10 Thoughtful Gifts for Cancer Patients

Finding the right gifts for a cancer patient means combining the practical with the personal. Sometimes a note or card is enough to help a loved one through the emotional stages they go through during cancer treatment. Spending time together, too, might be all your friend or relative wants. At other times, some essential material gifts can go a long way to helping them out.

This article offers tips on choosing the right gift for a cancer patient including clothing, personal care items, and ideas for one-of-a-kind gifts. When considering your options, think about your loved one's specific needs. Knowing a little about the type of cancer and stage the person is at can also help you choose an appropriate present.

Comfortable Clothes and Wraps

Comfort during cancer treatment is often hard to come by. Treatment can involve sitting in hard plastic chairs and lying on uncomfortable exam tables. It may take place in cold clinics and hospital rooms that may not feel very homey.

Your friend may not feel up to leaving the house much. Excursions may be limited to doctor appointments or treatments. Because of this, cancer patients often cherish the comforts of home even more during this time.

Some gifts that add a little cozy comfort to their day include:

• Warm, soft socks
• Sheepskin slippers
• Soft-material pajamas or robes
• Chenille blankets and shawls
• Fleece wraps

Don't worry about color or pattern. You can even choose a color or pattern that reflects your own tastes. This can serve as a reminder of your friendship during the long and often lonely days of cancer treatment.

Add a note that describes the meaning behind your gift. For example: "Here's a little warmth for the times I can't be with you." 

Stress Relievers

Stress is difficult for anyone, whether they have cancer or not. Aromatherapy products may help some people manage cancer-related symptoms. These scented products include pillows, eye masks, and even stuffed animals made with essential oils.

No studies on using aromatherapy in cancer patients have been published in peer-reviewed journals. Several clinical trials, though, have suggested that essential oils might help cancer patients deal with sleep, nausea, and anxiety.

Since many cancer patients are sensitive to certain smells, however, you may want to ask if the person has preferences or, if possible, have them smell some testers to find a scent that appeals to them.

Entertainment Options

Activity levels wane during active cancer treatment. Cancer fatigue is common even for patients who aren't currently undergoing treatment. Books and movies can be an excellent way to escape for a few hours. You might even consider paying for a subscription to a streaming service, like Netflix.

A thriller, mystery, biography, or a laugh-out-loud comedy can be great entertainment. There are times, though, when your friend might want something more relevant.

If your friend wants to read up on cancer, there are many books to choose from across many different genres. Here are a few options:

• 5 Lessons I Didn't Learn from Breast Cancer by Shelley Lewis
• It's Not About the Hair: And Other Certainties of Life and Cancer by Debra Jarvis
• Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Cancer Book: 101 Stories of Courage, Support & Love by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and David Tabatsky
• The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee
• Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy by Geralyn Lucas

Sometimes, people with cancer may not want to read, watch, or hear anything about cancer. If you don't know what kinds of books or movies your friend is or is not interested in, consider sharing some favorites. You may help your friend find a new author or genre.

On that note, it will be helpful to let your friend know that reading the book or watching the movie is optional. Your friend may not want to feel obligated to add to an already long to-do list.

Audiobooks are also a great option for someone who feels fatigued. An Audible subscription would allow them to download audiobooks directly to their phone to listen to at any time.

Warm, Stylish Head Coverings

Thinning hair and chemotherapy-related hair loss can make cold weather uncomfortable. Some people with cancer prefer not to wear hats or wigs, but cold temperatures can change that.

Warm hats, scarves, and bandanas can help keep your friend covered up in style. Don't focus on appearance, though; keep the focus on staying healthy and warm. Let your friend know that head coverings are always optional.

Gifts for Foodies

If your friend is a foodie, consider gifting a meal or gift certificate from a favorite restaurant. Remember a few things before choosing this type of gift, though.

Pick a restaurant with a large and varied menu. Sometimes, a person's taste buds change during cancer treatment. “Old favorites” can become subject to new allergies and sensitivities.

Another option is nearby restaurants that can deliver food to your friend's door. Look for local services that offer "pick up fresh" and delivery options for meals, snacks, and groceries.

Your loved one will appreciate friends and neighbors bringing over hot meals from time to time. For someone with cancer, though, it's always good to have some choice.

If your loved one has children or over-stretched caretakers, it can be a great relief to offer food for the entire family. Consider setting up a meal train with members of your community or social network. Online apps allow individuals to sign up for dinner or other meals that they then deliver. Details about food allergies or preferences can be noted so that those signing up can prepare something appropriate.

Personal Care Items

Cancer can take a toll on your physical body. Mouth sores and dry skin and lips are just some of the issues cancer patients face. There are specialty products that cater to the needs of those with specific ailments or dealing with the side effects of chemotherapy. Some products to consider:

• High-quality lip balm
• Skin creams and lotions that soothe but are scent-free and avoid common skin irritants
• Oral care basket with numbing mouthwash, small soft-bristle brush, and non-irritating toothpaste
• Gift certificates to online shops that specialize in products for cancer patients.

Jewelry and Keepsakes

Many in-person and online stores sell jewelry and keepsakes to raise awareness for nearly every type of cancer. In many cases, some or all of the proceeds go to cancer research.

These products are often designed using the campaign's color (for example, pink for breast cancer).

You may also be able to customize jewelry with charms that carry a particular message like hope, joy, courage, or love, or add a personal inscription.

Help With Daily Activities

Sometimes, a great gift isn't material. Your friend might need something you can do rather than buy.

Personalized IOUs can come in handy when your friend isn’t feeling 100%. Just be sure to make gift certificates specific.

For example, you could design and print a coupon your friend can redeem for:

• A day of housecleaning
• A night of home cooking
• A week of grocery shopping
• Taking the kids for a day

Something like "one hour of help" is too vague. This is more likely to result in the gift certificate going to waste.

Your friend may need help with certain things, but may not think or want to ask for it. For example:

• Washing windows
• Gardening
• Cooking a child's favorite meal

DIY Gift Baskets

Put a gift basket together. Include things your friend might need during and after cancer treatment. Some ideas:

• Magazines and journals
• Organic lip balms or aloe
• A squishy stress ball
• Cozy socks
• Unscented candles
• Crackers or ginger candy
• Tea
• Favorite snacks

Gift baskets may take a little more effort. Still, a do-it-yourself gift is more thoughtful and may be more appreciated. The variety in a gift basket may be a welcome distraction from the daily activities of managing appointments and coping with treatments.

Donations to Support Research and Survivorship

Your friend may prefer not to receive gifts. If so, consider supporting a cancer charity in your friend's name.

Most cancer research organizations, hospitals, and societies maintain charitable programs. You can make a one-time or monthly gift. As a bonus, donations come with tax benefits.

This type of gift may require a little research. Look at the institute's year-end financial report. It will tell you which areas of research it invests in. It will also note how much of each dollar is spent on administrative costs. These costs are often called the "facilities and administrative rate" or F&A.

Look for organizations devoted to specific cancers. Examples include:

• ​LUNGevity for lung cancer survivors
• The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

If your friend has breast cancer, consider donating to an organization focused on finding a cure for metastatic breast cancer, such as METAvivor. Many organizations devote a large percentage of their bottom line to supporting people with cancer and looking for cures.

Gifts to Avoid for Cancer Patients

When it comes to selecting gifts for cancer patients, there are some items that in most cases you should avoid, including:

• Gifts that focus on how cancer has changed a person's body (e.g., hair products for someone experiencing hair loss from chemotherapy)
• Items with strong fragrances that can be overpowering or even trigger nausea (such as toiletries or candles)
• Flowers and balloons (Floral arrangements and plants can carry fungal spores that are dangerous for patients with weakened immune systems, and balloons—particularly ones made of latex—can trigger allergic reactions.)
• Massage gift certificates may sound like a good idea, but these kinds of services aren't always the best choices for people with cancer who are healing from surgery, have swelling, skin sensitivity, or other painful issues.
  

Unless you are aware of specific dietary restrictions (which are common for patients undergoing cancer treatment), refrain from sweets and candies. One alternative might be to offer a gift certificate that would allow them to choose the most appropriate option.

Summary

When a loved one has cancer, it can be hard to find the perfect gift. Consider gifts that provide comfort, like blankets and soft robes or stress relief. Entertainment and relaxation gifts help to lift spirits while food and at-home assistance helps remove daily burdens so the person can get well.

Some people don't want any gifts or fuss. For those cancer patients, consider just spending time together or ask if you can make a donation in their name to a charity that supports cancer research.