https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 09 May 2026 06:20:54 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-for-friend-going-through-chemo#post-2253582 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 19:22:17 +0000 mrs.cookie 2253582@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: Congrats, 7 years is awesome!! :) I was so excited about clocking up three months in remission, pretty funny really! But I kind of keep expecting my dr to call and say, there's been a mistake, you need more chemo (shudder). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-for-friend-going-through-chemo#post-2253575 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 19:16:48 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2253575@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs.cookie: trust me, after every milestone you start to breath a it easier! I'm 7 years remission! It felt like I would nevER make that 5 year mark but it feels great when you do! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-for-friend-going-through-chemo#post-2253556 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 19:00:32 +0000 mrs.cookie 2253556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Carrot: Thank you - it was a pretty "interesting" year :)<br /> @T.H.O.U.: thank you! I think I'll breathe a bit easier next year after my one year review - very low chance of recurrence of clear at a year in remission. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-for-friend-going-through-chemo#post-2253555 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 18:57:47 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2253555@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You guys are all awesome, thank you so much. These are all amazing ideas! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-for-friend-going-through-chemo#post-2253554 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 18:57:17 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2253554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs.cookie: So glad to hear things are going well for you, thank you so much for sharing your experience! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-for-friend-going-through-chemo#post-2253084 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 11:14:24 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 2253084@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so sorry for your poor friend. What about some activity boxes to keep the kids occupied? I bought Koala crate for DD (3 yrs) and she loves it. They have different ones for each age group and each monthly box comes with 3 crafts/activities for kids. </p> <p><a href="http://koala.kiwicrate.com/" rel="nofollow">http://koala.kiwicrate.com/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-for-friend-going-through-chemo#post-2252991 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 09:31:33 +0000 78h2o 2252991@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went through this with a friend for many years. It is hard to be far apart when you friend is going through something like this. Hugs.</p> <p>Some ideas:<br /> *Cards/letters - I tried to send at least one a week<br /> *Texts - I often sent something simple like this: "Don't worry about responding, but I want you to know I'm thinking of you. Call me anytime you want to chat."<br /> *House cleaner<br /> *Gift cards for take out<br /> *Care packages - I included crossword puzzles, magazines, books, candles in nausea relieving scents, ginger chews/tea, unscented lotions, funny cards, etc.<br /> [attach=2480/15/nsigvw.600x450.Picture-593.jpg]<br /> *Stuffed animals - Ok, not quite age appropriate, but still kinda comforting I think. You could do something a little off the wall like this plush "cancer" toy - just add a cute message. Might be good for her to use to explain cancer to her kids, depending on their age. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/GIANTmicrobes-Cancer-Malignant-neoplasm-Plush/dp/B00AFHBWGO/ref=sr_1_3?s=toys-and-games&#038;ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1438612644&#038;sr=1-3" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/GIANTmicrobes-Cancer-Malignant-neoplasm-Plush/dp/B00AFHBWGO/ref=sr_1_3?s=toys-and-games&#038;ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1438612644&#038;sr=1-3</a>.) </p> <p>They didn't have that one when I was shopping for stuff for my friend, so I bought plus red and white blood cells and put signs on them (since the chemo she was taking at the time, yondelis, was lowering her red blood cell counts - thus the "make love not war" sign). Kinda goofy, but after a couple years, I was running out of things to send! </p> <p>[attach=2480/15/nsihaz.450x600.Picture-620.jpg]</p> <p>*Chemo cd - basically like a mixed tape with empowering or upbeat songs<br /> *Relaxation/Meditation/Affirmations cd - havent tried this one, but I like others by the same author.<br /> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Meditation-Help-You-Fight-Cancer/dp/1881405354/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Meditation-Help-You-Fight-Cancer/dp/1881405354/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8</a><br /> *Hats/scarves<br /> *Miniature zen garden<br /> *Makeup/pampering products<br /> *Photo album - we made a photo book containing inspirational quotes and messages from all of her friends and included pics of all her supporters<br /> *Help with research - you might ask your friend if she wants help researching anything. My friend wanted help looking into fertility sparing measures, grants to pay for such measures when insurance won't cover it, help looking for clinical trials, etc.<br /> *End-of-chemo "reward" - One of my friend's other friends told her when she finished chemo they'd go on a cruise. My friend said it gave her something to look forward to. Same thing with surgeries and other rounds of chemo... we tried to think of things for her to look forward to. Another local friend took her on a staycation to a local hotel where they worked on scrapbooks and ordered room service. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-for-friend-going-through-chemo#post-2252972 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 09:11:28 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2252972@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs.cookie: Congratulations on being in remission! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-for-friend-going-through-chemo#post-2252904 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 07:57:58 +0000 Mrs. Bee 2252904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Carrot: how about a babysitting gift card since they don't have family around?</p> <p><a href="https://www.urbansitter.com/gift-cards" rel="nofollow">https://www.urbansitter.com/gift-cards</a></p> <p>Urban Sitter has sitters in San Diego. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-for-friend-going-through-chemo#post-2252809 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 02:01:27 +0000 808love 2252809@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My cousin is in the same boat. I am wondering the same thing. She is halfway through. I just flew to visit her and my aunties had shirts made and sent out with my cousin's name on it and the breast cancer symbol then everyone takes a picture wearing it and posts it on Facebook because she is a FBer. I didn't know about the lotions. I heard green tea is not good for my cousin's treatment which surprised me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-for-friend-going-through-chemo#post-2251762 Sat, 01 Aug 2015 08:00:00 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 2251762@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so sorry for your friend. Agree with all the previous suggestions. I think checking in with her to say hi (not necessarily asking for or expecting a full medical update) is also important. 18 weeks is a long time, and it will be hard for.most casual friends to maintain support for that time, so just being with her through it all is a worthwhile service, I think. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-for-friend-going-through-chemo#post-2251733 Sat, 01 Aug 2015 07:11:48 +0000 mrs.cookie 2251733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh your poor friend! I'm currently three months into remission and went through 26 weeks of chemo. Some of the things that my amazing family and friends organised for me included:<br /> My best friend organised a care calendar, which people could sign up to bring us a meal via carecalendar.org<br /> Friends from far away got together and bought me a few sessions of cleaning for the home.<br /> Other friends sent cards, hand creams (your skin gets super dry and rough from chemo), head scarves and headbands, candles, flowers. It sounds trite but little items of beauty and luxury really do lift your spirits!!<br /> School mums (my oldest had just turned 4 and was in Kindy) helped with pickups and drop offs.<br /> If your friend can organise it, it's definitely worth having a plan for childcare on the days after chemo. I found the day of, and the next 4-5 days, were a write off. I'm very lucky that I was able to have my 18 mo in daycare three days a week so I could sleep and try to recover.<br /> Prayers and well wishes to your friend xx </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-for-friend-going-through-chemo#post-2251713 Sat, 01 Aug 2015 06:04:15 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2251713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree cards and maybe a blanket would be great. Or even a little goodie bag of activities for the kids (sticker book, new movie, etc) </p> <p>One of my favorite gifts was a really nice lip gloss set. The color helped me feel out together when I couldn't deal with make up. </p> <p>Best gift if you want to splurge would be a cleaning service to come in for her! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-for-friend-going-through-chemo#post-2251600 Fri, 31 Jul 2015 21:08:40 +0000 skipper2010 2251600@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would send her cards to help cheer her up and maybe gift cards to a book store or something. Some of the infusions can be long so books/magazines are a great way to help the time pass and also take her mind off it. I would stay away from edible arrangements due to potential loss of appetite and flowers are nice, but chemo can make you more prone to infection so fresh flowers are a no-no if her white blood cell counts have dropped. Hope this helps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-for-friend-going-through-chemo#post-2251550 Fri, 31 Jul 2015 19:23:01 +0000 matador84 2251550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a friend who the same thing happened to her! I bet she'd appreciate maybe gift cards for activities her kids and husband can do while she is doing chemo. My friend couldn't eat much because the chemo made her so sick but it helped her knowing her family was taken care of. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-for-friend-going-through-chemo#post-2251547 Fri, 31 Jul 2015 19:19:28 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2251547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A good friend of mine got diagnosed with very aggressive breast cancer and is starting an 18 week long course of chemo next week. Based on what I heard from experts, it's the most aggressive kind of chemo there can be, so she's going to be very affected by this. I want to help, but she's literally on the other side of the country, with 2 kids and a very small support network out there (they just moved out for her husband's new job). I'd love some ideas on what I can do for her from a distance (they're in San Diego, in case that matters). </p> <p>Thank you! </p>