozy jammies, nightgowns, or sweats, depending on her preferences. (When a relative of mine had chemo, she had a lot of friends seeing her in her sweats or jammies when they came to visit or help out around the house, and it was a comfort to have some nicer, newer ones to wear.)</p>
<p>Grocery store checkout weekly trash magazines which allow a short attention span. Unscented things, like lotions, of ones sense of smell goes haywire.</p>
<p>A friend sent me a gift pack from [Lindi</a> Skin - BEAUTY + HEALTH](<a href=“http://www.lindiskin.com/]Lindi”>http://www.lindiskin.com/) when I was undergoing radiation for breast cancer. The products are intended for patients undergoing chemo or radiation. They’re very soothing and great for sensitive skin.</p>
<p>To help with scheduling help for sick friends/members, our church/neighborhood has used this website:</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/create/[/url]”>https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/create/</a></p>
<p>It’s a closed community, so the administrator has to approve new members, then it’s pretty self-supporting. You sign up for meals, driving duties, etc and the website generates email reminders. </p>
<p>We even use it for our farm co-op to sign up for shifts on the weekly delivery date and the farmer sends a blast email of what we’re getting that week.</p>
<p>When hair loss begins, knitted caps, cowls to keep her neck warm, and soft headscarves–machine washable. Ask her what she prefers. My sister hated her wig and wore pretty scarves instead. She also knit during chemo, but sometimes she just couldn’t focus on anything. Make sure creams and lotions are unscented.</p>
<p>Your company–on the phone or in person, and when the patient is up for it–is really good medicine.</p>
<p>This is not for chemo, but I thought it was good so will share it anyway–
[Care</a> Package for a Breast Cancer Patient - NYTimes.com](<a href=“Care Package for a Breast Cancer Patient - The New York Times”>Care Package for a Breast Cancer Patient - The New York Times)</p>
<p>Don’t know where you live, but my husband bought tickets to a concert for a date just after the chemo was going to end. It gave me a focus–talk about going to see “So-and-so” instead of “when chemo is done”–and something to look forward to. Highly recommend it. Also, I had a group of friends who made it their life’s work to take me out to breakfast on days that I felt like eating. What I wish I had had was someone to clean my house. That really suffered. Wish her the best. For me, 20 years in February–there is hope.</p>
<p>A woman in my DAR chapter is going through chemo now and we sent her an edible fruit arrangement – she said she really enjoyed it.</p>
<p>These are great ideas! She really has a huge support system and we live in Houston with the best cancer hospital in the world, but she’s a wonderful person and I hate that she has to go through this.</p>
<p>I will pass along all these suggestions to her large set of friends and we’ll do the best we can to help!</p>
<p>The best gift I received was a friend sending over her cleaning lady.</p>
<p>How about a professional foot massage ?</p>
<p>A copy of this book: [Amazon.com:</a> Who in This Room: The Realities of Cancer, Fish, and Demolition (9780934971126): Katherine Malmo: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Who-This-Room-Realities-Demolition/dp/0934971129/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318543003&sr=1-1]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Who-This-Room-Realities-Demolition/dp/0934971129/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318543003&sr=1-1)</p>
<p>which is sweet and funny at the same time as it tells the author’s story of dealing with her own breast cancer at age 31.</p>
<p>I have to agree with the suggestion for lotions. My dad is going through chemo now and his skin is very dry all of the time. Also, house cleaning, laundry, ironing, offering rides or doing errands is huge. I would suggest if you are making a trip to the grocery store give them a call and see if there is anything they need. When my S1 was in HS, his good friend’s mother was going through it. As soon as she started I decided I would drive her son on bad weather days. It wasn’t anything extra for me, I was driving anyway but she said just knowing that she didn’t have to go out of the house on the cold mornings was great. Sometimes it’s just the little things that they really appreciate.
Also, every few weeks send a silly card. Doesn’t have to be a get well, just one of those funny hallmark cards are great. It really lifts their spirits and with everyone using email these days, its fun to get a card via snailmail!</p>
<p>Gift certificates for message, manicure, pedicure. I second the motion that she have a ‘chemo buddy’. Family may need some help with this…don’t forget the care-givers…</p>