2007-02-28 10:37:58 · 42 answers · asked by Thanks! 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
a blanket, a book, a portable CD player and audio book (if they have an ipod you can get them a gift card to get music or an audiobook).
When my grandma was in chemo I gave her a chemo-bag. It was a big, red, faux-croc skin bag with
1. tissues
2. a book
3. a water bottle
4. some granola bars
4. a blanket
5.a pillow.
Chemo takes a long time and drips aren't fun. having things to do helps. I would bring my grandma daisies from our garden and I made her a homemade pillow...those were her favorite things.
*Oh and I was told that while flowers are nice, avoid BIG floral arrangements becuase they can be scary as cancer can be a terminal illness. *
2007-02-28 10:44:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 9⤊ 1⤋
When I started my chemo I was showered with gifts which sort of scared me. I thought everyone knew I was going to die except me!
I did however get some very nice prezzies!
I really liked - funky hats, especially the soft cotton ones that did not itch or hurt my poor sore head!!
I was given a number of hilarious wigs, Max Wahl?, Pink sparkly jackson five afro style etc.
The best help of all was the meals on wheels delivery service set up by my friends, the school transfer service, after schools activities for little ones etc, all done in a quiet, get on with it sort of a way. Shopping trips, tea out, visits to library etc, when I could only manage an hour or so out, and friends came picked me up, and had to take me home again, well before they would probably have liked but smiled, joked with me and came back the next week to do it all again. You cant buy good friends like that.
Pinnapples were also popular as I found they helped me with the mouth ulcers better then any of the presciption drugs the oncologist prescribed me.
2007-03-01 00:01:12 · answer #2 · answered by worriedmum 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chemotherapy often leaves people feeling tired, sick, and often unattractive. often it is not recommended that people have their hair treated, for example, in some cases it is not recommended that people have a perm etc...so maybe a nice gift would be that for when they have finshed the course?
Find out how long the course is, it may be as long as 6 months, and book him/her in for a nice day at a health spa, such as eden hall in Newark. A bit of pampering, facial and relaxing treatments may be something they really want, and will give them something to look forward to and focus on during their treatment. Whilst they are having chemotherapy, take a trip round with a nice film and just spend some time with them.
2007-02-28 20:16:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best gift I recieved when I started chemo was a journal. I kept all kinds of information about my cycles and also my feelings from day to day.
Other things that I thought were great:
-Comfy pajamas
-slippers (definitely need those for the hospital)
-Chicken Soup for the Soul books (very encouraging and uplifting)
-hand-held games
-Lotion (chemo tends to dry the skin) Aveeno is great
I've seen other people saying flowers or plants, but after chemo, you can become nutropenic, which means you have a depressed immune system. If you're nutropenic, you are not allowed to have fresh flowers. Artificial flowers are allowed.
2007-03-01 04:40:51 · answer #4 · answered by juliepasson622 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your heart is in the right place.
My Mother is to start her second set of sessions in April.
And she does suffer a lot with infections... I have rented musical DVD's sent to her door as she doesn't watch a film all the way through most times. She loves music and gets to see her old favourite stars in concert.. (costs about £12.00 per month.)
I also rented a film 'The Champions' starring John Hurt as a British jockey who fights cancer. It's a true story and it also helped her, as the suffering the character went through showed her that this, was normal...A happy ending too..which was positive.
But keeping in touch is SO important. A lot of people stay away and ask after her through mutual friends, which is sad.
Although saying that she does get bored of people asking " How are you?" in a tone but implies that the question will not return a good answer.
Find a good joke a day..
Also where she had lost weight, we went to buy some colourful clothes for her wardrope.
2007-02-28 12:55:18 · answer #5 · answered by blinkingblonde 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am on my second round of chemo.
Depending on what kind of chemo. a person is on...there are different side effects.
I have felt tired and sick, but have had no hair loss.
I appreciated books, magazines (for when books got too much) toiletries( body and hand lotions....as skin can get dry), and just someone to be there for me to help with mundane chores like ironing, hoovering etc. It helps to have a clean and tidy house. I also made sure I have fresh flowers in the house to cheer me up. There are some lovely and quite cheap tulips and daffs around, especially in Tesco.
Also watching a nice romantic dvd can be restful.
Wishing you and your friend much love and peace xxxxxxxx
2007-02-28 22:58:44 · answer #6 · answered by Pink n Wise 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best gift you probably could give this person is your support, be with them when they need you to be there. This person might not feel the need to have something to complete them but might want the company of a friend by them. I have a friend who's father is going through chemo a lot right now, and my friend asked me a simple question, "can you hear me out without talking" and that is what we did, i just sat with her and hang out with her until she felt a bit relieved. She said the best thing I did for her was to be there for her without have to talk, just be there. I hope this is helpful.
2007-02-28 10:49:26 · answer #7 · answered by greenhousethugz 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wigs are a very personal thing and can be very itchy to wear. He or she may not need one anyway if they are using a cold cap.
If not for a female, nice head scarf??? My friend had loads of scarves but went through lots of Bachs Rescue Remedy and they do it in pastils now.
Whilst it's a lovely thought to buy a gift just picking up the phone or sending a text asking if they need anything or just to say your thinking of them will mean tons.
2007-02-28 10:54:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes an actual gift isn't as appropriate as a give of self. For example, the person is going to feel like cr@p after each treatment. Can you help by driving them to and from treatments? Can you help by providing the family with meals? This is particularly important when the cancer patient is the mom of the family. Just be there for this person with support, humor and encouragement!
(Regarding the posting from Wasted, I'm with you, people making crass answers obviously haven't been touched by cancer, but I wouldn't wish it on anyone, even people who cannot contain their overwhelming ignorance.)
2007-02-28 10:53:01 · answer #9 · answered by moosviews4u 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The best gift you can give does not cost a thing. It is your attention, love and support. Just to be there and helping any way you can is the best gift of all.
2007-03-03 04:16:03 · answer #10 · answered by Margery Dawe 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋