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Christmas Gift Suggestions- while on Chemo
Hello all- I will be visiting my mom and she will be on her second round of chemo due to a recurrence. She will be on Caelyx. What would be a nice Christmas gift? I would appreciate any suggestion...while on chemo and resting and regaining strength- what would be nice to receive for Christmas? THANK YOU ALL
Fuzzy OUTRAGEOUS socks, a "warming" throw...not a heating blanket...you wrap up in it and it's great for aching bones. Gatorade drinks...buy a couple of the bottles of expensive laxative we have to take!!! Be much easier with a bow on it!!! A soft eye-mask for sleeping during the day...a suncatcher to place in a widow to make rainbows on the wall...I have a cut crystal teardrop and gives such happy feeling! Paint by numbers...jewelry making kits...slushie drink mixes...go nuts!!!
Any other non-food thoughts for gifts -- socks? other cozy-feel good kind of things you guys would recommend? I need ideas too :).
Find out what tastes good to her and load up a basket with it. Sometimes the smells of things get to me, and you might want to ask her about them as well. I love reading...could sit for an hour reading the cereal boxes if my mom would've let me! However...I think I've reach "peak" on cancer related items. So, I started writing about my own adventure. A journal is my constant companion... my heart is in it...along with my fears, my tears, my positive thoughts, my bandade from my first Neulasta shot, (I'm not kidding), my shouts of joy, my continued words of care and mothering of my children and my thoughts for them... Even my kids sneak it and write in it for me. She could take a portable DVD player with her to chemo and choose DVDs or CDs... Do you have children? If they're old enough to read, have them read books on tape for her, sing songs, tell silly jokes...just plain giggle! If no grandchildren...then you do it...
Thank you for the ideas...I have taken them to heart. My mom's PETscan showed a 7 SUV mass in the liver. not sure what SUV means- what does that means? So the oncologist said it's categorized as Stage 4 now (it was stage 3c upon diagnosis in January and she was on chemo and CA 125 normalized until last month) - then this happens. She will be on Caelyx tomorrow. Would you know if that helps with the liver mass? And I've read about the radiotherapy in the other posts....I will ask the doctor about that. Thank you again for the wealth of information. THANK YOU
I have received a couple of emails about the spa thing. I should have been clearer I guess and thanks for your concern. It is not like I am tripping down to the Blue River Canyon day spa for which I still have numerous gift cards. Can't wait until this is over so I can go.
For now however, I go to the wellness center where I work out, have a pesonal trainer, see a nutritionist and get great massages from an oncologist approved masseuse. I have a personalized program for everything and I am not allowed in the whirlpool, steam or sauna rooms. It is a wonderful program called the Hope Program and it is designed to get or keep cancer patients active and healty.
I highly recommend it if you have access to such a program in your city. It makes a nice gift too :)
For now however, I go to the wellness center where I work out, have a pesonal trainer, see a nutritionist and get great massages from an oncologist approved masseuse. I have a personalized program for everything and I am not allowed in the whirlpool, steam or sauna rooms. It is a wonderful program called the Hope Program and it is designed to get or keep cancer patients active and healty.
I highly recommend it if you have access to such a program in your city. It makes a nice gift too :)
I read on a web site that chemo patients need to stary completely away from essential oils. If they are put onto the body, they can be absorbed and that small amount can interact with the chemo with some unwanted results.
Sorry, it was late and I can't remember the site but felt it is worth mentioning.
Sorry, it was late and I can't remember the site but felt it is worth mentioning.
Hello.,.... I love nice perfume. It's something that quite often is expensive to buy... if you like the good stuff... and very much appreciated, particularly if one's appetite isn't the best while on chemo. I'm always happy to receive perfume, as it saves me buying it myself. :-)
I hope your Mum is soon feeling much better. That's the best present anyone could give her... the feeling of wellness. :-) Hugs to you ...Helen..
I hope your Mum is soon feeling much better. That's the best present anyone could give her... the feeling of wellness. :-) Hugs to you ...Helen..
I would go with those herbal packs that can be heated up in a microwave and used on just about any body part. Plus they smell sooo good. I have a set and so does my Mom.
Take her for a drive up to the mountains or the seaside...change of environment chears me up
I like to read this book when I am feeling down. Love, Miracles and Medicine by Bernie Siegel. You shouldn't have spa treatments while on chemo and that includes swedish massage. Then you could get her some really relaxing therapeutic CD music. If you're interested I can look up what I have. There are also visualization healing CDs. Then some nice epsom salt, mineral type bath products would be good with essential oil. The good stuff with artifical junk added. Then a nice essential oil candle while she is taking her bath (while on doxil--cooler bath).
Which reminds me what should I get my nurses at the hospital?
Which reminds me what should I get my nurses at the hospital?
Well there you go!! I wasn't thinking about the doxil thing. I had a massage two weeks ago and it was blissful. That making up frozen dinner thing is a really good idea. I hate cooking when I feel like this but people still have to eat.
A spa day while on caelyx is a bad idea, sorry Jan, it is best to avoid them while on this chemo, can cause the foot and hand syndrome, have to avoid hot water and chemicals, we got leslee a warming matress pad that can be turned on low , just enough to shake off the chill. her brothers got her baskets of her favorite teas and some Aquaous lotion that she likes. her sisters in laws are making up dinners that can be frozen and then zapped. Hubby bought her a massage chair recliner. Her daughters are making videos out of all the family pictures. Books, magazine subscriptions. Cross word puzzle books, Board puzzles. Does she knit or crochet, patterns and materials.
Thank you for the suggestions! She's actually in the Philippines so it's warm there- what about reading materials- any suggestions - ones that will make her feel better and encourage her to fight this disease. Thank you everyone- it's been a difficult year for me with my mom being diagnosed and recurring before Christmas- You have all inspired me - I will show my mom these posts so she can feel the hope and support from everyone. Thank you and KEEP STRONG EVERYONE!
If it gets really cold where you are a pair of those real soft fuzzy pajamas or a robe. My mom got me a robe like that while I was on my first chemo and I wore it every night. If you can't find pajamas, a throw would be nice. They make them as soft and snuggly as pajamas.
A spa day or part day or facial. Chemo really takes it out of you and a massage and facial is awesome. Just to be pampered for a little while and feel normal.
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