[dianaiad]

Bags for when you're getting infusions

by dianaiad on Sat May 27, 2017 7:18 pm

When I was first diagnosed, I was doing the CyBorD regimen, where the chemo was mostly pills except for a shot of Velcade. I wasn't in the chemotherapy room for very long at any one time; an hour at most.

THIS time, however, I'm on Kyprolis, and I'm in the infusion room for a little (not a lot, but a little) more time, twice a week. On the nurse's counter there is a basket full of hats...sorry, but they are ugly hats...that are free for the taking. Nobody ever takes them.

I did say they were ugly, right?

The thing is, I don't see that many people in there who need hats. I certainly won't: Kyprolis doesn't make one lose one's hair as far as I know.

But everybody in there needs, I think, a 'comfort' bag – a tote bag to hold the stuff they need / want for the time they are stuck there; a blanket, a pillow, mints, snacks, drinks, games, tablets or laptops. Whatever.

So here's what I'm asking: For those who have dealt with infusions, what did you most appreci­ate having with you? What sort of bag or tote would / do you want to take with you? What would you like to see, if someone made one for you?

Because that's what I'm going to do. I have a lot of fabric (quilt stash) and I can make tote bags that will hold pretty much anything, if I knew what would be most useful. I also knit, but I think for this that quilting would be better. One can make the bags sturdier and more washable that way.

Oh, and guys? (You know, the men here.) Would you haul such a tote with you when you get infusions, and if so, what sort of thing would you like to include in it?

Thanks for your help with this. I'd really like to see that basket with stuff in it that people actually want.

[Nancy Shamanna]

Re: Bags for when you're getting infusions

by Nancy Shamanna on Sun May 28, 2017 10:42 am

Those are good questions, Dianaiad, about what to take with you to the infusion centre. I would take a book to read, and maybe a craft to work on there if you have time. I have spent many hours waiting for appointments and getting treatments at the cancer centre. I knit many scarves and baby items, and sometimes I try to do stitching there. It is 'quiet time' after all, in a sense. And you could take travel size of anything, like moisturizers, toothpaste, etc. Maybe a travel-type purse that goes around your neck, such as hikers use. Then you can keep your car keys, cash, driver's licence and other valuables safely. Probably a water bottle would fit into your tote bag, since it is important to stay hydrated. We have volunteers who come by with snacks and drinks too. Cough drops, any other over the counter type meds, such as Tylenol (aceta­mino­phen / paracetamol), that is what I have in my tote bags! I am sure that you would get lots of compliments on your quilted bags too.

[lwem]

Re: Bags for when you're getting infusions

by lwem on Mon May 29, 2017 2:54 pm

You can donate books to our cancer center. They have volunteers who then wheel a book trolley around waiting areas and infusion rooms offering the books and magazines to patients and family members.