How to help someone going through chemo

Yesterday a friend told me she knew someone about to go through chemotherapy for breast cancer. She asked me if I had any suggestions on what she could do or give to this friend to make her treatments a little easier. This isn’t the first time a friend has asked me for suggestions, and boy do I have some suggestions! So I thought I’d share what I’ve told others in the past because unfortunately, this won’t be the last time I hear about someone having to go through chemotherapy.

WORDS

Words in a card, words in person or over the phone, words on Facebook, words in an email, just some form of communication letting them know you are thinking of them can do wonders.  A card may seem generic and small but everyone LOVES to get mail.  When I would go to my mailbox and find a card addressed to me, it brought an immediate smile to my face.  Do not underestimate the power of communication.

Food

Food brings people together. Families get together over meals. Families pray over meals. I think some of the best family conversations happen at mealtimes, so why not facilitate this time for a family to come together.  Chemo is tiring and treatment day can be long (4-8 hours).  Such a relief to come home and not have to worry about what’s for dinner.  This is also a way to give to the entire family.  Most likely a family member has been at the chemo treatment as well (in a not-so-comfortable waiting room-style chair, nonetheless).  Or family members have to pick up extra responsibilities at home on the days following chemo because the patient is tired and can hardly get up out of bed, let alone pull together a meal.  And if you can’t physically deliver a meal, consider a gift card to a local, favorite restaurant.

Some logistical suggestions regarding food: If you are coordinating for a group of people to deliver meals, there are many online options to make this easier.  SignupGenius,  CareCalendar,  TakeThemaMeal, just to name a few.  Ask about food allergies, likes and dislikes and what time they eat so you can communicate to all friends and neighbors who want to contribute.    Don’t forget breakfast or lunch every once in a while!  And encourage friends and neighbors to indicate on the calendar what they are bringing so the family doesn’t get 5 lasagnas in a row.  😉

I suggest disposable containers that are not expected to be returned.  I can’t tell you how many containers I had on my dining room table with sticky notes reminding me of its owner!  And meals that can be frozen and reheated for later are great ideas as well.  Along those same lines, if you are helping coordinate meals, consider putting a cooler on the friend’s porch to help with deliveries when the family is not home, or just to keep from disturbing the family.

And if you’re on the receiving end of all these meals?  You may want to consider an extra refrigerator!

Chemo Bag

A chemo bag is something I’ve “enjoyed” putting together, for lack of a better word.  I feel like it’s been my personal touch knowing what side effects lie ahead for a future chemo patient.  So I’ve put together a couple chemo care packages now (unfortunately) and they’ve contained some of these items:

A bag – Like an actual bag to put stuff in and carry to a chemo treatment.  I had a dedicated “chemo bag” I’d bring with me to each treatment containing quite a few of the following things.

Things to pass the time – Books, magazines, crossword puzzles, iTunes gift cards are all great ideas.  If you know they will have a family member with them, maybe a book or magazine that would appeal to the family member.

Things to keep them warm – This applies not just to the treatment room, but every day if the weather is cold, and especially if hair loss is a side effect.  My chemo treatments were during the winter months and I was cold all the time once I lost my hair.  So giving a hat, a scarf (which I would wear inside), cozy socks or a nice cozy blanket I think would be appreciated.

Tissues – Why, you may ask?  Well it is an emotional time, but the reason I’ve added travel tissues to chemo care packages in the past is because if the hair on your head falls out, most of your other hair is going to fall out as well, including nose hairs.  And no nose hairs means a runny nose.

Hard candies – I don’t know what it’s like with other chemo drugs, but the ones I received (Taxotere and Cytoxan), one of them gave me a metallic taste in my mouth when I was being infused.  And while chemo tends to mess up your taste buds as well, my favorite candies I brought with me to each chemo treatment were Werthers.  Just my 2 cents.  😉  This picture is from a pre-Christmas care package I did (see a trend?).

Water bottle – The nurses in the infusion room would always encourage me to drink a lot of water during infusions as well as the days following treatment.  The idea is that you want to let the chemo drugs cycle through and do their thing, but then you want to flush them out of your system as soon as possible.  So a good water bottle that keeps things cold and doesn’t sweat is an awesome idea.

Time

Such a simple idea, but not one people think to give freely.  I was fortunate in that my husband came with me to all treatments and my time spent in the infusion room was “minimal” compared to most.  But if someone is spending hours, even days, in the hospital, consider visiting with them.  Come with ideas or things to pass the time with them…movies, stories to tell, games.  Even though they will likely have someone with them at all times, it will be a nice change of pace and a nice break for the caregiver to have someone take the lead on passing the time.  You can even check with the hospital to see what sort of foods you can bring.  I can tell you from experience that hospital food leaves MUCH to be desired.  How wonderful it would be to have someone come with something “normal” to eat for the patient as well as any friends or family they have sitting with them.

Just keep in mind your friend may be tired, weak, depressed, experiencing side effects of toxins going through their body.  They may not be the same, bubbly person you are used to being around.  Just be there, understand, and care.

Help around the home

If the family doesn’t have a regular housekeeper, maybe hire a maid service, one time or regularly.  Or while visiting, offer to do some clean-up yourself.  The trick here is getting your friend to accept the help!  I know I would have had trouble with this one.  Or if inside the home feels too intruding, offer to do things in the yard.  One of my neighbors mowed our grass for us and that was a huge help to my husband, and while he wasn’t tired from chemo, he was tired from taking care of me.

Are there kids at home?  Offer to have them over for a playdate, take them to the movies, or bring them something special.  Younger kids may not understand what is going on and may feel scared and confused.  Any sense of normalcy for them would be a huge relief for mom and dad.

I’m sure there are so many more thoughtful ideas out there that I have forgotten or haven’t crossed my mind.   My disclaimer is that these are my suggestions based on what I went through.  Everyone’s treatments are different.  Everyone’s side effects are different.  Everyone also handles this trying time very differently.  But what I do know is that anything you give from the heart to show someone you are thinking of them will be greatly appreciated and a huge way to lift their spirits.