How to Make a gift for someone receiving Chemotherapy

Knowing a friend or loved one who has just been diagnosed with cancer is a heartbreaking situation. You want to help and support your loved one, but it's difficult to know what you can do and what they need, especially in the early stages. When someone starts chemo, put together a nice package of things chemo patients can use during treatment. This is a nice way to let your friend know that you care and are thinking about them.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A light-weight tote or small bag for keeping everything in.
• Soft things like socks, gloves, and a blanket.
• Snacks.
• Lotions, lip balm, and other beauty or hygiene products.
• Fun things to do.

1. 
   Chemo pack.

   When you're shopping for the bag, look for something that matches your friends personality: Hawaiian prints for the tropical gal, rustic for the outdoorsy guy, a favorite brand or band logo...
   
   It would be nice if your friend or family member likes this bag enough to use it long after chemo is over.

2. 
   Chemo variety

   It's important to look for clothing items that are very, very soft to the touch. Chemo patients become very sensitive to textures during treatment. What feels slightly rough, itchy, or course can turn into an agonizing experience to a sick person. Think soft and warm.
   
   Look for a blanket that can fold up nice and small, so that it doesn't take much space in the bag. A pair of fuzzy micro fiber socks in your persons favorite color. A soft pair of gloves that can be worn over freshly moisturized hands (chemo patients often get very dry skin and need to lather on hand lotion, gloves that can go on over the lotion so they can still flip the pages of a book or push buttons on the remote).
   
   The hat is a controversy! You might want to get a nice hat to keep your friend warm. Your friend may see this as the hat that covers the baldhead! Nobody wants their hair to fall out and that hat could be stressful and traumatic for them. I would suggest not getting a hat and letting your friend get their own, when they’re ready.

3. 
   Snack for health.

   Snacks: Go crazy! Chemo patients can loose their appetite quickly but they have a better recovery if they can keep some weight on. What sounds really yummy one minute can sound over the top disgusting the next. So visit you local convenience store, you know the one that has isles full of individually wrapped foods. Select a wide variety of things from sweet to savory. You might want to go light on nuts or nutty foods, that's one texture that can become overwhelming so only get a few. Swedish fish, goldfish crackers, chocolates, sunflower seeds, protein bars, cookies...

4. 
   Chemo spa.

   The "spoil me a little" section: We talked about how our fiends can get very dry skin. Hit the sample section at your store and get a small variety of lotions. Chemo can be a doozy on the sniffer. One fragrance can smell so good for one minute and then make a person nauseous the next. If you have a variety of lotions that your friend can switch between, that will help. Look for other comfort items like an eye mask, anti-swelling eye gel, lip balm, cuticle cream, and a small manicure or grooming kit.
   
   Try to find things with the least amount of fragrance.

5. 

   I like to use big zip lock bags to organize things that go into the bag.
   
   Add a book your friend might like. A puzzle magazine or two. A travel mag to their favorite destination. An IPOD loaded with their favorite music or books. A PSP (personal play station). A small bottle of bubbles, just for fun and maybe a picture of the two of you.

Tips & Warnings

• You can give this gift anytime during treatment, just before treatment, or make time to visit your friend while they're receiving chemo for a nice way to help the time go by.

[helps4hardtimes]

on 8/24/2009 What a wonderful thoughtful idea! I am a medical transcriptionist and worked in a large university cancer center near the chemotherapy treatment rooms, so your article brought back memories of some of those faces. 5*, one tweet to my twitter and one recommendation coming right up! :o)

[jillmaria]

on 8/19/2009 What a warm idea... A soft, small travel pillow could be added with the blanket. I have known cancer patients who are exhausted from the treatments and relish the ability to nap during long office waits.

[GreenMomma]

on 3/30/2009 What wonderful and thoughtful idea!

[sonni57]

on 3/25/2009 Good article on how to help those diagnosed with cancer. My mother is a cancer survivor.

[veryirie]

on 3/20/2009 This bag of goodies that you can make is a wonderful gesture to give anyone going through chemo. Great thoughtful article on a subject that makes a difference in someone's life. THANKS!