I have a friend who started Chemo last week for stage 4 breast/ovarian cancer. Can anyone help narrow my search for wigs and any available support for her?
Also, what can I do or say as a friend? What should I not say that is very annoying to someone with cancer?
Ask her what you can do to help - let her know if she ever needs a ear you have one. Don't be afraid to ask her how she feels, not everyone wants to be quiet and ignore the problem. Try to organize some dinners for her on her "bad days". Just let her know you are there if she needs you. That is the most important.
I am so sorry to hear that your friend is going through this very difficult journey. I would also get her a really nice blanket that she can take to her chemo treatments with her. Also, I don't know if she likes music or not, but alot of my patients had their ipods or mp3 players with them during treatment. Hopefully she is with an awesome group of people during her treatments and can have a good time during treatment. As for not annoying her...just let her know that you love her and are there for her. Offer to come over and empty her dishwasher, do laundry etc... Most people start feeling bad the day after their treatment and it can last a few days depending on what chemo she's getting. I don't know what your friend is like but most people fighting cancer just want to be treated like they always were and do "normal" things. so, give her a open invitation to go to lunch when she's feeling up to it. I hope this helps. She'll be in my prayers.
Hey there... there is a non profit that will find a maid service to clean her house for free while she is doing chemo treatments!! It is so awesome!! They do this for women that are going through chemo for cancer...It's called CLEANING FOR A REASON... their website is www.cleaningforareason.org and the phone # that you can call is ###-###-#### (this is for Buckets N Bows Maid Service and the owner of that maid service (Debbie Sardone) is also the head of the non profit Cleaning for a Reason...T.
There is a wig shop at Sammons Cancer Center inside of Baylor, on the first floor as you check in. You can call the Susan G. Komen Foundation for information/help and also Gilda's Club.
I'd call her oncology nurse as well. They are really a life line and know all the resources.If she is a church member, get her minister involved, that is an incredible support center.
My mom died of cancer last October after a year long battle. I think it is not really what you say but what you do. Be there, try to do things for her that are difficult for her to do, whether it is grocery shopping or laundry ( if she will let you). Whatever you do, don't ever give up hope and don't let her.
First, I want to say that I am very sorry! My mother had colon cancer and had to have Chemo. It's very h*** o* the body and it's good to have soothing things around.
As a gift, to take with her to chemo, I would get her a blanket:
http://www.brookstone.com/store/product.asp?product_code=...
and a heat wrap like:
http://www.brookstone.com/store/product.asp?product_code=...
As for what to say, you need to be there more to listen. The only thing to say is "I love you and I'm here."
Wigs: There is a shop over by Toys R Us in Lewisville called Comfort Wigs. I have not been in there, but I think it is a therapy wigs shop.
I hope this helps! My prayers are with you and your friend!
I am a 7 year breast cancer survivor. I think the thing that helped me the most and what I suggest you do is ask your friend what she needs - would it be possible for you to organize a group of her friends to bring her dinner for an extended period of time? That helped me so much! Books, magazines, etc. were great, too. Also - if she needs groceries, laundry done, house cleaning, etc. The day to day stuff is very helpful because when going through chemo, most people feel so tired all the time.
Please contact Gilda's Club in Dallas. This is a wonderful place for cancer patients as well as a great resource for those who want to help but aren't sure what to do. They will be able to provide you with resources for wig purchases, etc. I hope this helps.
One thing that really helps friends and family to understand Chemo and breast cancer is the Beyond The Shock video on National Breast Cancer Foundation's website (www.nbcf.com). Additionally there is a great online community to support the patient, family and friends. God bless!
I think it's wonderful that you are so concerned for your friend. There is a wonderful place call "All About You" in Plano at Independence and Parker. It is a regular salon but they also specialize in assisting cancer patients with the special problems that chemo brings. I highly recommend them. They are very warm and welcoming. They have a special area for cancer patients. As far as what to say, please keep your thoughts positive and no war stories about other survivors. Well meaning people thought they were helping by telling me about "Aunt Tessie" who died after fighting cancer for 20 years.
