Cancer can be terrifying, exhausting, and isolating—as can chemotherapy treatment. So, you might find yourself looking for some genuinely helpful gifts for someone going through chemo and cancer treatment—anything to help them through the process.
“When you’re going through this, the support and little gestures from your friends and family really do mean the world to you,” Tatei Montejo, a London-based life coach who has ovarian cancer, tells SELF. Susan Rafte, a breast cancer survivor and volunteer at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, agrees. “There’s so much going on in a patient’s world that it’s nice to let them know you’re thinking of them,” she tells SELF.
Of course, everyone is different, and you know your loved one best. Simply being there—running errands, holding their hand, providing a distraction from treatment—is often the most thoughtful gift. But if you’re looking for another way to show your support or brighten their day with a chemo care package, below, we’ve got the best gift ideas for someone going through chemo, according to people who have had the treatment, caregivers who’ve supported a loved one through it, and those who work in cancer care with chemo patients.
(For the person who has all the material things to stay as comfortable as possible throughout cancer treatment, consider making a donation to cancer research in their honor in lieu of a chemo gift during this difficult time. If you’re not sure which nonprofit to donate to, search Charity Navigator to find cancer nonprofit organizations that donate the bulk of their funds to research and programs that directly benefit cancer patients.)
All products featured on SELF are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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Amazon
A soft blanket, shawl, socks, or anything else to keep them comfortable
A throw blanket and fuzzy socks can help keep a patient comfortable, both during a chemotherapy session and at home, Alison Snow, Ph.D., assistant director of cancer supportive services at Mount Sinai Downtown Cancer Centers, tells SELF.
Breast cancer survivor Zandy Fretts agrees. “I bought a terrible fleece blanket because it packed well, but ultimately, I wish I’d just had something that made me feel like I was at home,” she tells SELF. She notes that a cozy scarf can also be clutch. “It doesn’t get wrapped up in I.V.s like a sweater and is easy to put on and take off if your temperature fluctuates,” she says.
Barefoot Dreams blankets and shawls come highly recommended as cozy loungewear to add to any chemotherapy care package. “I always gift the Barefoot Dreams shawl because it’s so cozy and soft and has a pocket,” Amy Hayden, 31, tells SELF, of the shawl, which comes in one size. “It doubles as a blanket, and since it’s a shawl and not a robe, it won’t disturb ports or require a lot of arm shoulder movement.”
If you’re on a budget, here are some affordable (but still sure-to-be appreciated) options from Amazon for warm, cozy sweaters, blankets, socks, slippers, pajamas, scarves, and beanies.
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Grubhub
A gift card to cover on-the-go meals
Cancer treatments require a lot of appointments and travel, and that can mean a lot of meals away from home. Things like meals and snacks on the road “add up quickly,” making a Grubhub gift card for food delivery or take-out a good option, Abbey Kaler, nurse practitioner navigator for the Advanced Breast Cancer Program at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, says. A gift card to Uber works towards Uber Eats as well as its rides, should they nee