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Post by workingclassdog on Dec 12, 2023 1:59:20 GMT
NOT INSPIRATIONAL… she would HATE that..
not necessarily for Christmas
Something from me and my mamma
Easiest through Amazon
Enough of the “Fu*k cancer” stuff.. while we don’t mind that, it’s overused.
We were thinking of putting a bunch of small stuff together.
We are sending her an old grandma’s wig for a joke .. there is a story behind it… if she loses her hair her daughter said she would buy her some scarves or something but she said “no wigs mom”. They are in Florida too so I can’t imagine that even being comfortable. So now we thought it would be funny for her to come home with an old lady wig.
So can I get some ideas … I feel like I’m just coming up with lame stuff.
We did send her some adult coloring stuff for something to do while she has to sit all day for treatment.
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Post by mom on Dec 12, 2023 2:33:39 GMT
Need PJs that are comfy? Books to read?
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Post by dewryce on Dec 12, 2023 2:37:47 GMT
Need PJs that are comfy? Books to read? Great ideas. Especially something she’d be comfortable being around any visitors in. I also love the adult coloring books! A kindle and you can send her other books as you’d like, magazines, etc. With the bonus of being able to change font size if needed. Unscented lotion and body gel. Luxury lap blanket. If she’s big into manicures or pedicures perhaps someone who can come to her. Is she on her own? If so, practical help would probably be appreciated GCs for food delivery. Someone to come clean her house, do laundry, mow the yard. |
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MDscrapaholic
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,369
Location: Down by the bay....
Jun 25, 2014 20:49:07 GMT
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Post by MDscrapaholic on Dec 12, 2023 2:41:06 GMT
How about a nice bag for her to bring her iPad or Kindle to chemo? Big enough to carry a book also, or water bottle, lotion, etc.
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Post by quietgirl on Dec 12, 2023 3:21:04 GMT
I liked simple cotton caps, almost like a winter beanie style, but light and soft. I didn't wear a wig, either. I could wear a baseball cap over it, or a winter hat in cold weather if needed. But that light cotton cap protected my scalp from uncomfortable (or itchy) winter hats. I wore them all day every day. I have several in neutral colors like navy, grey and black. You could find them maybe on Amazon, but a specialty store (where you would get, say, mastectomy bras and such) would have them. Also, possibly could be sourced from the oncology practice or the chemo practice. I know the place I went had lots of info about products that were a help.
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Post by underwatermama on Dec 12, 2023 3:39:26 GMT
Hugs to you and your sister. My favorites were fuzzy socks and soft undershirts (I liked wearing these instead of a bra once I got the ok to do so after lumpectomy). I'm sorry I don't know what your sister is specifically fighting, so maybe that doesn't make sense for her. Also, if she needs to do radiation, spray on Aquaphor was a great thing.
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Post by workingclassdog on Dec 12, 2023 4:43:17 GMT
I didn’t put down what kind of cancer.. didn’t mean to leave it out but it is colon cancer.
She has already received several jammies and socks. She has a Kindle and unlimited amount of free books. (Due to a friend in the book business)
Lotions she already has… she does like certain kinds and I know she is stocked up
And I’ll be darned if she just didn’t get a new bag from someone.
She does have her kids, boyfriend for rides and company.
Maybe we can do some food gift cards?? I could ask my nieces for some suggestions. Her appetite is up and down …
I’ll keep checking back!!
I don’t mean to poop poop on the suggestions!!
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Dec 12, 2023 4:49:01 GMT
Neck pillow or such for when she goes to the chemo center.. a big one throw from Kohls.. if it gets damaged or lost it isn't a loss for her..
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kimi
Full Member
Posts: 196
Aug 11, 2020 21:47:04 GMT
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Post by kimi on Dec 12, 2023 5:27:50 GMT
If you are interested in very practical items:
a VERY SOFT toothbrush (chemo affected my gums. My SOFT toothbrush wasn't soft enough. Fortunately I found a VERY SOFT toothbrush that didn't hurt my gums)
a laxative (Smooth Move tea was recommended by the oncologist office. It tasted like mud but it worked.)
stool softener (for those times when a laxative may be too effective)
gas relief pills. (I think Gas-X Ultra worked for 8 hours -- allowed me to have a more restful sleep.)
Imodium
a tote/hand basket to keep all of her meds/treatments handy.
Don't know what side effective she will have from chemo, but the above items gave me relief and I wish I had them on hand before I needed them.
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Post by katiejane on Dec 12, 2023 7:01:32 GMT
My mum liked skincare and lip balms due to her skin being so dry from chemo. We bought from the cancer specialist companies. She also liked boiled sweets to help with nausea.
She also suffered with the cold, so we bought a comfy hoodie with finger holes so she could keep her hands warmer.
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Post by malibou on Dec 12, 2023 7:05:57 GMT
Biotene dry mouth products. A lot of the chemo treatments cause a dry mouth.
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RedSquirrelUK
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,737 
Location: The UK's beautiful West Country
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Post by RedSquirrelUK on Dec 12, 2023 8:32:20 GMT
I had breast cancer not colon, but chemo makes everything taste very strange. Everybody bought me ginger sweets and drinks for the nausea, and I just didn't fancy any of it, but once the chemo was finished, I did enjoy it. She might though. I craved salt, probably because my electrolytes were upset, so how about some salty snacks? Lip balms for dry lips.
And I know this sounds strange, but other than gentle walks the only exercise I could do was yoga, because it was gentle and I could fit it in any time and stop when I needed to. I got myself a yoga mat and I did use it, even in between the chemo sessions. I used the YouTube videos Yoga with Adrien.
I'll say a little prayer for your sister.
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uksue
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,500
Location: London
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Post by uksue on Dec 12, 2023 10:44:28 GMT
Been through this twice. Along with things you've already mentioned she has ( my kindle and tablet preloaded with films/programmes got me through some long days) I had a lightweight absorbent towel and lightweight throw. I could only use simple soap as advised by my oncologist (radiotherapy) and a natural deodorant with no aluminium which she advised starting using a few weeks before. A small change purse but the best thing was a lightweight drawstring Kipling bag, which allowed me to take my bits with me if I went to the toilet. It hooked on to my drip stand. Similar to this but mine also has long shoulder straps. Washable, which I liked as I was in and out of hospital. www.kipling.com/uk-en/school-bags-c10612/supertaboo-boy-geo-ki5637m6800-999.html |
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Post by hop2 on Dec 12, 2023 11:01:03 GMT
What kind of treatments will she need to have? What limitations might she have?
When my dad had his cancer he needed front close shirts with Velcro close so he could still dress himself. I sure hope she doesn’t have those kind of issues yet.
There are sweat shirts where the arm zippers open so you can still be warm while getting treatment.
Try to think of what would be helpful to her.
Would prepaid car services help?
Meal delivery
Movie streaming?
Books? ( not inspirational )
I’m just tossing out ideas because I don’t know what she needs
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Post by workingclassdog on Dec 12, 2023 14:13:19 GMT
Thanks for the more suggestions! I'm looking some up and putting it together today... you guys are helpful.
She can still function pretty good although she does have a colonoscopy bag (hopefully temporary!)
Due to some medication, she might not lose her hair. We are praying for that as well. She does have GREAT long blonde thick hair. Not that I am jealous of it or anything.. me stuck with brown straight lifeless hair.. lol... we joke...
I got to work but I will check back again....
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,662
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Post by Rhondito on Dec 12, 2023 16:12:28 GMT
Silk pillowcase and silk scrunchies - they're best for her hair.
Pay for a housecleaning service to come a few times to do the bathrooms, change the beds. I would've loved for someone to do that for me.
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Post by destined2bmom on Dec 12, 2023 16:50:53 GMT
I made my friend an 8 x 8 photo album with all of her favorite pictures of her, her children and husband. She went through it and showed the nurses the pictures and talked about the stories. It became her why she was fighting.
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Post by knit.pea on Dec 12, 2023 18:16:54 GMT
Teema Turkish Cotton blanket/wrap
Gin Gin ginger chews (strong flavor, but can cut
into smaller pieces)
Panera gift card (soups, sandwiches, bagels)
Popsicles, to help add more fluids
(Not especially fun to talk about, but extra long
feminine pads. Chemo messes with your
intestines, and urgency can be an issue.)
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Post by workingclassdog on Dec 12, 2023 18:56:04 GMT
There are sweat shirts where the arm zippers open so you can still be warm while getting treatment. So far this is #1 on my list!! Yeah! In fact, I found one that is like a fleece cozy blanket with zippered sleeves! I think a couple of gift cards to restaurants will do the trick for now. A couple of other suggestions I am putting in my cart for more presents down the road.. pick me up stuff.. You guys are great! |
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Post by workingclassdog on Dec 12, 2023 18:57:01 GMT
I made my friend an 8 x 8 photo album with all of her favorite pictures of her, her children and husband. She went through it and showed the nurses the pictures and talked about the stories. It became her why she was fighting. I have been looking for a small project... I think I will make her a cute little book.. minus the ex-husband.. haha |
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oh yvonne
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,000
Jun 26, 2014 0:45:23 GMT
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Post by oh yvonne on Dec 12, 2023 19:04:35 GMT
awe man, I'm sorry about your sister. Your poor sis, I'm sure whatever you send her will be so appreciated. <hugs>
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leeny
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,635
Location: Northern California
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 1:55:53 GMT
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Post by leeny on Dec 12, 2023 19:23:47 GMT
I am sorry for your sister and family. My sister has been battling incurable cancer for a year and every two to three months I send a Door Dash gift card for the times when her husband doesn't want to think about dinner.
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Post by snugglebutter on Dec 12, 2023 19:40:30 GMT
What about a power bank to charge her devices? We like the Anker brand for those.
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Post by Lexica on Dec 12, 2023 19:41:00 GMT
My sister bought my son a ball cap with a metal “No Fear” emblem on it. They were a newish company at the time and my son love that thing. I found it when packing for the move and asked him if he still wanted it. I got a YES! reply to that text. It wasn’t exactly an overt inspirational thing since it was a popular new brand so my son wore it for ages. The company is still around and have lots of things with the No Fear logo on it.
The other things that he cherished at the time was a super soft warm blanket and a neck pillow. Oh, and something to listen to music. But it sounds like your sister has things covered in those areas so your idea of food certificates might be the way to go.
I found a recipe for a healthy protein smoothie in one of the cancer booklets that I made for him and he loved it. When he learned there was no ice cream in it, he said he had been wondering why I let him have that for breakfast every day, knowing we very rarely ever had sweets or junk food in the house, well before he ever got cancer. This was a kid that hated to eat breakfast long before his diagnosis, but he drank the smoothies. His favorite was carob, banana, and peanut butter. I started making the when he was 9 years old and at 19, after he had moved in with several friends to a nearby apartment, he would still stop by my house on his way to work to pick up a smoothie to take with him. I would have given him the Vitamix and recipe to just make his own, but when living with 4 young guys, it would have been used for margaritas instead of a healthy smoothie.
Does she have a great blender? I invested in a Vitamix which was perfect for the smoothies and I also used it to purée certain vegetables to sneak them into my soup base and some sauces. My son was very thin and a picky eater too. Sneaking a few healthy things into him made me feel better about his limited diet during that timeframe. Oh, and my parents let me have their juicer. I would also make vegetable slushies using the juicer and then use the Vitamix to pulverize the ice in it. If he could drink it via a straw, he was game to try anything I made up. Adding apples and carrots disguised the spinach taste.
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Refupea #39
