Jacquie, this is a hard diagnosis to face for any of us. Just go with your heart and show your love in lots of creative and useful ways. Hope you don't mind my sharing a little from the patient's point of view. What I would have loved shortly after my first chemo treatment would have been some fairly mild home made meals in my freezer to pop into the microwave once in a while when I had no strength to cook for myself. I seemed to crave creamy foods (like mac and cheese) as well as fruits and ice cream. I found a wonderful Betty Crocker cookbook for Cancer patients that would make a super gift. It has categories addressing all possible side effects of various treatments (nausea, etc). Another treat would have been an excursion to a local mall to pick out some pretty scarves when I began loosing my hair. The best selection was at a men's tie shop. It's kinda lonely to be doing that by yourself cuz when you feel so exhausted and begin loosing your hair that's when you need the most encouragement. Throw in some lunch at a favorite restaurant and you have a day that would put a smile on even the most weary soul.
For more ideas, just ask yourself, what would you like if you felt like crap and didn't even feel like getting out of bed some days? A pretty, light weight jogging outfit or lovely caftan to lounge around the house in? Wonderful bath gels for those long showers that wash your cares away? A pretty new mug and some mint tea for when that tummy is upset? New sheets, nighty, robe and slippers? A journal to begin writing down 'bits of joy' so she can focus on the good things in her life?
Please feel free to email or PM me with questions on anything that I can share about my own cancer treatments. (surgeries, chemo or radiation) I would love to correspond with your friend if she feels up to it. Like Hucc always said, "us Cancer Kids gotta stick together"
Hugs, Mariposa
