When my friend was quite nauseous from the chemo, she learned that frozen juice store drinks could stay down. So look into the Jamba Juice or other juice store near you to help her.

I think some enjoyable light reading might be good for when she is tired but wants something to occupy her mind. Delightful movies too, like Sleepless in Seattle.

Do you know how long the sessions will last?

You can do house cleaning for her. That would be really nice.

Im in the chair for at least 5 hours (started out at over 8 hours). some music on an MP3 player/ Inspirational tapes?
Books, magazines. Will you be going with her? My first time, 9 years ago, I took some inspirational tapes
and cd's to listen to with a portable cd player. they probably don't even have those anymore! lol

I bought myself a beanbag type laptop desk. I take it to
treatments. I can write, play cards, use it when I eat a little lunch. Use it at home for the laptop computer.
I usually take myself to and from chemo. But DS went with me on Christmas eve and
this worked great for our cribbage games.
A nice tote bag filled with these things would be nice. Cheese sticks, apples, pudding cups, our center has snacks,
including oatmeal and chips. But I do take an apple or pudding cup for lunch. DS bought subway for us on Christmas eve.

You don't need to take blankies as they have ones they keep in a warmer and they have pillows...

I got my desk at office depot for 19.99.. it isn't
any of the ones that I linked. Make sure that it has a thick
"bean bag" area. some of them are too thin. But they are
really cool. You can also make your own!

Here is a link that might be useful: beanbag lap top desks

I've been on chemo off and on for the past 2 years and the best two things I have received are...my DS and DIL hired a housekeeper for me and friends have brought me meals that they cooked for me.

I liked ginger ale after the treatments.I also suffered from dry mouth,especially at night and they told me to suck on lemon drops. It helped.I usually took pretzels with me, I guess I needed the salt. Good luck to your sister and I know that it is a big help to have a caring sister to help get through this.

Drive her to her treatments and drive her home afterwards. Don't let her go alone.

And yes, I was going to suggest too, to hire or ask friends to help out by cleaning their house and cooking the meals, doing any errands, anything that needs to be done.

Find out what she can tolerate to drink and eat and make sure they are on hand.

Oh, yes, if she has kids, then get drivers to take them to school and home again and to activities, playdates,etc.
And see to their needs too as they will need help through it all.

Also be there for her no matter what time if she needs you or needs to talk in person or on phone.

It depends on your system, attitude, chemo medications, support system at the center, staff, friends and relatives. Where I use to live when someone had cancer, it was all hush hush etc. Here most of the people are quite open, offer help, ideas, suggestions and that really makes the difference. Until you get your first treatment you will not know how you will feel. Where you sister goes, there should be some sort of classes, support group, that will help also. One thing, watch the immune system, it will take about a week or so to bounce back, so stay away from anyone who is sick with anything. If you need dental work, check with the cancer dr. first. And sometime you will feel worst that other times. I do wish you the best. Read as much as you can, ask all the questions you need to ask to, and list all the questions you feel you want to ask.

I went through this last year and DH went to each and every treatment with me.At home he did all the housework,cooking,shopping etc.He still does all the cooking and the shopping and laundry~~~~~~~well i fold the laundry!! LOL

My friends brought over dinners for us at times,offered to give dh time off and they'd stay with me,so he could get out once in awhile with his friend to go to the movies or lunch.

I also told everyone up front that there may be days i wouldn't feel like talking on the phone etc and don't get offended when it happened.When they called if i didn't feel like talking i just told them so,and no feelings were hurt.

Just be there for her,for whatever her needs may be.Friends brought me books,but i couldn't read them as my eyes teared constantly.

I took a tote bag and my own blankie with me to treatments,also took word search puzzle books,my mp3 player,bottled water,as they only had water in paper cups and i'm not a fan of paper cups.Also took along some crackers w/ peanutbutter.

Everyone goes thru chemo differently,some sail thru and others don't.So bottom line is just being there for her will do wonders for her.Take each day as it comes and go from there.
Prayers and good thoughts for all of you.
Kathi

A friend gave me a little book called "No More Bad Hair Days" - basically little cartoons. Heather showed it around to those starting chemo and had the whole group in stitches (not good on bladders when everyone was given IV fluid overload.)

One of the most useful hints, is to have your sister drink lots of very cold fluids such as iced water, popsicles etc. We froze water bottles. This will decrease the circulation to the mouth during the administration of chemo and lessen the mouth sores that can develop from the chemo by constricting blood flow to the mouth. Bring your own in case the fridge is empty at the clinic.

There are drugs that can be given just prior to chemo that help with the nausea. Unfortunately, they cost about $20/dose here in Canada but well worth it.

If hair loss is going to be an issue, your sister may find it easier to deal with it if she cuts or shaves her hair very short ahead of time. She will need to do this to get the best fit for a wig but it is less traumatic than watching it come out 4-5 days later by the handfuls. If she goes for a wig fitting ahead of time, make it into a little party with one or two of her closest friends. The first time I saw my sister without hair after chemo - just hit me like a brick. It made it "all real". I could no longer deny what was happening. I'll never forget that moment.

Journal the experience and look for the humour in the situations. For instance - the anaethetist who told Heather that a mastectomy was "a simple procedure" - yeah.... for who? or the radiation oncologist who told her that it was "no-brainer radiation". We hope someone put their brain into it! These situations provided the humour, although warped, that carried us through.

Bring a blanket in case they run short. You can get very chilly with large amounts of IV fluid being flushed with the chemo.

Everyone's experience is different. Heather claims she sailed through the experience and in fact she was on a ladder painting the deck a week after. I was amazed at her spunk. I was no help with a broken foot. It hits some people with full force. I don't know how many courses your sister will need but the affects are accumulative. It doesn't get easier as you go along - so it just isn't a matter of "being used to it".

Heather found small amounts of food frequently rather than a huge meal cut down on diarrhea.

One thing I hated hearing was people telling me "if anyone can make it Heather can". I didn't want to blame her if it didn't work. Strange - our father fought cancer for ten years but I remember the "irrational anger at him" I felt when he lost the battle. Fortunately, Heather is now nine years past the most aggressive type of breast cancer. Remember not to get discouraged by "statistics". The only one that really applies is how you do. She had a 16% chance of making five years. Knowing that in itself caused major stress. She found that teaching as many people as she could about IBC helped. She did nursing inservices and spoke at a lactation conference etc.

There are support groups both Internet and in the community that may be helpful for your family. Do the research for your sister to find them.

One of the ways I was able to offer help was in dealing with disability insurance hassles. She will be tired and sometimes insurance companies use this to minimize their costs. Some insurance employees are given "paid by performance incentives" to encourage them to pressure you back to work before you are physically and emotionally ready. Chemo fatigue and chemo brain are very real. Concentration may be a real factor depending on your sister's career. A person without energy just gives up instead of mounting an appeal. Become your sister's advocate.

Sending along wishes for success.

She will probably feel pretty crappy and be very tired. I think it's more important for you to do things to help her keep her life going than to spend the time with her at chemo. Cleaning the house, running errands, keeping food and drinks in the refrigerator, helping out with her children if she has any are good ways to help.

These all sound like great suggestions. A few yrs ago the sister of a HS Classmate had to go thru chemo. A SIL organized fun nights. They'd make & wear silly hats with her & if I remember right, she had quite a few. Also pedicures, manicures, crazy movies. Anything they could think of to help her & show support. They're a large family, but this would work for smaller families. Add friends if you like. Each gathering would depend on how your sister is feeling, of course. But any show of support will be appreciated!