Thoughtful Gifts for Cancer Patients This Holiday Season
While supporting a loved one through cancer treatment, it can be challenging to find the right gift for the holiday season. When selecting gifts for a patient undergoing cancer treatment (or their caregivers), it can be helpful to consider gifts that may provide comfort. Whether providing physical or emotional relief, the following gift recommendations will surely be appreciated!
1. Meal Delivery or Gift Cards
- With the hustle and bustle of traveling between appointments/treatments, a gift card to a favorite restaurant or meal service or delivery of a home-cooked meal can alleviate the burden of having to cook or shop for groceries.
2. Time
- Offer to take care of everyday tasks and errands such as picking up the kids, going on a shopping run, doing the laundry or cleaning the home. These everyday tasks may seem simple but offering to shoulder these responsibilities helps remove daily burdens so the patient can get well.
3. Tickets or Experiences
- To celebrate the holidays, you could purchase tickets to a show, musical, movie or activity of interest. Creating memories with loved ones can break the monotony of trips to and from doctor’s appointments.
4. Cozy Blankets or Comfortable Clothing
- During treatments, patients may have extended hospitalizations or recovery time at home. Cozy soft blankets and comfortable clothing such as loungewear or a pajama set can be a practical but much appreciated gift to receive.
5. Relaxation Gifts
- Gifts focusing on relaxation can help lift the spirits.
These can include:
- Magazines and journals
- A squishy stress ball, or even socks and unscented candles.
- A gift certificate for an oncology-trained massage therapist to aide in reducing muscle tension and improving emotional well-being.
- Gift cards for a therapy/mindfulness app
- Creating links to podcasts and playlists for different moods
- Subscription for audiobooks
Written by social worker Alexis Youdelman, MSW, LCSW
