Products That Helped

From Diagnosis to Recovery: Products That Made My Cancer Journey Easier

When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, I got a lot of advice from my doctors. But it was the breast cancer survivors who truly helped me understand how to cope with the realities of treatment. It took some trial and error, but along the way, I found a few products that helped ease the side effects and made the whole experience a bit more manageable.

Always check with your oncology team for personalized advice, as this list isn’t everything - it's just what worked for me based on the side effects I had and the treatments I was prescribed. My main piece of advice is this: everyone’s experience is different. Always check with your oncology, chemo and radiotherapy teams for advice that’s specific to you. And if something doesn’t feel right, don’t hesitate to call the medical hotline. It's always better to be safe than to just brush it off as “just the chemo.” 

You don’t need everything right away... start with the basics, then add more if you need it. Most importantly, listen to your body. If you don’t, you might find yourself decluttering instead of celebrating at the end of your treatment!

If you're looking to support a loved one who's going through treatment, a lot of these items also make great gifts or care packages. Even small comforts can make a huge difference in someone's healing journey.

👕🧦🛋️ Comfort and Clothing

• Soft, Front-Opening Pajamas & Tops: Essential for post-surgery recovery, making it easier to dress without lifting your arms.
• Mastectomy Bras & Camisoles: Wire-free and designed for comfort, often featuring pockets for prosthetics or inserts.
• Lymph Flow Long Front Closure Bra: Wire-free, specially designed to provide support after lumpectomy surgery and assist with mild lymphedema management.
• Button-Up Shirts & Loose Clothing: Ideal for chemo days and medical appointments, providing easy access for treatment.
• Warm Socks & Slippers: Chemo can cause chills, so having soft, warm footwear is a cozy necessity.
• PICC Line Cover: PICC line waterproof protector for a stress free shower.
• Slumberdown Stay Cool Medium Support Pillow: Perfect for dealing with night sweats. Thanks to the clever Hydrocool technology, this pillow absorbs the moisture from your body heat, keeping you dry, cool, and comfortable all night long.
• Wearing light, breathable fabrics like silk or moisture-wicking materials: can help keep you cool and comfortable during hot flashes and night sweats.

🧴🛁🌿 Skincare & Hygiene

• Silicone Gel for Scars: Clinically proven to smooth, soften, and flatten scars while reducing redness, itching, and discomfort.
• Ultra Gentle Cleanser with Ceramides: A soft, nourishing cleanser that helps maintain your skin's natural barrier.
• Fresh Cream Deodorant: A sensitive, fragrance-free option for gentle protection.
• Fast Hydrating Lotion: A soothing, unscented moisturizer to replenish and comfort dry skin, especially helpful as chemo and radiation can leave your skin feeling parched.
• Lip Balm: Cracked lips were a big issue for me during chemotherapy.
• Mild Shampoo & Conditioner: If you lose your hair, your scalp will need extra care.
• Soft Toothbrush: Gentle on sensitive gums and helpful for those experiencing mouth sores.
• Silk Pillowcase for Hair & Scalp: Reduces friction and helps protect delicate hair and skin.
• Jennifer Young's Defiant Beauty Dry Scalp Treatment: Perfect for dry, sore, itchy, and sensitive scalps. 
• Cooling Gel or Aloe Vera: Helps soothe radiation burns.
• Oralieve Dry Mouth Relief Starter Kit: A helpful solution for chemo-induced dry mouth.
• Dry Brushing Body Brush: to gently massage the skin before a shower, aiming to stimulate the lymphatic system and promote circulation.
• YES Organic Water Based Personal Lubricant-100ml: help alleviate vaginal dryness and reduce discomfort during sex.

🤢🍽️🍋 Nausea & Appetite

• Ginger Tea & Peppermints: Help ease nausea.
• High-Protein Snacks: Useful when eating is tough but you need energy.
• Electrolyte Drinks: Staying hydrated is key, especially on chemo days.

🔥🛌🧘‍ Pain & Fatigue Relief

• Heat Pads & Ice Packs: Great for muscle aches and neuropathy.
• Soft Heart Shape Pillow: Helps with sleep and post-surgery comfort.
• Compression Gloves & Socks: Useful for managing neuropathy and swelling.
• Lymph Flow Pressure Pad: Helps provide targeted pressure for lymphedema management.
• Lymph Flow Breast Shell: Offers gentle, localized compression where needed.

💅🖐️✨ Nail Care

• Polybalm Topical Nail Application: Supports nail health during chemo.
• JESSICA Phenomen Oil Intensive Nail & Cuticle Moisturizer: Nourishes and protects brittle nails.

👁️🕶️💧 Eye Care

• Hylo Night Eye Ointment: Helps relieve dry, irritated eyes, especially at night.
• Sunglasses aren’t just for summer: Chemo made my eyes dry and sensitive, so I wore them year-round to protect them, especially after I lost my eyelashes.

🧘‍♀️💖🕊️ Mental & Emotional Well-Being

• Journal or Colouring Book: A calming and meditative way to process emotions.
• Meditation & Breathing Apps: Help manage stress and anxiety.
• Support Group or Community: Talking to others who ‘get it’ makes a difference.

🎒📖💊 Practical Items for Treatment Days

• A Good Tote Bag: To carry all your essentials to chemo.
• Entertainment (Books, Podcasts, or Puzzles): Chemo sessions can be long.
• A Soft Blanket: Chemo rooms can be chilly, and comfort is key.

💊🥄🔋 Supplements:

• New Nordic Magnesium: Helps support sleep, muscle relaxation and heart, nerve, and bone health.
• Omega 3 Fish Oil: Offer some benefits for managing neuropathic pain and potentially improving nerve health, reducing inflammation, and improving brain function and mood.
• Silica Complex: Offers potential benefits for hair, skin, nails, bones, and joints, primarily by supporting collagen production and strengthening connective tissues. 
• Adcal-D3 chewable tablet: Provides extra calcium and vitamin D3 to your diet and treats osteoporosis.

🧴🩹💧 Cream and Oils for Lymphoedema:

Certain oils can be very beneficial for skin condition and help with Lymphatic flow:

• Skin: Lavender, Rose and Patchouli.
• Lymphatic Essential Oils: Lemon, Rosemary and Ginger.
• Carries Oils: Rosehip, Calendula and Udderly Cream.

💉🧘⚕️ Acupuncture needles / studs 

To help alleviate hot flashes and night sweats, here are the details of the semi-permanent indwelling needles (and studs) you’ll need, along with where to find them.

Go to Acupuncture tab then Needles  

• Scroll down to Seirin J type with needle ( with tube ) 
• Choose Seirin J-type with Guide Tube 0.20mm x 30mm 

For the Studs - go to;  

• Seirin Pyonex Ear Needles  
• Choose Seiren New Pyonex 0.20mm x 0.60mm -yellow  

💬 Everyone’s cancer journey is different, but I hope this list helps make yours a little easier. If you have a go-to product that helped you, I’d love to hear about it! And if you’re looking for a meaningful gift for someone in treatment, these items could bring them comfort and relief.