I need some advice

[PghRN15]

Hi Everyone;

I have a friend that lives across the country from me. She is currently getting chemo for Stage 4 breast cancer. I have been a hospice nurse since I have been a nurse so I don't know the tricks of the trade.

She is experiencing stomatitis (she has magic mouthwash). She is complaining of very dry skin. I want to make her a care package to help with her chemo treatments. Do you have any suggestions of a good lotion that does the trick. I am seeing things like Lindi and radiation lotion but she is not getting any radiation treatments.

I was thinking of including fuzzy socks and a nice fleece throw for chemo days? What helps your patient when they are getting chemo?

Thank

[Littleguccipiggy]

I would say a nice fuzzy robe and a hat. When patients lose their hair they get a lot of heat loss from their head and robes are more fashionable than hospital gowns. Most fuzzy socks don't have a good grip on the soles, so maybe some nice slippers too? For the dry skin I've mostly seen aquaphor or eucerin being used. Sometimes patients chew gum if they don't like the taste of saline flushes. Anything else for the care package depends on your friend's personality. Maybe some good books or movies to keep her entertained? Most of my patients bring stuff to make their rooms more homey - pictures, clothes, etc. I had a patient decorate her room with tiki themed party supplies once.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Honestly, I'd ask your friend what she would like in a care package. My mom underwent chemo several years ago, and is dealing with a metastatic relapse now. It wasn't so much the "stuff" that helped her feel better but rather the actions- when she was undergoing chemo, my sister and I went with her to an American Cancer Society meeting where they went through wigs, wig care, and makeup tips for loss of eyebrows/eyelashes. Right now, my mom is trying to make life as normal as she can- last weekend when I visited, she wanted to paint my toenails for me. It made her happy, so I let her. I've also given her massages and driven her around when she was on hefty narcotic doses that did little to reduce the pain- my SUV was much better for her to get in and out of than my dad's sedan. I know you're not geographically close, but perhaps she'd have some ideas for gift certificates or something like that?

[nursephillyphil, BSN, RN]

she have a favorite sports team? like what littleguccipiggy said, maybe you can get her a fleece throw / hat / beanie of her favorite sports team. she have an iPad? get her an iTunes gift card so she can download movies or tv shows, for lotion i use l'occitane. in another forum someone stated their pt's swore by jolly ranchers to eliminate the saline flush taste.

[OCNRN63, RN]

Refer her to Good Wishes | A Hug for Your Head. They will give someone going through treatment one free headscarf. She selects her top three choices, and they will give her a scarf from her list; they try to give you your first choice, but that isn't always possible.

I've gotten two scarves from them, and they are both lovely.