Hey guys! I’m sharing the final part of my chemo survival kit series today. (In case you missed it, check out part one & part two for more ideas on creating an incredibly helpful gift for anyone going through chemotherapy). All of the links are in the titles for each product below.
1. Spa Socks with Treads
Neuropathy is a common side effect when going through chemo, and it can make your feet very sensitive to touch. Make sure you find a nice, super fluffy pair of socks with treads on the bottom — the cushier, the better!
2. Chemono
The Chemono is a cool little product designed for women who use a port for their chemotherapy treatment. Instead of having to expose your chest every time they need to access the port, you can wear this wrap top. It has a special little hatch opening right where most people have their chest ports, so the medical staff can access it easily. It also works as a nice alternative to hospital gowns!
3. Hand Sanitizing Wipes
Weakened immune systems mean that you will need to disinfect everything ALL the time. Hand sanitizing wipes are great because they travel well (no spills!) and can also pull double-duty as cleaning wipes. These wipes are available on Amazon, but you can also find a ton of great travel-sized toiletries at Minimus.biz.
4. Hair Loss Shampoos & Treatments
Thymuskin makes shampoos & treatments specifically formulated to prevent hair loss and regrow & thicken hair without any side effects. There are a lot of product choices available, and it is one of the brands mentioned frequently when combating hair loss related to chemo and radiation. (Warning: this stuff is expensive, so you may want to try the travel kit first!)
5. Travel Blanket & Pillow
Comfort & coziness are top priorities, so make sure you have an easy-to-carry blanket & pillow set. This one from EuroCOZY features an arm sling (helps you rest more comfortably while sitting up) & a special pocket for your phone or mp3 player.
Bonus Tips:
- You can order pre-assembled chemo comfort kits from GivingComfort.org.
- You can also nominate or apply for a free chemo comfort kit! There are awesome kits available from Fighting Fancy & CancerHawk.
Stay strong, my friends! If you are putting one of these chemo survival kits together for a loved one, I can assure you that it will be one of the most thoughtful gifts you can give during such a tough time.
If you can think of any other suggestions for items to include, please share your ideas in the comments!
Thank you so much for this series! Unfortunately, it came at the perfect time–my sister-in-law has just been diagnosed with breast cancer and will be starting chemo. I will be ordering many of these items for her so I can help in a small way.
Nancy, I’m so sorry to hear about your sister-in-law. I felt like maybe I was going overboard or over-sharing in this series, but it is hard to leave anything out of a blog post when you know that it could potentially help someone out. Any source of comfort makes a difference — she is lucky to have you helping her through this fight!!
I’m so very glad you wrote this post when you did! I just ran across it while checking out your website (heard about you from iheartorganizing.com) My aunt just started chemo last week for breast cancer. These things are helping me when trying to find things for a care package for her. Thank you so much for the help!
So glad I could help, Lindsey! It can be so heart-wrenching to watch a loved one go through chemo and not know what to do. I hope you can bring her some comfort. Sending lots of love and wishes for a smooth treatment & a healthy recovery!!
Hi Casey,
Thanks for featuring our Chemono in your chemo survival kit! Our products have helped hundreds of women go through chemotherapy with comfort, modesty and style. We also offer Chemo Recovery Kits–instead of pre-packaged kits, customers can choose only those products they think would be of most help to themselves or their loved ones. We’re a small business founded by a three-time cancer survivor, we sew our Chemonos in the US, and we really appreciate your support! Joni Toenjes, President, Chemo Ready-Set-Go, http://www.chemono.com