The Best Gifts I Received During My Cancer Treatment
Learning I had breast cancer was one of the worst moments of my life, but it came with many blessings. The outpouring of support from family and friends was a beautiful gift during a rough time.
If you have to go through this, you will find that people you didn’t think would even care about your diagnosis are worried about you and want to help.
It’s been over a year since my diagnosis and treatment.
Now, I’m asked constantly by friends what types of gifts were helpful because they know someone who was recently diagnosed, and they want to support that person in a useful way.
My hope is that this list helps you show up for the fighter in your life in a way that’s practical and supportive.
Top Gifts for Breast Cancer Patients
Below, I list gifts that I received and found most helpful during chemo and recovery from my DIEP flap surgery.
It’s important to understand that each cancer patient has a different journey. Some have surgery, some have chemo treatment, some have radiation, and many have all of these.
Perfect for Surgery, Chemotherapy, and Radiation
- A blanket
Infusion centers are cold, and mine offered a heated blanket, but when I got home, all I wanted to do was cuddle up and sleep. Chemo fatigue is real. A soft, lightweight blanket becomes something you reach for every single day. Look for ones that are machine-washable and fragrance-free. I got mine from a group of students and loved taking naps in it.
- Unscented skincare and lip balm
Chemo and radiation can wreak havoc on skin. Often, patients deal with dryness or skin sensitivities that they didn’t have before.
A set of gentle, fragrance-free moisturizers, a rich lip balm, and hand cream can be just what your friend needs. Brands like Vanicream, CeraVe, and Aquaphor are well-loved by many patients for exactly this reason.
My mother gave me Jean’s Cream for my radiation after tons of research, and I used it every treatment. It worked wonders to maintain the integrity of my skin.
- Food/Restaurant Gift Cards
During every part of my journey, there were times that I was extremely tired or suffering from acid reflux and nausea, and cooking was often the last thing I had the energy for.
I received many DoorDash or Uber Eats gift cards, and they were beyond helpful. Even if I didn’t want to eat, my family still needed to be fed, so it was the perfect gift to support my family when I couldn’t.
My family also took turns and came over with home-cooked meals. It was wonderful to have something fresh.
If you plan to do this, understand that the patient may not be up to “hosting”. Consider dropping it off on the porch, so your patient doesn’t feel the pressure to be “on” or the need to tidy up.
- Headphones
Infusion sessions can last three, four, even six hours or longer. Having a way to escape into a story, a podcast, or just silence is a gift.
I watched movies or listened to podcasts to help the time go by. A good pair of wireless headphones allowed me to do so without disturbing other patients.
{Related Post: How to Prepare for Chemo: A Survivor’s Essential Guide}
- Ginger chews, mild snacks, and electrolyte drinks
Nausea is one of the most common side effects of chemotherapy. My infusion center offered light snacks and things for nausea, but I always packed a bag to bring with me. In it, I had pretzels, graham crackers, and a big water bottle filled with an LMNT electrolyte packet mixed in.
You could make a cute gift with a travel bag filled with small snacks, gum or ginger chews, a water bottle, and a box of LMNT or another electrolyte of your choosing.
- Cleaning Service
If you’re doing a group gift, a cleaning service is a fantastic gift idea.
Like I said before, chemo comes with extreme exhaustion. The days I was home recuperating, I didn’t have the energy to take on large chores. Having someone do the heavy cleaning could make a big difference in the stress one feels when trying to keep the normalcy at home while also battling the side effects of treatment.
Surgery Specific Gifts
- Wedge pillow
This one is specific to surgery. I was vacillating between whether or not I wanted to buy the pillow because its use was for a short time, but I’m grateful I had one!
My surgery was rather extensive, and lying flat was very difficult. I used it for the first few months, and it made sleeping much easier. Here is the one that my mother picked up for me.
- Mastectomy pillow
This is a great gift for someone who is recovering from breast surgery. I had to travel to the doctor weekly, and this was helpful with protecting my chest from the seatbelt in the car.
Driving wasn’t the only time I used the pillow. I also rested with it across my lap because the pockets let me hold remotes, phones, and anything else I wanted to be able to access easily since moving was difficult. The one I used was very soft, making it easy to relax with.
- Help
While you don’t wrap this one up, offering a specific commitment of help is an immeasurable gift.
Many people don’t want to impose even when they need help, so directly claiming a chore gives your patient less stress.
Anything from “I’ll pick up the kids from religion for the next month” to “I’ll bring you lunch at 12 during your chemo treatment” can mean so much because it removes the burden of asking.
Gifts to Skip
A few things that tend to miss the mark, with all the best intentions: heavily scented products of any kind, alcohol, foods with strong smells, and anything that requires a lot of energy to use or enjoy.
The best piece of advice: think about their daily reality. The smaller and more practical the gift, often the more helpful it can be for someone who should be focusing on recovery.
Gifts Don’t End with a Present
Keep showing up for your loved one. It has been a year since my treatment started, and I still don’t feel like myself at times, but what I valued most was the fact that my family and friends checked in on me beyond the first month.
Also, don’t be offended if the patient doesn’t reply. They may not have the words to express how they feel, or they might be simply too tired to respond. Sometimes, when I didn’t have a positive word to say, I didn’t respond. It’s not because I didn’t appreciate them checking in; it’s because I had already RSVP’d to a pity party.
Please consult with the patient’s medical team regarding specific products or lifestyle changes during treatment, as every journey is unique.
If your friend is looking for ways to take care of herself, share this post with her: A Simplified Guide to Self-Care Practices for Working Mothers.
