In this blog post we discuss the best chemo bag essentials. These essential items will help you get through a chemo infusion.
Tips and advice for before you begin chemotherapy including what to pack in your chemo bag, staying healthy during chemo, and ways to feel your best.
A breast cancer survivor shares a list of what you need for chemo, what to pack in a chemo bag, and how to prepare for chemotherapy at home.
I was diagnosed with diabetes back in 2018. Back then I was about 232 pounds and wore a size 44 pants. In addition to being a little...
What you need to pack in your chemo bag to take to your chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer. Plus Free Printable Packing List!
How to put together a comforting chemo bag & Inspirational Gift guide
It's hard to know what to expect during chemo. As a cancer survivor, I want to help you navigate with 12 tips and tricks.
I can’t even begin to tell you how important it is to have a support system while going through chemo. When I look back on the...
The Red Devil is a super aggressive chemo drug. Read all about the side effects and tips for managing the nausea and fatigue!
Chemo Port Is In. Now What Do I Wear?! How To Stay Fashionable During Chemo. by Kelsey Bucci Honestly, the last thing you think about after getting diagnosed with breast cancer is, “what am I going to wear to chemo?” My name is Kelsey, and at 30 years old I was diagnosed with Stage IIB IDC and DCIS. A few days after getting diagnosed, I was in surgery to get my port placed. Before this procedure I had no idea what a port was, what it did, or why exactly I was being told that it would be a part of me for at least the next 12 months. Once your port is placed it can be a very weird feeling. Mine was very prominent, not something I could hide in the south Georgia heat! My kids happened to be fascinated with this little robotic piece in my chest. They affectionately named it “Lexi the Port”. On any given day my husband would yell out, “sexy Lexi”. Humor has always been a part of my diagnosis, it has gotten me through some dark days with this disease. In preparation for my first chemotherapy infusion, my nurse navigator gave me a few tips: Wear comfortable clothing Make sure your port can be accessed Comfy footwear and socks Bring a blanket (our BIG HUG blanket is perfect!!) Bring things to entertain yourself Snacks Drinks to stay hydrated Bring a journal to write in As someone who has a background in fashion merchandising and buying, not to mention a blog and Instagram where my style definitely stands out, I knew I wanted to keep being me throughout treatment. Getting up and getting dressed helped me mentally. Even through losing my hair, getting up and drawing on my eyebrows everyday helped me to see ME when I walked passed a mirror. I tackled infusion days the same way! I made sure to wear button front blouses so that my port could be accessed easily. In the warmer months I would wear a V-neck t-shirt, or a top with a scoop/deep neck so I could pull it to the side. Care + Wear also makes a cute and comfy port accessible hoodie and shirt! Depending on your treatments, you could be there for hours, so comfort is key. You will also want to wear simple outfits that you can go to the bathroom in quite easily. You certainly do not want to be fussing with too many accessories while you are hooked up. Take the time to rest and relax at your infusions. Get in a nap or two before your steroid keep you up all night! I would also keep lotion in my chemo because my skin would get so dry from the treatments. Visit my store Paris Laundry to find clean and safe products that you can use during treatment! Guest Blog Post by the lovely Kelsey Bucci. Keep up with Kelsey on Instagram, @KelseyBucci. Still looking for a gift to support someone battling cancer? Join my insider list and save 10% off your first order!
What to pack in your chemo bag: Adult Edition
A breast cancer survivor shares a list of what you need for chemo, what to pack in a chemo bag, and how to prepare for chemotherapy at home.
We have put together 6 gift ideas for a chemotherapy survivor. Including items for comfort, pampering and celebration.
HIGHLY IMPORTANT INFO, READ IT ALL, TAKE NOTES, YOU'LL THANK ME LATER. I'm sure you were given a ton of information like I was about cancer & chemo but if you are anything like me, I wasn't interested in reading any of it at the time. The Do's and Don'ts I've listed are things you'll probably be able to find in the information but I've tried to hit the highlights here as well as some things I discovered along the way. DO: Go home after treatment and rest up, especially your first treatment. Everyone reacts differently to chemo and for me the first one was the worst. So go home and get ready to just relax; your body may not react very pleasantly to treatment so it’s better to be prepared for that comfy in your p.j.'s with a good meal and some movies. After you find out how your body reacts to chemo you'll be better prepared for future treatments and you'll know if you have to go straight home or if you'll be ok. DON'T: Eat raw fruits and vegetables. Your white blood cell count will drop after chemo and your body won’t be able to fight off everyday germs anymore. The week after my first treatment I decided I would eat "healthy" by eating salads and fruits like grapes and apples; well that was a bad idea. I got very sick and after the fact my doctor tells me I'm to stay away from foods like that. Anything not cooked or peeled can carry germs and bacteria. So only eat cooked veggies and fruits that can be peeled like oranges and bananas. DO: Get some sippy cups!! I know that sounds crazy but my mouth was so dry after chemo, which can lead to mouth sores (I've heard these are very painful but luckily I didn't experience this, I like to think this trick helped), and my throat was sore so I was constantly wanting something cold to drink, the colder the better. The problem with that is with chemo your tastes change and you will never know what you want to eat or drink and most drinks were suddenly way too sweet for me. I watered down my drinks to cut the sugary taste in juices and Gatorades. Try having a variety of drinks ready to go in sippy cups in the fridge, this makes for easy drinking without spilling and will hopefully help you stay hydrated and cut down on mouth sores. DON'T: Get mad at yourself if you have a lack of energy or aren't able to go like you used to. It's difficult, but getting mad or frustrated won't help. Ask for help, lean on your support team to do things for you. If they are a part of your support team then they obviously don't mind helping so use them when you can't do for yourself. It’s not a sign of "weakness" to ask for help and I understand the feeling of just wanting to do it yourself but if you can't you can't and that's ok. Just try to stay positive and know it won't last. DO: Buy a toddler toothbrush. My gums became so sensitive after chemo that brushing my teeth just became a painful and bloody endeavor, however, I was not going to go without brushing! I bought a toddler tooth brush and while it did take longer to brush, it wasn't nearly as painful. Your doctor or nurse may tell you about baking soda and water mixture to help with mouth sores, but it also helps with dry mouth and keeping your gums and teeth healthy. DON'T: Forget to drink MiraLax. The side effects of chemo for me were painful at times and I had to have a white blood cell boosting shot after my treatments which were also painful. If you are taking pain pills while going through treatment, be sure to drink a glass or two of MiraLax each time you take a pill. Trust me, you'll thank me later. I found it easiest to drink with milk, but I prefer chocolate milk. DO: Keep your body moisturized. Sometimes chemo can take a toll on your feet. It didn't happen to my until the very end of my treatments but I think if I would have kept an unscented lotion and socks on my feet while going through chemo it would have helped. Also keep lotion on your hands and try to find a good chapstick without a taste or smell to keep your lips hydrated as well. Another great idea to help keep you from getting dried out, a humidifier at night near you. This was a LIFE SAVER!! DON'T: Forget to take care of your finger nails. Chemo can affect your finger nails too, I was highly freaked when I heard this but I made it through ok. Some things to know, if you have a habit of picking at or biting your finger nails, stop now! This allows for bacteria to get into your body which your body won't be able to fight. Also, do not get manicures or pedicures; I know it sounds like a great idea to help take care of your feet and hands but you run the risk of the tools used not getting as clean as you now need them to be. Instead, keep your nails short, but not too short, and I do not recommend using colored nail polish; some people do. I used Sally Hansen Complete Care, it is a little expensive but well worth it in my opinion, my nails did great and the clear shine made my nails look nice. I used this on my toes as well. And a side note, nail polish remover is not good to use on your nails while going through chemo, it can be drying and cause your nails to crack or split, to avoid this I just reapplied the clear polish without taking the old off and it worked great. Please leave any tips you may have that helped get you through, together we can help each other make it through this battle.
How to put together a comforting chemo bag & Inspirational Gift guide
Chemo Port Is In. Now What Do I Wear?! How To Stay Fashionable During Chemo. by Kelsey Bucci Honestly, the last thing you think about after getting diagnosed with breast cancer is, “what am I going to wear to chemo?” My name is Kelsey, and at 30 years old I was diagnosed with Stage IIB IDC and DCIS. A few days after getting diagnosed, I was in surgery to get my port placed. Before this procedure I had no idea what a port was, what it did, or why exactly I was being told that it would be a part of me for at least the next 12 months. Once your port is placed it can be a very weird feeling. Mine was very prominent, not something I could hide in the south Georgia heat! My kids happened to be fascinated with this little robotic piece in my chest. They affectionately named it “Lexi the Port”. On any given day my husband would yell out, “sexy Lexi”. Humor has always been a part of my diagnosis, it has gotten me through some dark days with this disease. In preparation for my first chemotherapy infusion, my nurse navigator gave me a few tips: Wear comfortable clothing Make sure your port can be accessed Comfy footwear and socks Bring a blanket (our BIG HUG blanket is perfect!!) Bring things to entertain yourself Snacks Drinks to stay hydrated Bring a journal to write in As someone who has a background in fashion merchandising and buying, not to mention a blog and Instagram where my style definitely stands out, I knew I wanted to keep being me throughout treatment. Getting up and getting dressed helped me mentally. Even through losing my hair, getting up and drawing on my eyebrows everyday helped me to see ME when I walked passed a mirror. I tackled infusion days the same way! I made sure to wear button front blouses so that my port could be accessed easily. In the warmer months I would wear a V-neck t-shirt, or a top with a scoop/deep neck so I could pull it to the side. Care + Wear also makes a cute and comfy port accessible hoodie and shirt! Depending on your treatments, you could be there for hours, so comfort is key. You will also want to wear simple outfits that you can go to the bathroom in quite easily. You certainly do not want to be fussing with too many accessories while you are hooked up. Take the time to rest and relax at your infusions. Get in a nap or two before your steroid keep you up all night! I would also keep lotion in my chemo because my skin would get so dry from the treatments. Visit my store Paris Laundry to find clean and safe products that you can use during treatment! Guest Blog Post by the lovely Kelsey Bucci. Keep up with Kelsey on Instagram, @KelseyBucci. Still looking for a gift to support someone battling cancer? Join my insider list and save 10% off your first order!
You have cancer and you found out you're going to start chemotherapy. Besides all of the big questions that come with a cancer diagnosis, one thing you may be wondering is, what do I need for chemo? Should I bring a chemo bag? Yes, you should! Read on for some chemo bag ideas. When I
It's hard to know what to expect during chemo. As a cancer survivor, I want to help you navigate with 12 tips and tricks.
How to put together a comforting chemo bag & Inspirational Gift guide
Make a chemo port pillow from fabric scraps! They are not only a nice gift for people going through chemo, but also something to donate to a local hospital.
Make a chemo port pillow from fabric scraps! They are not only a nice gift for people going through chemo, but also something to donate to a local hospital.
The Use Of Prescribed Drugs, Diet Changes And Complementary Medicine Are Discussed Here As Solutions To Relieve Chemotherapy Nausea.
Chemotherapy isn’t fun. In fact, for some people the thought of chemotherapy is scarier than the actual cancer diagnosis. So, we went to the experts (women who have gone through cancer treatment) and asked for their advice. Here are some of their ideas on how you can lessen that burden on your loved one.
Use any one of these 19 ideas as part of a chemo care package as a useful and thoughtful way to support someone going through chemotherapy.
This sewing tutorial provides a free pattern to make a chemo pump pouch and the exact steps to follow to sew the small fanny pack.
Going through chemo is rough. It's easy to put together a chemo care basket or package for your loved one. These are gift items that a cancer patient could really use while going through chemo treatment. These items may not be glamorous, but they are practical and will be greatly appreciated, and what a cancer patient really needs.
It's hard to know what to expect during chemo. As a cancer survivor, I want to help you navigate with 12 tips and tricks.
When you go through chemo you tend to get very tired, but with these Make-Ahead Recipes you can still eat well during treatment.
A great gift for the chemo patient is a cap to keep them warm. See how to make one in this easy sew fleece chemo cap tutorial. Handmade gifts always rock!
I can’t even begin to tell you how important it is to have a support system while going through chemo. When I look back on the...
Tips and advice for before you begin chemotherapy including what to pack in your chemo bag, staying healthy during chemo, and ways to feel your best.
It's hard to know what to expect during chemo. As a cancer survivor, I want to help you navigate with 12 tips and tricks.
Make a chemo port pillow from fabric scraps! They are not only a nice gift for people going through chemo, but also something to donate to a local hospital.
Sew headwraps for cancer patients. Learn how to sew them, where to send them and more! These hats help children and adults.
It's hard to know what to expect during chemo. As a cancer survivor, I want to help you navigate with 12 tips and tricks.
Shield HealthCare provides a list of links to ostomy resources that are relevant, reliable and positive. Follow the links to learn more about ostomies.
Explore key considerations before starting chemotherapy: drug side effects, potential outcomes, lifestyle changes, and support systems.
My dad died three years ago today, and in honor of making this day positive, when otherwise it’d be pretty dreary, I put together and delivered some chemo blessings bags...
It's hard to know what to expect during chemo. As a cancer survivor, I want to help you navigate with 12 tips and tricks.
The perfect gift for a cancer fighting friend is a chemo care kit. What should you include in a chemo care kit? Find out at Sparkles of Sunshine!
This tutorial provides detailed instructions on how to make a mastectomy pillow with a pocket. The pocket allows people to use a cold or hot pack as part of their healing.
When you go through chemo you tend to get very tired, but with these Make-Ahead Recipes you can still eat well during treatment.
