This electric fleece blanket was a game changer for me. I took it to every chemo session and every hospital admission. When you’re freezing your head, hands and feet it’s easy to get very chilly very quickly. This heated blanket kept me cosy even when bits of me weren’t. It also kept me warm when I was admitted to hospital and wasn’t in charge of the thermostat! Also great for snuggling up on the sofa in front of a movie. And machine washable which surprised me!
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Suzzipads are little cold packs that you freeze before placing inside the gloves and booties to keep your hands and feet cold during chemotherapy. The aim is to reduce circulation to these parts to reduce the chemo that reaches them and in turn, the risk of peripheral neuropathy. I still suffered some neuropathy but I suspect it would have been much worse without them. The fabric is soft and they fit well. I got them in blue too so that I could change to a fresh pair during the infusion.
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Infection and sepsis are a real risk during chemotherapy. I ended up admitted to hospital twice with neutropenic sepsis which wasn’t fun, but better than not being admitted. Sepsis can be deadly. This in ear thermometer was so easy to keep an eye on myself with reliable temperature reading at the touch of a button and within seconds. I could monitor where my temperature was going and whether I needed to call the Acute Oncology Helpline or not.
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Arguably you should be prescribed a picc line shower cover on the NHS. Technically I was, but the estimate to process and source it was long (and ultimately the GP forgot to send the prescription to the pharmacy) so I bought myself one so I could stay nice and clean and stress free when it came to keeping the dressing clean. This did a really great job of keeping my upper arm bone dry during a shower.
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If your chemo is the type that will make you lose your hair, the impact of nose hair loss should not be underestimated! My nostrils were super dry and sensitive so I bought this facial steamer because it had a special nose attachment. It gets gentle steam all inside your nose and helps sooth and soften the dryness. It’s particularly helpful to loosen any dried mucus or blood clots. Gross, but true. Sorry!
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If you are interested in a more comprehensive list of the items I bought to help me through treatment, take a look at my Amazon page here*.
