Finding the perfect gift for someone battling cancer can be challenging. You want to give something that brings comfort, joy, and hope during a difficult time. But you also don’t want to give the wrong gift or anything that will offend. We’ve got your guide of 15 thoughtful gifts that can show your support and love for someone fighting cancer and 10 gifts to NEVER give.

15 Thoughtful Gifts for Someone with Cancer:

1. Revive Jewelry: Give a meaningful piece of jewelry from Revive Jewelry. Each piece incorporates the cell images of specific diseases, including cancer, and serves as a symbol of strength, hope, and resilience. Plus, a portion of every sale is donated to cancer research and supports charities fighting for cures and helping patients.

   We also offer a unique collection of jewelry centered around manifesting health. These pieces feature a healthy human T-Cell set under resin. The T-Cell is the part of our immune system that is responsible for fighting off disease, bacteria and infection, so it’s vital for us all to keep our T-Cell production high. While this jewelry doesn’t give you more T-Cells, you can wear it during your day as a touchstone or during meditation to focus your energy on promoting health within your body.

   Check out our Manifest Healing Collection and send a gift that inspires mindfulness and helps keep your healthy T-Cell production top of mind. the donations for this collection go to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to help fund their T-Cell Immunotherapy research which is showing some very promising results toward curing some types of cancers. 

   

2. Cozy Blanket: A soft, warm blanket can offer comfort during chemotherapy sessions or while resting at home. Choose one with a calming color or a motivational message to lift their spirits. Chemotherapy can cause patients to feel very cold, so a blanket is a lovely way to show you care. 

3. Personalized Journal: A journal can be a therapeutic outlet for someone dealing with cancer. Personalize it with their name or an inspiring quote to encourage them to write down their thoughts and feelings. You can even add your own words of encouragement or a little note on the first page to express how much you care and let them know you’re there for them.

4. Comfortable Clothing: Soft, loose-fitting clothing like a zip-up hoodie, soft pajama set, fuzzy socks or cozy slippers can make a big difference during hospital stays and recovery at home.

5. Gift of Grocery Delivery: Finding the time to shop for groceries and putting forth the effort can be overwhelming. While we don’t advise on sending prepared food unless you’re familiar with the patient’s dietary restrictions, you can consider sending some groceries that you’ve cleared with them first. This can be a much-appreciated gift that provides nourishment with much less effort on their part.

6. Healing Stone Set: A set of healing stones, such as amethyst, rose quartz, and clear quartz, can provide comfort and promote positive energy. These stones are often believed to have calming properties that can help reduce anxiety, encourage emotional healing, and foster a sense of peace and balance. We recommend only gifting these if you know the metaphysical beliefs of the patient, as sometimes these types of ideals are unwelcome. But for the right person, these gifts could be very meaningful.

7. Subscription to a Streaming Service: Entertainment can be a great distraction during treatment or recovery. A subscription to a streaming service offers access to movies, TV shows, and documentaries to keep them entertained and focused on things other than treatment and their diagnosis.

8. Mindfulness and Relaxation Apps: Gift a subscription to a meditation or relaxation app. Apps like Calm or Headspace offer guided meditations, breathing exercises, and soothing sounds to help manage stress and anxiety.

9. Books or Audiobooks: Whether it’s a favorite genre, an inspirational story, or a lighthearted novel, books can provide an escape. Audiobooks are great for those who may find it difficult to read due to fatigue. You can also buy a gift certificate instead of purchasing the book since you might not be sure what they’d like to read.

10. Self-Care Kit: Put together a self-care kit with items like lip balm, hand cream, unscented lotion, and soft tissues. Consider adding items that are safe for sensitive skin and free from harmful chemicals. Make sure it is all UNscented! See why below in the NOT to gift section ⬇️

11. Weighted Blanket: A weighted blanket can provide a sense of security and help improve sleep quality by promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety.

12. Portable Charger: A high-capacity portable charger is a practical gift, especially for long hospital visits, ensuring they can stay connected with loved ones.

13. Inspirational Artwork: Artwork with uplifting messages or calming imagery can brighten up a hospital room or home space, offering daily encouragement.

14. Gift of Time: Offer your time for house cleaning, pet sitting, running errands, or just being there for company. Sometimes, the best gift is knowing someone is there to help.

15. Personalized Music Playlist: Create a playlist of their favorite songs or music that inspires and calms them. Music can be a powerful tool for relaxation and emotional support.

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10 Things NOT to Gift Someone with Cancer

While thoughtful gifts can provide comfort, some items may not be ideal for someone undergoing cancer treatment. Here are 10 things you should avoid giving:

1. Strongly Scented Products: Perfumes, scented candles, or heavily fragranced lotions can be overwhelming and may cause nausea or headaches during treatment. Even aromatherapy is a bad idea. The smells can be good or bad, they still may trigger nausea and should be avoided.
2. Unproven Health Supplements: Avoid giving health supplements or alternative remedies unless they’ve been approved by the person’s healthcare provider. Some supplements can interfere with cancer treatments as well as cause discouragement.
3. Negative or Pity-Focused Books: Books that focus on the harsh realities of cancer or survival stories that may not align with the individual's experience can be distressing. Focus on uplifting gifts and inspiring items.
4. Flowers or Plants: While flowers are a common gift, they can sometimes carry bacteria, mold, or pollen that might not be safe for someone with a weakened immune system. And the scent of flowers can be overwhelming for a lot of patients in treatment.
5. High-Maintenance Gifts: Pets, complex crafts, or anything that requires significant effort or energy might be overwhelming when someone is already feeling fatigued.
6. Inappropriate Humor Items: Joke gifts related to cancer or anything that could be seen as trivializing their experience should be avoided.
7. Large, Bulky Items: Avoid giving large items that might take up too much space, especially in a hospital room or a small living area.
8. Food Items Without Checking: Many undergoing treatment have dietary restrictions or may experience nausea, so it's best to check before gifting any food items or cooking them a meal to bring over.
9. Anything Requiring a Lot of Effort to Use: Gifts that require assembly, frequent maintenance, or are overly complicated might add stress rather than joy. Think houseplants, fancy gadgets or furniture. As kind as these thoughts might be, try to keep your gifts simple, useful and helpful. It shouldn’t be a chore to set it up or keep it going.
10. Medical or Diagnostic Tools: Avoid items like thermometers, blood pressure cuffs, or anything that feels too clinical unless specifically requested by the person.

Thoughtful gifts can make a significant difference in someone’s cancer journey, providing comfort, hope, and practical support. By choosing gifts that are considerate of their unique needs and avoiding those that may be inappropriate or burdensome, you can show your support in the most meaningful way.

Consider supporting your friend and helping fund research for cures with our cancer jewelry that gives back. Click here to shop our Thoughtful Gifts for Cancer Patients collection and give a gift that will help your friend not only look beautiful, but feel good about helping others as well.