I am travelling to India to be with a Cancer Patient who has a few
months, I was wondering if there were things that I should take that
would help make her last days better - medicines, food, apparatus,
things like daipers etc.

The patient has breast cancer that has spraed to the lung and liver.
Current the only symptoms are shortness of breath and fatigue.

---

Request for Question Clarification by wayga-ga on 24 Sep 2002 11:47 PDT

Hi, it would help to know a few things such as...Is she now receiving
chemo or other therapy? Her financial circumstances? Availability of
pain/symptom control medications. Her wishes for treatment/no
treatment.

My first inclination is to reccomend things for nausea control,
laxatives to counteract the effects of pain medication, skin care if
she is bedridden and the like. Also if she is not an Indian native
there may be "comfort foods" from home she would appreciate.

Obviously your presence is the greatest gift you will bring.

Hi Sunilb,

What an admirable and difficult mission you are on. I must say I
admire your foresight in trying to be prepared to best provide for
your friend. We don’t have a lot of information about her current
circumstances (for example living conditions, availability of products
there, medical treatment), but I think we can provide you with some
guidelines.

Wayga-ga has given us a good start regarding over-the-counter
medications. Pain management is an issue with cancer patients, but
specific advice on this is beyond the scope of this question. What
your friend can take would have to be up to her doctor.

I urge my fellow researchers who may have more first-hand knowledge of
this subject to add their own personal comments to what I’ve said. I
will limit my answer to more general advice.

Since you mention diapers, I suspect that personal hygiene may be an
issue. If so, you might consider extra bed linens and protective
mattress pad (shower curtain works well). Also wet-wipes, skin creams,
shampoo, massage oil, corn starch (talc powder), and mild soap (Ivory
or Neutrogena). Since she may be sensitive to strong odours (see
below), remember to purchase unscented products.

I found this useful – 

“The cancer patient is often sensitive to physical conditions around
him: sights, smells, pedestrian traffic, light, and noise. Harsh or
strong smells such as popcorn or fresh-cooked food can be nauseating
to patients under chemotherapy. Strong lights are painful to the eyes
of patients lying on a gurney or bed and gazing at the ceiling.”

A Look at Environmental Issues and Patient Needs
http://www.aia.org/pia/acadjour/articles/v2_13/article13a.asp

So anything you can think of to make her environment quiet and serene 
- room-darkening blinds, low-wattage bulbs, soft blankets and pillows,
etc. Also soft comfortable clothing and mild laundry detergent (Ivory)
and unscented fabric softener to keep clothing and linens from
chafing.

Simple bland foods may be in order - Instant packets of clear soups,
broths, Jello, and instant rehydrating drinks (with electrolytes) such
as Gatorade. This article provides more on nutritional needs --
especially the section entitled “Common Problems”

Meeting a Cancer Patient's Nutritional Needs
by Vivian Barron, MS

http://216.239.51.100/search?q=cache:y9MsFA7jhvwC:www.hillphysicians.com/Health_Education/cancer/nutrition_cancer.htm+%22cancer+patient+needs%22+&hl=en&ie=UTF-8


Books!  Bring books that you can sit and read to her if she is too
tired to read herself. I don’t know her interests (or language), but
I’m sure you know her well-enough to pick out appropriate titles.
Choose books that will take her on a journey in her mind .. stories
that will capture and hold her attention even after you stop reading
.. tales she can become lost in or feel empowered by, books that
address her spiritual needs,  or books that will make her laugh.

If I had to throw a couple of titles out, I’d start here:

The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0312195516/qid=1032898544/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/104-8824562-2995167?v=glance&n=507846

Hard Laughter, Anne Lamott
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0865472807/qid=1032898581/sr=1-8/ref=sr_1_8/104-8824562-2995167?v=glance

The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1567404081/qid=1032898787/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-8824562-2995167?v=glance

Alternatively, books on tape (or cd) and a player with a headset might
be nice for when you aren’t there to keep her company. Again, maybe
other researchers could add their recommendations to this list.


==========================
USEFUL WEBSITES
==========================

Helping the Cancer Patient Cope
http://www.cancerpage.com/cancernews/cancernews1957.htm

American College of Physicians - Home Care Guide for Advanced Cancer
http://www.acponline.org/public/h_care/

---------------------------------------------

I think that’s a good start. Obviously you won’t be able to take all
of these things with you, but I suspect you can purchase some of them
there, so maybe part of this will serve as your shopping list.

Thank you for your question and also for being a supportive friend to
your friend in India. The world needs more people like you.

-K~

search terms:

“cancer patient” comfort
“cancer patient needs” 
“cancer patient” care

---

Request for Answer Clarification by sunilb-ga on 24 Sep 2002 14:56 PDT

I think the answer that has been given is just fine, but since the
researcher asked for some clarification - She hasn't decided if she is
going to take Chemo yet - the primary objective will be symptom
control. She is in a modern home and money is not a big issue.

If this results in any further information I would be very inetrested.

---

Clarification of Answer by knowledge_seeker-ga on 24 Sep 2002 15:10 PDT

Hi again Sunilb,

One of the other researchers gave me this information (and her
comments below) to pass along to you:

NO-RINSE
http://www.norinse.com/ 

"No-Rinse Shampoo and No-Rinse Body Bath are wonderful products that
help a person who cannot shower or bathe to feel fresh. Both products
can be bought at many pharmacies, medical supply stores, and online.
Being able to clean one's hair and body is something that able-bodied
people take for granted. These products enable a bedfast person to
freshen up, and that can be a remarkable mood-enhancer."

Sounds like an excellent addition to your supplies. I'm glad you've
found the information we've provided useful.

-K~

The above comments are excellent.  I would only suggest that you
contact a Hospice service , that specializes in home care for the
terminal patient .  They may have some points about items that could
be of use to the patient.

Please remember, that care of life issues, at the end of life must be
concerned not only with the matieral, but also with the spiritual. The
latter is as important to the terminal patient as is the vial of
morphine.