Top 12 Gift Ideas - The C Card and Me - How I beat stage IV cancer

Whether it’s the holiday season or the middle of summer, if you know someone facing cancer then you’ve probably been racking your brain trying to figure out what to get them to show your support. Sure, you Googled it and got some generic ideas like “a gym membership’ or “comfy slippers”, but you were hoping to be more original than that. Maybe you’re also are leery about getting anything that would offend them. I say don’t sweat it. Most people who’ve been there are far more appreciative of any genuine gesture, so you can’t really go wrong unless you give them something like a book on a morbid subject, miracle cures or fad diets. My list of top 12 gifts will hit the target alright. These are all tried and true gifts that just keep giving.

There is one gift that goes without saying and that’s money. 9 times out of 10, a person facing cancer can’t afford it, so if you have money to spare then offering to cover some of the medical bills or housing costs is brilliant. If money isn’t overflowing from your account then no worries. There are still plenty of things you can do for them for as little as 20 bucks that would really make a difference.

Before anyone flocks to the malls (virtual or otherwise) however, here are some good-to-know things about someone going through chemo. For example they are extremely vulnerable to germs, so gyms, bars, restaurants and spas (even pedicures) are very risky ventures for them right now. The other thing to note is that they’ve got a weird taste in their nose and mouth from the chemo. Their favorite foods will be forever ruined if they try to eat them right now, so avoid giving those as gifts. Hot sauce will be their new best friend at the table and tea rather than coffee. Bold, spicy, citrus and hydrating are the key words to remember when it comes to food and beverages.

Another good thing to know is that there are many different types of cancers, that involve different types of treatment and result in different side effects. For instance, not all cancer patients lose their hair and some actually gain a great deal of weight. With that in mind, this list focuses on the kinds of gifts that would be ideal regardless of the type of cancer or gender of the person. And if you come up with any other ideas, feel free to add them in the comment section below~