Present for Aunt who is about to have Chemo

[~Wingnut~]

Hi All :o)

As above really. My Auntie lives a long way from us and she has already been through radiotherapy which treated her breast cancer a year or so ago, but it seems there is now some cancer in a gland and this is why she is having chemo.
She starts her first lot on Monday and I spoke to her today and said I would ring her in a few weeks when it is my Uncles birthday which she said is probably best as she doesn't know how she is going to be feeling. So I thought it would be nice to send her something to let her know we are thinking of her when she goes for treatment and afterwards.
Has anyone any ideas of anything that would be a good present to send that could prehaps help make her comfortable whilst she is having chemo. I was thinking more about a present that would be beneficial that maybe you wouldn't normally think of getting rather than flowers/ a teddy with get well soon on it etc.

Thanx you lot, sorry this is so long winded but I seem to be that way out just lately :o)

[skyep]

Hi wingnut - How much do you want to spend? How old is she? xxx

[daffy654]

How about some aromatherapy essential oils? You can get ones aimed at promoting calmness that may help her cope with what is to come.

[~Wingnut~]

Hi Skyep

Opps sorry left that out! lol She's 65 (glad she doesn't have internet otherwise I would be in trouble! lol) and I'm not too worried about price really �20-�30 or maybe even a bit more. Their both very active people (think nothing of walking 8 miles aday) so I think she may get a little down if she gets quite sick from the chemo. I didn't know if anyone who has gone through the same thing prehaps had something that they felt helped with the chemo. I'm not explaining myself very well but something like those big fluffy socks because it makes you feel quite cold or a pillow in a certain shape, that kind of thing. Hope I'm explaining myself ok.

[~Wingnut~]

Hi Daffy sorry you weren't there when I was typing my reply. That's a good idea, we have a shop up town that does all oils like that and precious stones, infact you have given me the idea of looking in there to see if they can reccommend anything for her, thanx :o)

[skyep]

A good book! I can reccomend ' Our Betty ' by Liz Smith.
An easy read that will make her laugh too! xxx

[~Wingnut~]

Thanx Skyep, I'll check in the bookshop when I go up town and I will suss out with my Uncle to check she hasn't read it :o)

[daffy654]

Books are a good idea,or a subscription to her favourite magazine so she has something to read during the treatment. Or how about an MP3 player loaded with her favourite songs?It doesn't have to be an expensive one,you can buy them dirt cheap nowadays.

[skyep]

Liz Smith is 'nanna ' from the Royle family! www.whsmith.co.uk xxx

[~Wingnut~]

Ahhh I thought thats who you were talking about Skyep, I may 'borrow' it myself first ;o)

ooo good ideas there daffy, see I never even thought about things like that! MP3 is a good idea although she tends to not like technology like that but I am wondering if I could get her one and put some talking books on to it myself? or even make up a CD?

Hey thanx you 2, you are giving me some good ideas here :o)

[daffy654]

I have never had chemo but have spent more than my fair share of time in hospitals.It can be so boring! Anything that distracts you from that boredom is good.Also hospitals are noisy places so either MP3 players or ear plugs are a must if you want any peace!!! lol

[SizzleSquid]

how about going on the net, finding where her nearest local beauty salon is and sending her a voucher from them for a nice relaxing aroma therapy massage, or as chemo can be so tiring and exhausting, or to get her hair done so she can feel better about herself, massage shouldnt cost more than �30

[valerieb1254]

Hi Wingnut,
Sorry to hear about your auntie,hope she makes a full recovery. Only this week I read an article in Pick Me Up. magazine about a lady who's friend had breast cancer.She had a Teddy Bear made for her. In one paw was the smell of Ginger, which helped her when feeling sick.In the other was Lavender, and a copper bracelet that helped with her aches and pains. She managed to get the bears made and they went on sale at Clinton's Cards for 14 pounds 99p. Don't know if they are still on sale though. If you can nip out and get the Pick me up Magazine 13th March issue, it will explain it better than me. I've never been good with words. I think this is the longest thing I have ever posted on AB. Good Luck and bset wishes for you and your family for the future. Regards. Val xx

[~Wingnut~]

Aww thanx Sizzle & Val for your posts, what lovely gift ideas! I am in co-hoots (is that spelt right?) with my Mum (it;s her sister) about what to get her and told her about the suggestions on here and she was really touched that people had replied with ideas for us :o)

I'm pleased that your longest post was on one of my threads Val :o) thank you also for the well wishes.

Thanx again for the replies everyone, you have given us brilliant ideas! Your the best! xx

[masma]

Hiya - my sister-in-law has just finished her chemo and is about to start with radiotherapy. Although the chemo wasn't pleasant it didn't turn out to be as bad as she was expecting. She went every three weeks and for the first week she was in bed most of the time then feeling better as the days went on till her next one. When she first started her chemo I bought her lots of her favourite smellies to pamper herself, then once a month sent her flowers. A friend of hers potted up some tulip bulbs and said to her that when they were in bloom the chemo would be finished - something to look forward to. It's the wrong time of year for tulips but maybe a rose bush? Hope this helps and best wishes to you all x x

[~Wingnut~]

Hi Masma :o)

What a lovely idea about the tulips! Something to look forward to is a good idea and I may go with the rose bush as they do love their garden.
Thank you for your reply and I wish all the best for your sister in law, she clearly has friends and family that care a great deal about her :o)

[MiniN]

i think you should get her some nice stuff to pamper herself with. maybe pop in to your local Lush and get a selection of face creams, body creams/ soaps/ bath bombs/ etc.

[Catj]

Hello there
I had mastectomy, chemo and radiotherapy last year so I know what your Aunt is going through. I found that during chemo I went off most foods and drinks-including tea. Also, some smells made me feel sick and I couldn't concentrate to read. Luckily I had a brilliant family who anticipated my every need. I can recommend a few items: an eye mask - my sister gave me one lined with silk and containing lavender. She also gave me a duck down pillow. I still use these and bless her every night!! My brother travelled 30 miles to get me those little acupunture wrist bands for helping with the sickness.
I hope your Aunt does well. Tell her she will get through and just to trust God and hang in there!.

[slipnot]

Great suggestions for small gifts above. I know you're far away but the best 'gift' is to keep in touch regularly - phone, card, note, etc? Not long calls if she's feeling low, but it's the little things you do which don't cost a lot of money that let's someone know you care. You sound like a very caring person anyway and I'm sure she'll know this. Best wishes to you both.

[~Wingnut~]

Hi Catj & Slipnot
Thank you so much I really appreciate your replies.
I'm sorry that you have had to go through all this Catj, I hope that you are on the road to recovery now and I wish you well xx

The eye mask is a very good suggestion and also the pillow! Infact it has got me thinking about getting my sewing machine out and running a little pillow or cushion up for her, I am going to look on e-bay for some cushion covers.
Thank you also for the well wishes for her. She is very strong minded and a determined woman to not let this beat her. She has told my Mum that she was very touched that my sister (who lives in Oz) and I had been ringing her a lot and that it was all part of helping her be strong about this. I just wish I could talk to her without bursting into tears at the end of the call! Luckily she hasn't cottoned on yet when my voice suddenly goes high! I can't bear to even think of anything happening to her.

Thank you all once again for your help :o)

[Catj]

Hello Wingnut
Your auntie is very fortunate to have you and the rest of your family. Keep in touch with her- especially when she is over the worst and getting back to normal. She is really fortunate to have such a caring family. Don't worry about being upset- just call her often. It means an awful lot.
xxxx