If someone you love is dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis, you may wonder what you can do to help. While supporting a loved one through such a difficult situation is never easy, a well-thought-out care package is a meaningful way to show them you care.
About one in eight women will be faced with a breast cancer diagnosis. Dealing with cancer can be scary, and support from friends and family can mean the world to the one going through it. You can never go wrong by giving well-curated gift baskets, a small gesture to let them know they are always in your thoughts.
Most people will agree that small comforts can make a big difference during such a difficult time. You may want to include the following items in a gift basket to let them know you are thinking of them.
1. Skin Care Products
Chemotherapy and radiation treatments cause extremely dry and sensitive skin. Gentle products like soap and moisturizers can help. Choose unscented products since breast cancer treatments also affect a person’s sense of smell, and strong fragrances can be too overwhelming.
Some chemotherapy drugs also make skin more prone to sunburn, so you might want to throw in a sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays.
2. A Cozy Blanket
Hospitals are notoriously chilly places. A super-soft blanket will not only help to keep your loved one warm but can also help to provide a sense of comfort while they spend long hours in treatment centres.
3. Lip Balm
People undergoing chemotherapy often get parched and cracked lips. Severely chapped lips can be sore and very uncomfortable, and the chemicals in the treatments damage the cells trying to rejuvenate, making it harder for them to heal.
A lip balm with powerful moisturizing ingredients is a welcome addition to any gift basket.
4. Water Bottle
While staying hydrated is essential for everyone, it is especially crucial for cancer patients. Dehydration is often a side-effect of chemo and radiation therapy. A reusable water bottle is a great item to add to a care package. Get one personalized with their name or an inspirational quote to make it even more meaningful.
5. Journal and Pen
Cancer and chemotherapy treatments aren’t just physical experiences but emotional ones. It can be challenging for people to process and sort through their feelings. Many people find journaling helpful, as reflecting on emotions as they are written down can help you cope with what you are going through.
A journal can also be used to jot down questions to ask the healthcare team and keep track of appointments and any side effects they may be experiencing.
6. Satin Pyjamas
Comfortable, button-up pyjamas are a must after breast cancer surgery since your loved one may find it extremely painful to lift their arms. Choosing a set made from silky material will ensure maximum comfort for them, as it is common to develop sensitive skin in response to the treatments.
7. Adult Colouring Book and Pencil Crayons
An adult colouring book can provide hours of distraction and entertainment while waiting at doctor’s offices and during long treatment sessions. Many people find colouring a calming activity, and countless options exist, from celebrity crushes to entangles.
If you don’t think colouring is your loved one’s cup of tea, you can always throw in a sudoku or crossword puzzles to help them pass the time.
8. Head Covering or Scarf
It’s common to lose hair during breast cancer treatments. A head covering such as a beanie or a silk scarf is a lovely gift that will give your loved one the option of covering their hair loss if they wish.
9. Hard Candy
Ginger and peppermint are known to help combat feelings of nausea, which is a common side effect of chemotherapy. A small pack of candies is also easy to transport, so your loved one can keep them on hand if the need arises.
10. Meal Delivery Service Coupon
Life doesn’t stop for anything, not even a cancer diagnosis. But daily tasks like cooking can become overwhelming and exhausting. A subscription to a meal delivery service is an incredibly thoughtful addition to a gift basket.
11. Personalized IOUs
It’s a good bet that your loved one might need something other than just material items. Come up with specific areas you can help in, like housework or taking the kids for a few hours. Your time is a precious gift that you can offer them.
12. A Handwritten Card
Handwritten letters and cards might seem like things of the past, but there’s nothing like receiving one. Even if you are seeing your friend or family member in person, writing them a note to share your feelings and tell them that you care might be the best part of the gift basket.
