Do you know someone battling cancer? Is chemotherapy a part of their cancer treatment? A great way to show them your support is by making them a Chemo Care Kit packed with items that are useful to chemotherapy patients. Today I’m sharing the essential items to include in a Chemo Care Kit as part of the Pink Ribbon Projects series in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This Chemo Care Kit will be useful for anyone facing any type of chemotherapy cancer treatment.
If you know someone facing upcoming chemotherapy treatments but aren’t sure what you should do for them, how about make them a Chemo Care Kit? It’s pretty easy to do since all you have to do is buy some items and put them in a gift bag along with a thoughtful card. Other than prayers, it’s the next best thing you could give them. If you’re not sure of what you should include, today I’m sharing the essential items I included in a Chemo Care Kit that I made recently, as well as some extra suggestions for you if you want to change it up.
Here is a list of what I included in the Chemo Care Kit I put together:
- Wisp Portable Toothbrushes– These will help combat the chemical taste chemo patients often get in their mouth during treatment.
- Lemon Drops– Hard candy helps fight nausea. The strong lemon taste will prevent dry mouth and mask the chemical taste also.
- Hand Sanitizer- Chemo is havoc to the immune system and makes patients more susceptible to infections, so if you could give a chemo patient just one item, this should be it!
- Lip Balm– Chemo has the tendency to dry everything out, so a good lip balm will be handy.
- Hand cream- The skin will get very dry, so a good hand cream and/or body lotion can come to the rescue!
- Warm, fuzzy socks– Chemo patients often get cold, and nothing warms you up like a pair of fuzzy socks!
- Book/Magazine– A good book or magazine can be a welcome distraction during treatments.
- Candy bar– A special treat to bring a smile to their face.
Here are some additional items you could include in your Chemo Care Kit:
- Bottled Water- Chemo patients need to stay hydrated.
- Biotene Mouthwash– This mouthwash is especially for dry mouth, something most Chemo patients experience.
- Herbal tea– Hot tea calms the nerves and can ease stomach pain.
- Aquaphor– It’s great for dry, cracked or irritated skin.
- Gas Card– All those round trips to the doctor and treatments add up, and a gas card helps alleviate that extra cost to the patient.
- Hat– This will help keep the patient warm, especially if they experience any hair loss.
- Warm blanket– Sometimes patients develop anemia, which makes them cold. A nice blanket will keep them warm.
- Playing cards– A fun game helps the time pass by during treatments.
- Coupon Booklet– Make your loved one/friend homemade coupons for free house cleanings, child care, etc.
I hope these ideas will help you create a Chemo Care Kit to help someone fighting cancer today. What items would you include that aren’t listed here? Let me know by leaving a comment. Oh, and if you know of someone facing an upcoming mastectomy surgery, you can make them a Mastectomy Care Kit! Read my post to find out what items you should include in it.
Christie, thank you so much for this. I had noticed this article before, but didn’t “need” it. Now I have a dear friend who will need all of these things. Just know this is a blessing.
Lisa, I am so sorry to hear that your friend will need these things, but I’m glad to know that you found this post useful! Your friend is lucky to have you on her side as she goes through this battle! My prayers go out to both you and your friend today.
I would like to receive your newsletter but when I sign up for it I never get an email to verify my address. And am puzzled why. I really would love to have the newsletter to keep up on all the valuable items you show us. My daughter in law is having a double mastectomy Friday and I am going to make her your seat belt covers today and I thank you for your instructions.
Thank you for any help that you have for getting me the newsletters
Ruth Ridgway
[email protected]
Hi Ruth,
I’m not sure why you haven’t been able to sign up for the newsletter but I went ahead and added you manually. You should receive a newsletter this Friday. If you don’t get it, please let me know. I’m so glad you are helping out your daughter-in-law by making her a seat belt cover. I know she will appreciate it!
Blessings,
Christie
Hi, This is a nice compilation for someone going through chemo. I can say first hand what products were helpful for me. I do want to say that a candy bar is not a good “treat” – most likely their tastebuds have changed and sweets can be overwhelming and not at all tasty. It’s best for the friend to ask before buying candies, etc. I will say that Altoids (not the “curiously strong”, but the mini ones) were wonderful for helping get rid of the “metallic” taste so many patients deal with. I would also like to add another item or two to help your post – a silk headwrap for sleeping (you can pick them up for just a couple of dollars), if they have suffered from hair loss; blank cards or thank you cards the chemo patient can use to send thank yous to all who provide help during treatment. Lastly, a simple HUG goes a long way for many to know they are loved. Thank you for your post!
Thank you so much for your feedback and suggestions. It’s always best to hear from someone who’s been there and I appreciate you letting me know what worked for you. I hope all is well with you and I’m sending you a virtual “hug” right now! 🙂
I think these are WONDERFUL. I went through breast cancer in 2020 – making it an especially challenging year! And so many people stepped up and sent me cards and little handmade gifts like these. It really means a lot to know that people are rooting for you when you’re going through all this awfulness. One thing that one of my friends did was make me a little “purple heart”. She actually made me a bunch of them in different patterns and types of materials so I could place them all around my house to remind me of what I had gone through. I have one right in front of me on my desk. Very sweet.