Your Friend Has Cancer – What Can You Do To Help?
When a friend gets diagnosed with cancer, the first instinct is often to try and help. Deciding exactly how to help is a problem many people face. Do you start delivering food to the family? Should you organize a gift card donation drive? Start a carpool calendar?
The truth is that until your friend knows exactly what he or she is facing, what you think is helpful might be annoying or unwelcome. Once your friend has a chance to absorb the diagnosis and creates a plan to treat the cancer, you can ask what he or she really needs for the big picture to help the family.
Does your friend want you to start coordinating a meal calendar?
If so, what are the details? Daily? Weekly? Is childcare needed? Driving duties? These “big” items should be coordinated with your sick friend and his or her family- done with their input and blessing. You don’t want to be intrusive.
Sending Gifts Helps The Mind and Body
In the meantime, once your friend begins treatment-whether it is surgery, chemo, or radiation, or some combination, there are “smaller” things you can do directly for him or her.
One thing you can do that can help? Gifts! Small practical items that your friend can simply enjoy can do wonders for the spirit and soul. Anything that can bring a smile to their face, make them chuckle, or feel relaxed is perfect. There are also things you can get that he or she might need to help endure treatments and recoveries.
Consider These Suggestions Before You Buy
Some general tips for giving gifts to your friend undergoing treatment for cancer:
- Make sure that what you get is useful right away.
- Small frequent gifts are sometimes better than large one-time-only gifts.
- Consider a gift for the caregiver in the family too. Your friend and the caregiver will both appreciate the sentiment.
- Make sure they know that you do not want a thank you note!
Gifts Worth Giving To People With Cancer
Some specific suggestions on what to get your friend undergoing treatment for cancer are:
- Soft socks
- Colorful scarves
- Fun hats
- Pajamas
- Ginger candies
- Satin pillowcases
- Healthy snacks
- Coloring books and pencils or markers
- Lip balm
- Hand cream
- Heating pad
- Flowers
- Framed photos of friends and family
- Soothing music
- Audiobooks
- A journal
Being a friend means being present, available, and supportive. It means listening to your friend’s needs and taking steps to ensure he or she feels heard. It also means doing the small, easy things that can bring a smile and a laugh during treatment and after.
Rock The Treatment Has Gifts For People Getting Chemo and Radiation
At Rock the Treatment, we make it easy to let someone with cancer know you care and support them on their difficult journey. If someone you love has cancer, send a helpful cancer gift basket from Rock The Treatment. Chemotherapy and radiation gift baskets are packed with the essentials needed to ease side effects of treatment, as well as enhance physical and mental well-being. See all of our cancer care packages and find the one that best supports their journey.
