What Are The Best Gifts To Receive During Cancer Treatment?

Following a cancer diagnosis, there will inevitably be a lot of questions about treatment, all of which are important, but not all of which will necessarily relate to a person’s primary care.

Depending on the nature, location and stage of your cancer diagnosis, cancer treatment can vary in terms of completion time from a matter of weeks to months if not years. This means that it can often overlap with festive seasons, anniversaries, birthdays or other important milestones.

This is especially important if you are undergoing care at a specialist radiotherapy centre abroad, because the primary treatment needs to be balanced with as much normality, care and positivity as is possible.

Part of this is a matter of treatment outcomes; whilst research is uncertain about the effects of a positive attitude to cancer treatment, the effects of stress are more documented.

As well as this, your support network is there for you, and one of the biggest and most important ways to show this if they are unable to be at your bedside is through meaningful gifts.

With that in mind, here are some of the best, most practical and most considered presents you can receive during cancer treatment.

Soft, Comfortable Clothes

It is essential to feel as comfortable as possible whilst undergoing cancer treatment, particularly during the winter chill that often accompanies the festive season. This means that warm, breathable, soft fabrics make for perfect gifts that can be personalised.

Socks, slippers and scarves are always needed, but loose-fitting, soft clothing using natural materials such as cashmere is often needed, and full-zip hoodies can be ideal for keeping warm whilst also ensuring that they can be easily taken off for radiotherapy sessions.

Warm, Soft Throw Blanket

Combining warmth and comfort, a soft blanket is a regular companion for many people undergoing cancer treatment. It keeps their body warm and their mind filled with positivity, particularly if it is given to them as a gift from a loved one.

What makes it such an effective gift, besides its practicality, is the scope for personalisation. As long as it is made from a soft enough material to avoid skin irritation, it can be made in any colour and feature any design.

A particularly thoughtful option is a blanket in the colour of a cancer ribbon, or one with messages of hope and positivity to provide a reminder that so many people are in your corner to help you get the best outcome possible from your cancer care.

Audiobooks

Depending on your treatment, there may be points where you are waiting for treatment, waiting for results or are in the treatment room for extended stretches of time.

For those moments, as well as days when cancer fatigue hits harder than usual, it is important to have something easy, yet enjoyable, distracting and easy to pass the time.

One of the most popular options is a book; they are easy to pack, affordable, highly personal and make great gifts irrespective of the reason, but there are times when brain fog, tiredness and muscle fatigue can make reading a physical book less easy.

Instead, buying an audiobook as a digital present can be more practical, as they can put on some headphones and listen to it to pass the time, much like a playlist of music they like or a new album.

Sometimes it will be a particularly tailored choice, but in other cases, a book can be something that has personal significance that can show that they are thinking of you and want to help however they can.

Easy Entertainment

As well as this, board games and card games that are light enough to carry around and can be played without causing too much fatigue can also be really helpful.

Alternatively, a book of puzzles such as crosswords, wordsearches or sudoku can be a lovely gift, or if they prefer playing games on a mobile device, many platforms allow you to make gift purchases that they can redeem.

Ginger And Lemon Treats

Foods, drinks and snacks containing ginger are not gift ideas that typically come to mind, but they can make for remarkably thoughtful presents.

Ginger has historically been used to treat stomach upsets and relieve the effects of nausea, and whilst they obviously cannot replace anti-emetics that have been prescribed for you, they can help provide some relief if you struggle with regular sickness.

Similarly, lemon tea and lemon drops can help if you are suffering from dry mouth, as they encourage the production of saliva.