New Member seeking help

samber2829
samber2829 Member Posts: 4
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
My father was diagnosed with colon cancer for the second time in December and underwent an ileostomy in January. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy. I am a thousand miles away (literally) and I am seeking ideas of gifts I can send him to help him through his treatment since I cannot be with him all the time. I know he has sensitivity in his feet and hands but that is about it. My dad worked construction all his life so he's an outdoors kinda guy. He loves to camp, hunt, fish, and watch NASCAR. All the "normal" gifts like books and puzzles wouldn't work for him. I am thinking about maybe a webcam for his computer so I can talk to him and he can see me but I will have to find a simple one so I can talk him into installing it. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thank you.
Sam

Comments

  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    #2
    Hi Sam
    Did your Dad have a local recurrence or has cancer spread to his liver or lungs? I ask because his recurrence and ongoing treatment would differ.

    How old is your Dad? In a hot/ sunny area?

    Diane
  • sfmarie
    sfmarie Member Posts: 602
    #3
    Gift ideas
    I know for my sister gifting her a house cleaner or meals has been a huge help!
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #4
    just a small comment
    if you are wanting to get him a webcam, speak to someplace like BestBuy. You can buy the cam and get somebody to install it for him as well! Or any computers are us kind of shop local to your father. Adding the difficulty of his disease, etc should garner some sympathy and maybe get him some extra special help in that line. If he's in treatment, a portable DVD player is great! He can watch anything on DVD or listen to CDs while he's being infused. Make sure he has some of the creams for his feet and hands that they recommend here, I think it's bag balm and utterly smooth.
    mary
  • chicoturner
    chicoturner Member Posts: 282
    #5
    Gifts for Dad
    Hi Sam,All the things suggested are great! I know my kids got me an IPOD and actually put music on it for me so I could enjoy it during treatment. But, I will tell you what I love the most are pictures on the blog. My lovely daughter-in-law updates it often with pictures of my grand-daughter! I really lost interest in reading, don't know why, as I had been an avid reader, but I love pictures! Also, don't forget the phone calls. The unexpected ones in the middle of the long, lonely day. The ones that just say hi, I was thinking of you! E-mail messages too! Communications with the ones you love! That's what keeps me going! What a blessed Dad to have you! Jean
  • jams67
    jams67 Member Posts: 925 Member
    #6
    MP3
    I have an MP3 player that I can load audio books onto. Love just listening while at the gym to a book. I have found that if the book is complicated it is harder to get anything else done while listening. I'm not a big multi-tasker. Movies are great when on chemo since you have very little energy.
    Jo Ann
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #7
    Hi Sam!


    Re:
    "My dad worked construction all his life so he's an outdoors kinda
    guy. He loves to camp, hunt, fish, and watch NASCAR. All the
    "normal" gifts like books and puzzles wouldn't work for him.

    I am thinking about maybe a webcam for his computer so I can talk to
    him and he can see me but I will have to find a simple one so I
    can talk him into installing it. "

    The web cam might seem like a great idea (and is), but your
    Pop might not have a computer new enough to do Skype, etc..
    And of course, the cam will have to be installed, along with
    the software to use it.

    Say.... how about buying him a new laptop with all those features?
    The prices are down to the 300s now for a brand new machine.

    There are other things he might like as well.... If he has cable or
    satellite, both offer channels that deal with sports, hunting, etc.,
    that he might enjoy getting for "free". It's a nice gift for some people.

    But.... Let's face it, an outdoor kinda' guy likes to be outdoors.

    I wonder how he'd like to go camping with you for a weekend?
    Renting an RV might be out of the question, but a tent, and a weekend
    at the local state or federal park with you, would probably be more
    what he really needs?

    You only get to do some things once.... or once more, if you're real lucky.

    Stay well.


    John
  • samber2829
    samber2829 Member Posts: 4
    #8
    dianetavegia said:

    Hi Sam
    Did your Dad have a local recurrence or has cancer spread to his liver or lungs? I ask because his recurrence and ongoing treatment would differ.

    How old is your Dad? In a hot/ sunny area?

    Diane

    My dad
    My dad is 56 years old. He is stage 3 with cancer in a lymph node. And yes, he lives in the hot and sunny south.
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    #9
    Sam
    Stage III with one lymph node? I'm guessing he was Stage I or II previously and didn't have chemo.

    He'll do fine other than some exhaustion. I was dx'd at 58 and did just fine. About 4-6 days a MONTH were bad days. :-)

    He'll have to avoid the sun during chemo so maybe a huge umbrella or one of the awnings that can be set up over a picnic table.

    I'm in Georgia and finished chemo last August.
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #10
    dianetavegia said:

    Sam
    Stage III with one lymph node? I'm guessing he was Stage I or II previously and didn't have chemo.

    He'll do fine other than some exhaustion. I was dx'd at 58 and did just fine. About 4-6 days a MONTH were bad days. :-)

    He'll have to avoid the sun during chemo so maybe a huge umbrella or one of the awnings that can be set up over a picnic table.

    I'm in Georgia and finished chemo last August.

    How about a nascar model to
    How about a nascar model to build? I bought my web cam at Target and it was only $25, easy to install. When you are on chemo you are really tired and some of you spirit. This may be a good time for a western book..... I love my IPOD and sleep with it sometimes as it lets me concenrate on the music and nothing else.
  • samber2829
    samber2829 Member Posts: 4
    #11
    dianetavegia said:

    Sam
    Stage III with one lymph node? I'm guessing he was Stage I or II previously and didn't have chemo.

    He'll do fine other than some exhaustion. I was dx'd at 58 and did just fine. About 4-6 days a MONTH were bad days. :-)

    He'll have to avoid the sun during chemo so maybe a huge umbrella or one of the awnings that can be set up over a picnic table.

    I'm in Georgia and finished chemo last August.

    I'm not sure what stage he
    I'm not sure what stage he was before. I thought my mom told me once he was a stage III last time but I don't remember her saying anything about lymph nodes so maybe it was a stage II. He did have alot of chemo though. I was 19 when he was diagnosed the first time and he was 43. I was immature and just didn't really know everything like I do now. I just know he's having a harder time this time around. He is still getting out some because he knows he has to keep moving and remember to drink fluids, but he also seems to be more nauseated than last time.

    I am in Nebraska by the way and he lives in North Georgia. My dad is strong I know but when I talk to him, he seems to have lost himself. I think a care package and maybe a visit soon will do just the trick.

    Thank you for all your help. Colon cancer is a scary thing for sure. Any cancer is really. I am trying to learn as much as I can and help in any way I can.

    Sam
  • samber2829
    samber2829 Member Posts: 4
    #12
    Nana b said:

    How about a nascar model to
    How about a nascar model to build? I bought my web cam at Target and it was only $25, easy to install. When you are on chemo you are really tired and some of you spirit. This may be a good time for a western book..... I love my IPOD and sleep with it sometimes as it lets me concenrate on the music and nothing else.

    Great advice! My dad used to
    Great advice! My dad used to build model cars all the time when I was little. I will definitely have to find one of those! I think a web cam is going to have to be on my list also although I might look into a laptop with one built in. Thanks!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #13
    samber2829 said:

    I'm not sure what stage he
    I'm not sure what stage he was before. I thought my mom told me once he was a stage III last time but I don't remember her saying anything about lymph nodes so maybe it was a stage II. He did have alot of chemo though. I was 19 when he was diagnosed the first time and he was 43. I was immature and just didn't really know everything like I do now. I just know he's having a harder time this time around. He is still getting out some because he knows he has to keep moving and remember to drink fluids, but he also seems to be more nauseated than last time.

    I am in Nebraska by the way and he lives in North Georgia. My dad is strong I know but when I talk to him, he seems to have lost himself. I think a care package and maybe a visit soon will do just the trick.

    Thank you for all your help. Colon cancer is a scary thing for sure. Any cancer is really. I am trying to learn as much as I can and help in any way I can.

    Sam

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • RickMurtagh
    RickMurtagh Member Posts: 587 Member
    #14
    netbook
    a cheap netbook or laptop with a webcam built in and set up would be a mondo way cool gift to give him (if it is not too pricey fro you). You could even set it up for skype or oovoo (video chat programs) and test it before you send it to him!

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