Ideas for a care package for someone with Breast Cancer and

[ceroarty]

about to have a double masectomy. My good friend, who just turned 35, was just diagnosed with breast cancer. She is going to have a double masectomy on Thursday. I am wanting to send her a care package but dont want to go over the top. I would like to send her packages often to keep her spirits up and keep her busy. Anyways, I was thinking a book or two, maybe a trashy magazine and then what else. I was hoping for some other ideas. Maybe some things she may actually need. TIA

 

[happygirl]

Dvd
Scratch lottery tickets
favorite snacks

If she has kids maybe send snacks or toys or stuff for them to do.

 

[Perditamarie]

Here are some ideas:

* manicure kit/nail polish
* chocolate
* silly socks
* sudoko/crosswords
* bookmark
* chapstick

 

[hearts8701]

a good movie

 

[Priorityonecb]

Good thoughts for your friend! I'd go with a bunch of junky magazines. I know what she is going through, and her mind is going to be going a million times a minute. Being able to pick up a magazine and lose herself for just a few minutes at a time will be priceless. An entire book is just "too much" with all she is going to be going through. A good movie and some gourmet chocolate would be great too! You are kind to think of her!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I know if you post this on the breast cancer survivors thread on the community board you will get alot of good ideas too.

Forget the books: you really cant concentrate on that.
A funny dvd, somehow I was obsesssed with ELF, go figure!!
Earrings
Warm hat
Warm fuzzy socks
Warm Blanket
Maybe a giftcard for food or starbucks etc.
Hard candy
lip balm
lotion, but watch the scent

Wishing your friend all the best

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Amongst my friends, we have a tradition of giving funny socks when someone is in the hospital. I did this recently when my MIL had surgery and had a long recovery (silly Christmas socks). She said it made her smile, and all the doctors/nurses commented.

Likewise, a fun/cheery pillowcase or fleece throw would brighten her bed some.

 

[Calliaz]

Double Post

 

[Calliaz]

Is she also doing chemo?

I sent my SIL a box with the following in it when she was starting chemo:

1. Books: Cancer on $5 a Day and Crazy Sexy Cancer
2. A couple of good books on tape (so she could rest and listen)
3. Burt's Bees chapstick (dry lips)
4. Eating Well Through Cancer cookbook (she *loved* this)
5. Heated blanket/throw, heated booties, really soft gloves and a really soft hat with no seams
6. Satin sheets
7. Light sent febreeze (the centers often smell and it's good to use on your bed since you spend a lot of time there)
8. Queasy Drops (three lollies dot com)
9. Really good unscented lotion
10. Hard candies (Werthers, nips, fruit flavors)

 

[Pakey]

The favorite thing I got when going through treatment was the Sex and the City dvd's. They were funny, a bit raunchy/sexy and each episode was only 30 minutes long which was perfect for the attention span I had at the time.

The other amazing thing was the food we received. In any shape. My family really appreciated the food. I am now a convert and know that anytime someone close to me is ill, I'll be taking a dinner to their home.

Everybody is different but I know that I personally didn't want to see anything that had to do with cancer; I didn't want to hear the word.

 

[MickQuinn]

1. Nice lotion and lip balm. Chemo really dries out the skin.
2. Ginger drops and/or ginger tea - helps with nausea.
3. Little packs of kleenex.
4. headcovers.com has the softest sleep caps.
5. I also got a breast cancer care bear which was a cute reminder for a girl of the 70's.
6. Extra ace bandages- the hospital never gives enough needed for the pressure wrap after surgery.
7. Inexpensive flat sheets that can be bleached. Drainage tubes are not pretty or clean... and who wants to do laundry every day in that condition.

Hope this helps. Your friend is in my thoughts.

 

[wdwmaw]

Something that is not for now but a lady in our school did a retreat for survivors with her husband for free. She came back and and said it was the best experience. She did the Casting For Recovery retreat. Hope this link helps someone out there link up with a retreat just for them. They deserve a little time with other survivors

http://www.touchedbycancer.org/library/retreats.asp

 

[NYCDiane]

A boxed set of her favorite TV show on DVD

A nice big fluffy, soft pillow

If she has an iPod, how about an iTunes card (and offer to download the songs for her)

A new, soft robe?

 

[zumbergc]

You could do resterant gift cards as she will be exhausted. Or bring over meals

 

[WLDPNY]

One of my friends had Prostate surgery and his Aunt and Uncle did a "7 days of recovery" basket. It had 7 different presents in it to open 1 every day for a week. It gave him something to look forward to everyday. The funny thing is this isn't something I would have thought he would have liked, but he talked about it everyday. It had a gift card for Cold Stone, a restaurant gift card, you could also do some of the other gifts people have suggested. This is just a different way to present it. I am sure whatever you do for her she will appreciate.

I am also a Nail Professional and I think a gift card to get a pedicure when she gets feeling better would be a great idea.

 

[GoofyGolferGirl]

I am a survivor! I also had a double, one thing that no one told me about was a night gown, robe or what ever you wear needs to button or snap up the front because you can't lift your hands up very far for a couple of weeks. Even shirts to wear out in public, make them a little bigger than she wold wear now because she will have a bandage. I had a robe/gown that had two pockets on the front and that came in handy for the drainage tubes. I send my husband out for them and they were kinda hard to find. Magazines are good, I wanted to learn and read everything I could about breast cancer, that is just me though not sure everyone would want that, they may want to escape. I especially liked reading stories of success. I don't know if you live close but my church brought food over and that was really helpful! I liked getting cards and just knowing people were praying for me and thinking of me too. I also recommend a good pillow, I carried one infront of me for about a month. I had a 4 year old DD at the time and I guess I was afraid she would bumb into me, plus it was comfortable to put under both arms.

 

[reducereuserecycle]

if you want to make something, you can take a plain tree branch or some lovely dried or silk flowers and hand small inspirational cards from the branches that contain bible verses or something inspirational. your friend can take a new card off the tree everyday for a month if you do 30 cards.

i;m sure anything you do will be greatly appreciated!

 

[DisDee]

I'm currently going thru chemo for uterine cancer and a few of the items that I appreciate the most are some funky head scarves to wear at home, a special journal and a super-soft wrap to cuddle in.

I'm sure whatever you do will be much appreciated!

 

[rapmarks]

I had a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.
My friends brought dinner over, ten different friends, ten different evenings, the one who didn't cook, sent a gift card. I could not stand upright for several weeks so this was most appreciated. Wold you believe my husband did not know how to turn on the oven or start the dishwasher!!
When you come home with those drains, they hurt a lot everytime you get up. You really can't wear underwear and it is pain when you have to get clothes on to go to the doctor. What a wonderful day it was when the drains were removed.
You are also swollen so your usual size doesn't fit.
I think DVD's would be a wonderful gift too.
I like to do Sudoku but could never concentrate after the surgery to be successful.
Of course mental state is important. I was so anxious to get the cancer out of my body that all I focused on was getting better and able to do things.

 

[ceroarty]

Thank you so much for all the great ideas. I am going to put together the package tomorrow and send it to her. I wanted her to have something for when she came home from the hospital. I can then send periodic care packages to her as she recovers.