Radiation therapy-gift basket

Hi! I am trying to put a gift basket together for someone who is about to go through radiation therapy. I am putting in biotene products, water, fleece blanket, slipper socks, cream, queasy pops, and maybe magazines. I know taste is altered so any food items that might be ok? Does the person need a hot water bottle or a cooling pack? What else would help bring some comfort?

TIA!

Re: Radiation therapy-gift basket

Does the person have reliable transportation to and from all of their appointments? If not, offer to bring them. Radiation is quick each day but the commute to and from every single day can be tedious.

The cream is a nice idea, but the radiation doctors will give your friend specific products to use; you are not supposed to use anything other than what they give you.

A water bottle is a good idea - you're supposed to drink lots of water when you have radiation.

Are they going for chemo? Radiation typically does not alter taste buds (unless it's in the mouth area, I suppose) so you don't need to worry about that. A gift card for a place nearby that delivers food would probably be very much appreciated, because radiation can tire a person out.

Definitely not hearing pads...radiation will make them feel much hotter than usual. Also, cooling pads are not supposed to be used on the radiated area, but you could go with that theme and get them a handheld, battery operated fan.

Radiation therapy-gift basket

Radiation, or Chemotherapy? I have had both and what you are putting together sounds like gift for chemo.

Radiation is a piece of cake compared to chemo, even though it is usually everyday for up to six weeks. It does not cause nausea, but does make people tired. I spent less than 20 minutes at the radiation center, ten minutes of which was in the radiation room and less than a minute actually getting radiated. Easy peasy. I drove myself there and back, an hour and twenty minutes each way every weekday for six weeks.

If it is radiation, tell her not to wear any good clothes directly over the heavy creams or oils she must use on the radiated area as it will stain them. Wear old t-shirts next to her skin instead. I ruined so many nice things before I understood what was happening to my clothes. Oxiclean does not get those stains out.

If it is chemo, that is a different matter. Treatments differ in intensity depending on what the person is given and differ in side effects too. I had a fairly common treatment for breast cancer, Taxotere Cytoxan, and was given four intravenous infusion treatments spaced three weeks apart. I would have gone bald within two weeks except I opted to use cold caps to save most of my hair. They are not fun to use, expensive, not covered by insurance, but do work.

The first week after each treatment is not much fun. You feel like crap, but it gets better as time goes on and by the third week most people feel pretty good. Then, you get flattened by the next infusion and the cycle repeats itself. Some women manage to work throughout their treatment. That is something I could not have done.

Your friend will appreciate a blanket and magazines and maybe a book if she is a reader - I read a lot. Comfortable yoga and sweat pants were lovely in a larger size than usual as I had a lot of water weight. Some days I wondered if I would ever see my ankles again and I lost my waist entirely.

She probably already will have Biotene products on her list of what she needs to buy ahead of time, along with constipation and diarrhea meds. She will need an "extra soft", not just a soft, toothbrush or two, for when her mouth is getting hit by chemo effects. Those are hard to find. She would probably appreciate your finding and giving her those, if she doesn't have them already.

The day of her infusions, if you will be with her, offer her cracked ice to suck on during her infusion if she is being given Taxotere or any taxol med. It will help to ward off mouth sores as those meds hit quickly dividing cells like the ones lining our mouths as well as quickly dividing cancer cells. I'd skip giving her anything too sugary to drink or lick as that can backfire - trust me, I know. Plain ice is best during taxol treatments. Water with lemon slices is good to sip during the rest of the treatments.

Believe it or not, I was happy and able to have soup right after my infusions, and a light dinner later. Some women eat sandwiches for lunch the day of their treatments. I didn't dare. She should be given all sorts of anti-nausea meds. I demanded and was given EMEND after reading about it on some breastcancer.org forums. It is a powerful anti-nausea med, and expensive - be sure it is covered by insurance. I did not become nauseous (once I stopped licking sugary popsicles and cut down on Gatorade) probably because of the Emend.

Again, depending on what she is given, she may lose her sense of taste. I was warned ahead of time not to eat any of my favorite foods as I might end up not being able to face eating them again afterwards. I now understand why. There are things I simply cannot face or get myself to eat two years after treatment ended. What appeals to her will change during treatment and have no logic. One week pea soups and V-8 would be edible and after the next treatment I couldn't look at them. I still can't face hummus.

Definitely offer help during her treatment - best gift ever! .

Do errands for her - she may suddenly need an over the counter med for a miserable side effect, shop for her, run the vacuum and do laundry when she is not able, pick up her kids. Maybe pull a team together for her so that she can rest and concentrate on getting better.

Best of luck to your friend, and ((hugs)) to you for being so sweet

Message edited 3/30/2015 12:57:26 PM.

Radiation therapy-gift basket

Thank you for your recommendations. I am in awe that you were [both] strong enough to fight cancer.

I wish I had time to offer her, but I don't. My basket is a way to give some kind of support.

Re: Radiation therapy-gift basket

Radiation therapy-gift basket

I did not have radiation but was on chemo. I think this is a great idea.