Chemo Therapy?

A little but often is the way I would go regarding gifts. Reactions to chemo. is different for each and every one, and I would chose and give accordingly as the treatment progresses; a phone call, a card, a little surprise all along the way.
I hope all goes well for your friend.

That's good advice ffinnochio - thank you. I've never had chemo but I was trying to think of what would really help in a situation that feels helpless.

Fragrant wet wipes are always nice - I was given some 4711 ones when in hospital and they were wonderful - made me feel human again!

If you do choose body lotion, bath gels etc it is a good idea to make sure they are not too strongly scented and are paraben free.

Just a card with some kind words as ffin suggested is a good idea at first.

I've had a couple of different chemotherapies. One chemo regime I found quite doable, the next one less so. I agree a card, a lipstick, a book of short stories, (I had no stamina for novels) a silk scarf for hair loss perhaps? Some crystallised ginger is wonderful if it's a chemo which leaves you with a metallic taste or nausea. Ditto ginger biscuits. :-) Dark nail polish helps protects, saves the nails with certain types of chemotherapy.

I think I might send a talking book- something amusing she can relax too- scented anything may cause nausea but then agin some people don't have this - play it by ear when she tells you how she is feeling- until then a card will be lovely.

My friend who has just had a course of chemo said that one of the best things I did was to ring her with news (from the outside) and to make her laugh about the state she was in rather than being too sympathetic!

She also appreciated the odd bunch of flowers and (unscented) hand and body lotion appropriate to which ever part of her was suffering from the most effects of the treatment.

Unscented! Thank you - I hadn't thought of that - and thanks also to penguinpaperback on the ginger. Will also think about silk scarf....
Short stories! Of course! Or poems I wonder......

Calls and cards I already have in hand - it was tangible sort of first aid box I was after.

Hard isn't it? Her prognosis is not good.....

Some really nice hand and foot lotion will help her feel good about herself,have you thought about a delicate scented candle for those times when she is relaxing after her treatment a calming camomile was my favourite when I had my treatment and just being there to listen is a gift in it's self.

I sent my friend a card every few days just to make her smile, and she was also very glad for me to be the 'oncall' person when anyone wanted to know how she was feeling.
It saved her having to go over and over all the details of her treatment, and stopped people disturbing her with phone calls.

I also took her out, for lunch or coffee, if she felt up to it, but I took her straight home before she got tired.

Thank you all - I have dispatched a box of goodies as per advice (and included a sweet notebook and some hand made chocolates for good measure). I hope to travel to see how she is this weekend.

The main thing to remember is that chemo trashes your immune system so don't go near her if you have a cold etc. And food etc should all be freshly home cooked to avoid risk of picking up bugs that way.
My son liked ginger and lemon drinks which were great if she suffers from nausea. Preferably made from fresh ginger and fresh lemon.