Shopping for a gift for cancer patient can be difficult. So what is a good, meaningful gift? There are lots! Here are a few suggestions you may not have thought to try and some common gifts that may seem like good ideas but really aren’t that ideal.
If you were to search for the phrase, “gift for cancer patient” online, your results would likely contain dozens of gift baskets from which to choose. In fact, you may find more cancer-related gift baskets being advertised than there are types of cancer in the world, and that’s saying a lot, as there are over 100 different types of cancer known to doctors around the world.
So how do you pick just one gift or gift basket when confronted with so many choices?
Well, the most important fact you should keep in mind when searching for a gift for a cancer patient is that there is no one “perfect” gift for every cancer patient on the planet. As mentioned above, there are over 100 known types of cancer in the world, and each one affects the human body differently. There is also more than one treatment for cancer. Choosing an appropriate gift for a cancer patient depends largely on what type of cancer he or she has, and what treatments he or she will be going through. But before going into those details, let’s first discuss some of the staple hospital gifts you may be considering (they might not be such a good idea as you may think) and some not-so-common gift ideas that you might not have considered.
The do’s and don’ts of getting a gift for cancer patient
Pillows & bedding: no
Anyone who’s spent the night in a hospital can likely attest to how uncomfortable the bed was, so your first inclination may be to get your friend or loved one a pillow and/or set of bedding from home or from the store. But don’t be surprised if the hospital staff refuses to allow non-standard bedding in the cancer ward. Any items not issued by the hospital present a potential source of bacterial infection, particularly for MRSA-methicillin resistant staph aureus, which is a type of community and hospital-acquired infection that can result from close quarters. Therefore, hospital staff members are likely to be extra vigilant in their screening of all incoming gifts for patients.
Slipper socks: yes
Hospital floors are almost always made of hard surfaces such as ceramic, linoleum, or laminate tiles due to these materials being among the easiest to disinfect. However, if you’re a patient, this also means that the floors will likely feel cold and uncomfortable to walk on, since you will likely be barefoot. People who have experienced this first-hand may consider getting a friend or loved one a pair of slipper socks that can be worn in bed and when walking around that provide both insulation from the cold and traction to prevent falls.
Potted plants & flowers: no
Sending flowers or delivering a potted plant to your friend or loved one is one of the most popular gifts people choose to send to friends and loved ones who have been diagnosed with cancer, but you might be surprised to learn that it actually isn’t all that good of an idea for several reasons. The first reason why you might want to reconsider sending flowers or plants to a cancer patient, particularly if that person is in the hospital undergoing treatment, is many cancer wards won’t permit them. The reason for this is that plants and flowers, as living things, are a source of live bacteria and other germs. Cancer patients often have weakened immune systems as a result of the chemotherapy and/or radiation they are given, and as a result of the cancer itself. As a result, hospital staff who work in cancer wards have been trained to be extra vigilant in screening for external sources of infection.
The second reason you may want to reconsider sending flowers or plants to a friend or loved one with cancer, whether they’re currently in the hospital or at home, is that flowers and plants are also popular bereavement gifts, and can make a person recently diagnosed with cancer feel like everyone is expecting him or her to die soon. Many cancer patients have had to smile and pretend to genuinely appreciate this gift when what they really wanted to do was scream, “I’m not dead yet, and the smell of these flowers are making me feel worst!”
The third reason you may want to avoid this gift idea is that the scent of almost anything, to include natural aromas like those of fresh flowers and plants, can make someone who has cancer feel nauseated. Certain cancers and certain cancer treatments can trigger the area of the brain called the vomiting center. This part of the brain triggers a reflex pathway that leads to feelings of nausea and potential vomiting.
Many cancer patients have had to smile and pretend to genuinely appreciate [flowers] when what they really wanted to do was scream, “I’m not dead yet, and the smell of these flowers are making me feel worst!”
Coupons: yes
This is one unique gift idea you may not have thought to give a cancer patient, but coupons can actually be a thoughtful and personal gift. But we’re not talking about coupons for restaurants and stores. These would be personal, handwritten coupons your friend or loved one can redeem for your services such as a coupon for one ride to the grocery store when he or she gets out of the hospital, or one coupon for one load of laundry to be done by you.
Food: no
Anyone who has experienced the unpalatable taste of hospital cuisine might consider including some non-perishable food as a gift for a friend or loved one undergoing cancer treatment, but if you decide to go this route, be sure to first check with your friend or loved one’s doctor to make sure he or she isn’t on any type of a restricted diet (which he or she probably will be if undergoing cancer treatment.)
You may also find that your friend or loved one has lost his or her taste for many foods as some of the side effects of cancer treatments can include nausea, diarrhea, loss of taste, and tooth decay due to the treatments’ indiscriminate targeting of both cancerous and healthy cells with rapid division rates.
Artificially scented soaps and skin care products: no
One of the main side effects of most cancer treatments is temporary or long-term changes to the skin, which is why skin care products are actually one of the top requested gift items for cancer patients. But, when shopping for skin care products, make certain that none of them contain any artificial fragrances or other unnatural ingredients, as these can do more harm than good for the skin, and may also trigger nausea and vomiting, as well as headaches. (Synthetic fragrances can trigger nausea and headaches even in people without cancer who happen to be allergic to the chemicals used to create them. These effects are exacerbated in people with cancer, who may have heightened allergies due to the various methods of cancer treatment.
Unscented, natural soaps and skin care products: yes
As we’ve said, skin care is one of the better gift choices you can make when shopping for a gift for cancer patient, particularly so if the products you choose are unscented and made with natural ingredients. This should help minimize any allergies that may develop as a result of cancer treatment.
