Gifts for Cancer Patients
and Spirit-Boosting Ideas

Flowers are lovely - and most people love getting flowers. But if you want to be more original, here are some suggestions of gifts for cancer patients and spirit-boosting ideas:

• Offer to go along for the chemo treatment
  Chemo treatments are rather boring. You just sit there and let the drugs drip, drip, drip. This can take hours. Even if you can't go for the duration of the treatment, offer to go for a couple of hours - having someone there to chat with besides the nurses and other cancer patients is a welcome change. Plus, maybe your friend's spouse or close relative would like a break from being on constant duty - this is good way to give that person a break, too.




• Chemo Day Presents
  This is something my very creative aunt did for me when I was going through chemo treatments, and I loved it! On the days I had a chemo treatment scheduled, she would bring a small gift over to my house - it was usually waiting for me right outside the front door when I returned home from the hospital. It was never anything big or expensive - it didn't need to be - just little gifts that she knew I'd like. Candy, bottles of lotion, funky pens to write with, books, whatever.
  
  This is also an easy thing to do if you live far away from your friend with cancer - you can send packages three days or so before her treatments with instructions to open on chemo day!
  
  Check out the items available in the shop here, or search for your own.




• Milestone Celebrations
  Find out when your friend's last chemo or radiation treatment is scheduled for - and then organize a dinner or throw a party a week later to help them celebrate reaching that milestone!
  
  My Chicago friends threw me a "Cancer-Free" party about a month after my doctor told me I was in remission - and that's something I will always remember them doing. It meant a lot to me that they wanted to help mark the occasion.
  
  Make sure you ask your friend before organizing a Milestone Party - he may not feel up to being the center of attention. If that's the case, then resort to one of the other ideas mentioned here.




• Send flowers
  Now, I know I just said that getting flowers for someone with cancer is unoriginal…BUT if that person absolutely adores irises, then make her day! Send irises! Any gesture that you put thought into will be very much appreciated by your friend.
  
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• Make dinner
  This is especially appropriate if the person who has cancer has a family to feed. Cancer treatments can leave one feeling rather exhausted (and sometimes downright sick), so making a meal for their family is the last thing they want to do. Take over a lasagna and a loaf a garlic bread, and you'll be seen as a savior in the eyes of your friend - and their family!




• Send a care package or thoughtful gift
  This is a great idea if you live far away from the person fighting cancer. Put together a care package of things the person likes: books, magazines, candy, etc. and send it to their home.
  
  Even better, if you know your friend has a special interest or hobby, cater to that - for example, my friends know that I love wine. I got four shipments of wine delivered to me throughout my treatments from different friends around the country (I really like wine). And even though I couldn't drink wine during various parts of my treatment, I still really appreciated the gesture - and I got to drink it later when I was feeling better!




• Spa / Massage Gift Certificates
  Massages, facials, and other similar pampering is one of the best ways for anyone to relax - especially if you are going through cancer treatments. There's just something about a spa pedicure or massage that whisks you away from reality for a while, and that is a very welcome experience if you're fighting cancer. If you're looking for a gift that serves the mind, body, and spirit, a spa gift certificate is definitely your best bet.

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