How to Ideas for Gifts for Cancer Survivors

If you know someone who has had cancer and survived, giving her a gift can go far in helping her through the emotional healing process. When thinking of gifts to give cancer survivors, consider the person’s overall health, current energy level, individual interests, personality and tastes. This will ensure that the gift you give fits nicely into their current situation.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Think service gifts. When someone has gone through cancer treatments it can take a while for her energy level to return to normal. She may also still be on medications that cause adverse symptoms and side effects. A great gift option is to give her service vouchers. Service vouchers can make it easier and more comfortable for cancer survivors to ask for help. You can print up service vouchers on your computer or you can write them out by hand. Here are some service ideas that you can include on your vouchers: grocery shopping, prescription pickups, pet care, laundry service, meal preparations, lawn and garden care, babysitting, transporting the person’s children to their activities, taking the person to her doctor appointments, house cleaning, holiday shopping and gift wrapping.

2. Think relaxing, entertainment gifts. People who are getting over cancer will generally need to rest while their bodies get stronger and energy levels return to normal. Gifting the person with entertainment gifts that are relaxing can help pass the time while she recuperates from her illness. Ideas include magazines, DVDs, music CDs and portable music players, reading books, books on tape, crossword puzzles, puzzle books, stationary, envelopes and postage stamps and a certificate for an in-home massage or manicure.

3. Think sentimental gifts. A sentimental gift for a colon cancer survivor is a personalized video that contains friends and family members talking to the person about cherished memories they have had with her and well wishes for the future. Engraved jewelry that contains a message or symbol that only she will understand, photo albums and scrap books are other options, as is religious/inspirational type gifts that are inline with the person’s personal faith.

4. Think food gifts. A person who has cancer no doubt went through a time when she was unable to eat the types of food that she likes. Now that stage has passed and giving a cancer survivor food gifts are a nice touch. Food gift ideas include subscriptions to fruit or cake-of-the-month clubs, gift cards to favorite restaurants, homemade items such as breads and preserves. Another food gift option is to pack a healthy food gift basket. The basket can contain olive oil, nut butters, fresh fruit, whole wheat bread and herbal teas.

5. Think about skin gifts. Cancer survivors often have to deal with skin problems that are a direct result cancer treatments. Gifting the person with gifts that will pamper the skin can go far in helping your cancer survivor feel good about her skin again. A nice gift basket that contains non-scented lotions, lip balms, powder, bath oils, mild soap, a certificate for a facial and a gift card at a cosmetic counter is sure to be a big hit.