our friend is going through chemo

anolting

Our loved co-worker is going through chemo and we are going to send her a basket full of presents and we are looking for suggestions as none of us have been through chemo before.

Marion

- books. I read a lot of books and magazines but the one I remember most is Lance Armstrong's book "It is not about the bike" (it is about him going through cancer). I liked it a lot, I could relate to him. A book called "The C word" by Lisa Lynch is coming out in April I think. It a about a young woman going through breast cancer.

- some DVDs for when she is stuck at home and too tired to do anything. I watched "regular" movies but I also watched "crazy sexy cancer" by Kris Carr (about a young woman who has an incurable form of cancer but learns to live with it). I also re-watched the Sex and the City season when one of the characters, Samantha, gets breast cancer.

- a bottle of champagne (or whatever she likes) to be opened at the end of chemo. I was too happy when it was over, too happy to open that bottle!

- Headscarves ! (www.headcovers.com) Some people might think it is not appropriate to offer headscarves, but I liked it !

- a friend gave me a diary so that I could write everything I was going through. I thought that was a nice gift.

- most friends just brought food over instead of gifts. I like that too because most of the time I did not feel like cooking.

PauldingMom

Pre-made frozen meals were great for days when my family wanted to eat and I didn't want to cook. Also as time goes by, about 14 days into chemo., scarves. Big ones with matching earrings. You can also help her with house cleaning. She's suppose to avoid germs and may not feel up to cleaning yucky things like bathtubs and toliets.

Like mentioned earlier-books. Gosh I must have read 30 books while on Chemo. In the waiting room, while getting chemo., when I was up at night.....  Check out Susan Love's Breast Book. It has tons of valuable information about breast health.

Nice Loungewear. Be sure it BUTTONS UP THE FRONT!!! Much easier to put on and off than a pull over when your chest is still healing from surgery.

How bout a pretty medic alert bracellet? If you have any crafty ladies in your group I can tell you how to make some beaded ones that are interchangable. FYI anyone who has had lymph nodes removed is suppose to wear a "No BP or IV" tag.

Finally, hugs and support. Something as simple as flowers picked out of the yard, a sweet poem of strenght or someone to hold her hand and offer a prayer is the very best gift of all.