Chemo Bag Ideas
How to put together a comforting chemo bag & Inspirational Gift guide
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I started chemo right away. As I got ready for my first treatment, I wasn’t sure what I should bring with me. I knew the appointments would be long, so I wanted to pack some things to help pass the time.
Here are some products that I always kept in my chemo bag and a few others that I used to cope with the side effects I experienced from treatment.
Below you will also find clothing and items to bring comfort during treatment and after surgery, headwear options and an inspirational gift guide.
When I started my treatments, I soon lost count of how many appointments I was trying to keep up with each week. The Fight Cancer Updated Planner is a motivational organizer, specially designed just for cancer patients and their caregivers. It keeps track of appointments and symptoms with colorful inspirational phrases and stickers.
A tote bag is roomy enough to hold everything you need.
This Simply Southern Water Resistant Tote Bag is easy to clean and sanitize and is made of a flexible material. The straps are removable and it comes with a removable inner zipper pouch. It measures 19 in x 13.5 in x 5.5 in and is available in 15 different colors.
Here are a few other great options. This Champion Tote has a black bottom to hide dirt if you need to keep your bag on the floor. This Nylon Large Lightweight Tote Bag would be another great option because it is waterproof, has interior and exterior pockets and comes in many different colors and patterns. Ziploc Reusable Bags are easy to toss in your bag and allow easy access to smaller necessities like your ID, credit card or keys.
Another item I was thankful to have, was a blanket. The first blanket I brought was way too big and did not fit in my bag. I found a thinner one that worked perfectly and was also easier to wash like this Fleece Throw Blanket.
Along with a blanket, a travel pillow will keep you comfortable if you get sleepy during treatment and want to take a little nap. This Memory Foam Travel Neck Pillow creates neck support, is machine washable and has a snap closure so you can attach the pillow to your bag.
A few side effects I had during treatment were mouth sores, cracked skin on my hands and nausea. I didn’t know that there was a mouthwash for mouth sores. These mouthwashes provide relief, promote healing and kill bacteria. Colgate Peroxyl Mouth Sore Rinse and Oral-B Mouth Sore Oral Rinse are two popular brands.
I struggled to find a product to alleviate the pain my cracked hands were causing. I tried many different lotions and creams with no luck. My Aunt had Dove Derma Series Dry Skin Relief Body Cream and gave it to me to try. It was a lifesaver. This gentle, fragrance-free cream does not burn at all when you put it on. I was amazed at how quickly they started to feel better and were able to begin healing.
For nausea, Peppermint Roll-On Essentials Oils helped tremendously. Taking a few deep breaths after applying it to my wrist would calm my uneasiness. It can also be used for headaches and stress relief. Ginger People Original Ginger Chews are drug free chewables that relieve nausea, are an alternative to anti-nausea medicine and are kid friendly.
I also brought snacks and my Bubba Vacuum-Insulated Stainless Steel Tumbler with me to each treatment. Some appointments were longer than others and after being there for hours, you get hungry and thirsty. Cheez-its and Welch’s Fruit Snacks were my favorites on treatment days. Here are a variety of other snacks for when hunger strikes.
Cheez-It Baked Snack Cheese Crackers-40 Pack
Frito-Lay Sweet and Salty Variety Snack Care Package-50 Pack
Grandma's Cookies Variety Pack of 30
I colored or drew during my treatments when I wasn’t feeling too tired. Adult coloring books, colored pencils, sketch pads and word searches are inexpensive and don’t take up much room in your bag. Books and Magazines are great ideas too.
You could also bring an iPad, Kindle, Sony Portable AM/FM Radio, Studebaker Portable CD Player, Philips Portable DVD Player and Sony Headphones or Apple EarPods.
My Anker Portable Charger kept my phone charged during long appointments and was another must-have that I kept in my bag.
There were many appointments where I found myself feeling too tired to even scroll through Facebook. Audible Plus allowed me to relax and simply listen. I didn’t have to think about anything, only what I wanted to listen to. From audiobooks and podcasts to originals that can only be found through Audible. They even offer meditation programs and sleep tracks.
More titles are added weekly and you can take advantage of their free 30-day trial. This would also be a great gift for a loved one in treatment.
A few other necessities that I used often were tissues, hand wipes, band-aids and lip balm or Vaseline.
My medi-port was accessed at each treatment, and it would be sore. This unique Post-Surgery Seatbelt Pillow attaches to your seatbelt and protects those tender areas while you’re in the car. I also found a pad for your bra strap, if the strap becomes uncomfortable against your port.
2 Pack Bra Strap Pad Protector for Chest Port
The last important items that I listed in this blog are the most comfortable, best fitting and pretty headwear options that I found after many hours of searching and purchasing a few that weren’t very flattering and definitely not confidence boosting.
Headwear made from 100% cotton or bamboo are soft, breathable and stretch to fit. Most also come in different patterns so you can buy more once you find one you like. Headcovers Unlimited is an amazing resource for cancer patients. On their website you can search for headwear, wigs & hairpieces, cancer beauty products, clothing & accessories and even tips & advice. Their long head scarf tying tutorials are very helpful and include videos.
Headcovers Unlimited Slouchy Snood Hat - 100% Cotton Slouchy Beanie
Headcovers Unlimited 30 Inch Woodblock Hand Stamped Head Scarves | Hand Made Square Cotton Scarf
Headcovers Unlimited Cardani Sophisticate Turban Silky Soft Viscose from Bamboo Hat
Love your Melon Beanie-100% Cotton
Wobe 3pcs Women Soft Cotton Hemp Scarf Shawl Long Scarves
Bamboo Double Layered Comfort Beanie for Cancer Patients
Pura Vida donates a portion of your purchase to Stand Up To Cancer to help save the lives of all patients facing cancer.
The most beautiful book about hope in uncertain times for readers of all ages.
Hardcover Vegan Leather Ruled Notebook
100% Natural Wax
CALM-Dreamy Lavendar
ENERGIZE-Citrus Grove
BLOOM-Spring Botanical Mix
RELIEF-Fresh Eucalyptus
CLARITY-Essential Mix
AMORE-Floral Rose
I wrote My First Children’s Book!
My son was only seven when my husband and I sat with him, struggling to find the right words to tell him I had cancer. I will never forget the look on his face. Our path was altered that day, but his unwavering love lead me through the darkness and became my inspiration to write my first children's book.
A Guiding Light in the Forest
The special power you hold to comfort a loved one when they are unwell.
When a beloved tree falls ill, the forest animals feel sad and afraid. Unsure of what to do, they ask a little boy named Owen for help and learn about the special guiding light they each have inside themselves.
Lovingly crafted to help children understand and cope with their emotions when a loved one is sick, A Guiding Light in the Forest is the perfect storybook for families to read and discuss together. The book encourages kids to open up about the difficult feelings they may be experiencing and provides guidance on how they can respond to their sick loved one. A Guiding Light in the Forest can also help a child who may be coping with their own illness.
Parents who want to engage their kids in honest discussion about emotional wellbeing and how to access hope in difficult situations will enjoy the book’s honest and positive outlook. A Guiding Light in the Forest can help families find their own special inner strength as they become caregivers.
I could not be more proud or excited to share that my book is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and my Etsy Shop!
My hope is that other children can read my storybook and know they are not alone, whether they cope with their own illness or a loved one’s.
If you or a loved one is beginning treatment, these items are sure to bring comfort and a well packed bag will be one less thing to worry about during this difficult time.
Check out my Chemo Resource Library below for access to other helpful websites and a free encouraging coloring page!
