Gifts Your cancer patient will actually use (and LOVE)

I hate to admit it but when I was first diagnosed, I was given a lot of gifts that I didn’t have any use for. I know that may sound harsh, but we were moving across the country to seek treatment and I could only pack so much. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to bring many of the gifts I was given and ended up having little to no use for them after returning from treatment. However, there have been gifts that have been a game changer for me as a cancer patient and that I wish I could buy for every cancer patient friend I have. And these are what we are going to talk about today…

If you’re on this page, can I first say thank you? Although I wasn’t able to use some gifts given to me when I was first diagnosed, it was truly the thought that counted. I felt so loved when I received gift after gift- from close friends and strangers so thank you for taking time to research how to care for your cancer patient and not only make them feel loved, but get them something they can actually use and benefit from. The gifts in this article offer options for all price ranges. Now… let’s start shopping!

For Their Hair

One of the most devastating parts of cancer is losing your hair. And with most chemotherapy agents, hair loss is inevitable. But, my friends made it so much sweeter and more simple by spoiling me with these hair tools & accessories.

These clippers were purchased for me by my two oldest friends and have worked like a charm each time I’ve had to shave my head (I’ve shaved it 3xs). They work really well and the colors bring a bit of cheer to the depressing process.

I’ve lost count of how many of these turbans I have. They are so incredibly soft and comfy + go with everything! When I’m feeling exhausted and not up for my wig, I grab one of these and go. I’ve also sent these to my own cancer friends and they’ve loved them as well.

I couldn’t pass this duo up when I saw it. These turbans are ‘mommy & me’ caps (or for whoever the special girl in their life is) and couldn’t not be any cuter. My daughters loved matching me- you can find our picture on Instagram or the national Leukemia and Lymphoma Society page donning these. These caps also helped my oldest process & normalize my bald head in a healthier way (she was struggling).

This is the luxury hair care I’ve used to regrow my hair back quickly. This is the Intense Repair Shampoo, Conditioner & Treatment.

It is not cheap, but it WORKS and it is very concentrated (unlike regular shampoo) so it lasts forever. It truly is such a thoughtful gift for someone. I cannot believe how well these products work and that these non-toxic products actually do what they say they’re going to do (that doesn’t happen often in the hair care world). I highly recommend buying all three products (they work together like a charm). Purchasing as a VIP (you’ll get a big discount + free products & shipping by clicking the link below). However, you can also purchase as a retail customer. This is one of the most lavish gifts on the list- sure to spoil your patient! If you have questions about ordering feel free to email me at ali@alichristian.com.

My favorite wig EVER. Wigs can be up to four figures $$$$. This one is around $20! Such. A. Steal. It comes in many different colors- I recommend choosing the color your sweet one was before losing their hair. My favorite way to wear this wig is with the oatmeal colored hat also featured on this list. The hat & wig are about a $40 combo that is unbeatable and makes me feel so posh. It is sooo comfortable by the way- many people think you need to spend $$$$ for comfort but you don’t. This is the best of both worlds.

This hat was recently given to me as a gift and I’m in love! It’s the perfect hat when I’m having a bad wig day (yes, those are a thing) & dresses up almost any outfit. They key to cancer fashion is cute & comfy, a hard combo to find, but this hat checks both boxes. It’s such a high quality hat for an amazing price.

These are hands down my favorite hair accessory. Sometimes I don’t feel like wearing a cap- in fact, there are days I’m proud to flaunt my bald head and these are the perfect way to do so in a cute, feminine way. They twist around your head to fit the exact size of your coconut so they never slip off & don’t leave an itchy/sore imprint on the top of your precious bald head.

Luxurious Self Care

The products below were all gifts I received throughout treatment that I fell in love with and will recommend until the day I die. I love to bundle a few together in a cute basket with a gorgeous bow around it to really make my cancer friends feel spoiled!

Us cancer warriors sometimes don many scars. And to be honest, I didn’t mind my scars until I gained the eighth one- on my neck. I remember waking up from surgery (which was supposed to be done on my rib area) and discovering a new scar/stitches on my neck- front and center. As soon as I got the chance I picked up my phone and in a very anesthesia induced manner, sobbed on the phone to a few of my childhood best friends. One of them said she was going to send this cream to me ASAP because her fiance had used it and was so impressed with the results. And I have to say, I’m so grateful she did because I’m equally as impressed + love that I can protect this obvious scar from becoming any more obvious from sun damage. This gift meant so much to me!

It’s so important for cancer patients to use non-toxic products. And as a result of buying only non-toxic products, there are a few I can’t live without. Non-toxic body wash is one of them. It gives me the creeps to think about lathering my skin in toxic substance after fighting for two years to keep it out. Puracy is known for it’s creamy, sudsy body washes that smell like heaven without all of the gunk. This is such a luxurious gift for a cancer patient at an amazing price!

Ok real talk… chemotherapy makes patients stink from our bodies trying to rid it of the toxins. And if your patient is like me, they don’t love it when they stink. In fact, it puts a little pep in their step when they smell delish: Schmidt’s deodorant smells absolutely divine. Sometimes deodorant is the only form of self care I have the energy for all day long and so I make sure to use high quality, toxin free, delicious smelling scents like lavender and sage to ensure confidence throughout the day as my body does it’s thang.

I know this may seem like a silly gift, but trust me, it is much appreciated. Here’s the deal, many chemotherapy agents can cause gum inflammation/bleeding and so cancer patients need ultra soft toothbrushes and very gentle toxin free toothpaste for maximum comfort. Chemo can also cause teeth to corrode so having a high quality toothbrush will save your patients teeth a lot of trouble. This toothbrush has a sensitive setting which means it feels like you just went to the dentist when you’re done cleaning, but without the pain; there were a couple of days during my treatment in which my gums were so inflamed it hurt to talk and having a gentle toothbrush saved the day. Side note: I don’t use fluoride on a normal basis, however I recommend getting a toothpaste with fluoride to help protect your patient’s teeth during treatment because most patients aren’t allowed to have a dental cleaning and some chemo agents can comprise tooth health.

Chemo Necessities

I call this the chemo survival pack. These are not your typical items found in a gift basket, but they are life-savers during treatment.

These wireless headphones are absolutely knock off AirPods, but in my humble opinion they’re so much better and they’re a tenth of the price. Here’s why I love them… They are noise cancellers so when the IV machine starts beeping during treatment or my nurses are being noisy, I can’t hear them and I’m able to sleep while listening to white noise and not be disturbed. Trust me, there’s nothing more refreshing than an undisturbed Benadryl induced nap for your chemo patient. On the contrary, there’s nothing more irritating than being woken up to laughter at the nurses station when you’re feeling miserable or to a machine that is malfunctioning which is almost guaranteed to happen each and every round of chemo. These headphones will eliminate those annoyances and allow for crystal clear sound. Plus they’re water resistant, wireless (they don’t get tangled in my blankets at treatment like my old school headphones) & you can control them with a few taps on the bud.

This is a staple for a cancer patient. The specific blanket I used throughout treatment is not available on Amazon but the blanket below is very similar with the fleece on top and sherpa on the bottom. It is an unbeatable combo! This blanket is super cute, affordable & comes in many colors (it only let me picture the blue, but my choice would be pink).

Unfortunately patients end up spending a lot of time on screens- watching tv, scrolling social, creating, ordering groceries, FaceTiming loved ones, on and on. I used to become extremely fatigued after looking at a screen for so long, I could physically feel the damage from the screen time, until I discovered blue blocker glasses! Because I notice such a big difference at the end of the day in my energy and sleep quality, I like having multiple pairs; I can keep one in my bedroom, one in my treatment bag and one in my purse so I’m never without. I wear the pink/black pair pictured on the bottom to treatment and regularly get compliments. But, more importantly at the end of the day, my eyes are not bugging out and tired from looking at a screen (way too much). I even convinced my husband to jump on the blue blocker train after he noticed a big difference (he’s normally a minimalist & was convinced it was a hoax). But alas… This is a really creative and thoughtful gift in my humble opinion!

There is no sleep like a sleep with an Alaska Bear Silk Sleep Mask. It is hands down the best sleep mask I’ve ever had (and I’ve been searching for the perfect mask for 15 years)! This mask was such a great combo with the wireless ear buds shown above; I bet I slept harder than any other patient at the clinic with this combo. This mask is so dreamy- silky smooth and so light, yet so effective it’s like wearing a blackout curtain on your eyes. Sleep is so vital for healing and this mask has been such a great aid in helping me get quality, deep sleep when I’m resting in or out of my bed. The price of this mask baffles me because I always assume I have to pay top dollar to find the best of the best, but not in this case. I would pay three times what this mask costs because of how great it is, but I’m secretly glad I don’t have to!

I’ve tried a lot of ginger candies and none hit quite like these. Ginger is super helpful for patients dealing with nausea and I love to have a few of these on hand in my purse and treatment bag at all times. They start out hard but after being in your mouth for a minute or two turn soft and chewy which is a nice surprise. 10/10 recommend.

There’s no dehydration like chemo dehydration. I’ve fallen behind on my water intake one too many times and ended up in the worst pain of my life. I won’t go into details, but things stop moving in your body when there’s no solution in there to push it along. One of the most common reasons us cancer patients fall behind on our water intake is because water gets boring and sometimes starts to taste funny to us. This is where Liquid IV comes in… this powder, conveniently packaged in individual packets for easy travel, tastes great and makes water yummy. Not only does it taste great but it actually has vital ingredients to assist you in staying hydrated and has way less sugar than a traditional sports drink such as Gatorade.

Speaking of hydration, after learning how absolutely vital it is to stay hydrated during treatment, I asked for a new water bottle that would hold at least half of my daily water intake. Here’s why… I found myself at the clinic with an empty water bottle too often; I would fill up my little bottle in the morning before treatment and within an hour or so of beginning treatment would be out of water with 5-6 hours of treatment left! Now, of course I could’ve asked for water from the clinic but it is almost always unfiltered tap water which tastes horrible to me and is filled with who knows what. As a patient trying to heal, it’s so important to me to keep as many chemicals out of my body as possible which is why I love this half gallon water bottle I can fill up in the morning from my Berkey (featured below), drink throughout treatment, and then fill up once more when I get home to complete my recommended water intake for the day. One of my favorite features of this bottle is that it keeps drinks hot/cold for hours; many patients are sensitive to room temperature drinks as they can make some nauseous. This feature is the perfect solution to eliminate room temp water aversions.

Clothe Them In Love

I’ve had one too many fevers without my beloved robe. I just needed maximum amount of warmth while I had body chills. I’ve also experienced too many nights alone in a hospital bed in which I was desperately missing the comfort of my own bed (& my husband) and just needed a home away from home so to speak. This is where the robe comes in. Words can’t describe the feeling of finally getting your hands on a plush robe like this (mine is pink) and sinking into a deep sleep with it- husband or not. It is divine and every cancer patient needs a plush robe like this. This robe basically travels with me everywhere now.

These are our signature tees we had designed during the two different phases of treatment I went through.

“I have and I will” is a phrase the Lord spoke to me when I was panicking about whether not I should do the stem cell transplant or not. And I repeated back to him “You have and You will” and it became my mantra. He has shown himself so faithful to us during this journey and when I’m tempted to forget, I need but repeat this phrase to myself and the memories of all the ways he been faithful come flooding back. Such an important, healthy trigger for any patient, care taker, etc.

“The victory is already won” is a phrase the Lord gave to me when I was first diagnosed and became overwhelmed with the fear of dying. He reminded me that even if the worst happens, I don’t have to fear because he’s already won the victory over death and given us a free ticket to heaven through trusting in Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Literally clothing myself in truth has been one of the most helpful practices for me; on days that I feel a dark cloud over my head I put one of these on and repeat truth to myself. As a bonus, these are two of the comfiest shirts I own and they come in different colors + are perfect for layering.

Comfy shoes that make you feel like a million bucks when you’re feeling bankrupt. These shoes are so comfy, perfect for easy on/off, and truly made me feel put together and chic when I was hardly feeling up to even dressing myself during treatment. These are not only adorable but also perfect to do some light walking in and are great for your feet (hey Dr. Scholls). I wore these nearly every day to treatment during my transplant because they go with just about anything. They lifted my spirits and were comfy enough for me to do some laps around the clinic with my IV pole. Enough said.

Life Giving Words

Game-Changing Gadgets

This is a must have for cancer patients. We get bone pain, organ pain, cramps, painful infections, body chills- all the pain! This heating pad lives on my nightstand because it’s so effective for a variety of pain I experience. I love that there are three different settings, an extra long cord and that it’s HUGE. It can also be used with dry or wet heat. It’s truly the best on the market and one of the coziest gifts you could give.

If your cancer patient is doing everything they can to heal in addition to chemo, this is the perfect gift. Unfortunately cancer patients have to take extra caution about what they ingest. We need to consume a lot of water each day so we’d better make it good. The Berkey is the hottest water filter on the market & for a good reason. This filters out essentially any and every particle you wouldn’t want in your water (wayyyyy beyond the good ole Brita). This filter rids most anything you definitely wouldn’t want in the water of a cancer patient who is trying to heal (lead, chlorine, mercury, etc.) The price seems big upfront, but it comes out to be about the same as purchasing bottled water weekly and pays off big time down the road for our health. We have fallen in love with the pure taste of our water (no more water aversions for me) and I feel confident drinking from this filter knowing the toxins have been removed and my body can focus on healing instead of removing toxins from my water.

Fun fact: Cancer patients have to check their temperature a lot. If we’re above 100.5 it’s an automatic trip to the hospital. An infection could be stirring and we need to get checked out ASAP. During the majority of my treatment I dealt with a cheapo thermometer and I was constantly worried that it was wrong. I finally caved and got this thermometer per the raving Amazon reviews. And I am in love! It’s hands down the best thermometer I’ve ever had my hands on. It can be used in the ear or the forehead and is super quick (compared to my cheapo that took at least a panic-filled minute). It’s quick, accurate, non-invasive and makes me feel like I’ve got my life together on days that are otherwise falling apart.

This soap is straight up hospital soap and it’s the best. I’m a germaphobe & it makes me feel so clean but it’s also very gentle. I’ve used it throughout my transplant as I’ve had to be hyper careful with germs. I’ve added the touch-free dispenser because it eliminates one more touch of something someone else has touched. Plus the bottles are ugly and make me feel like I’m in an institution and the dispenser eliminates them. Yay for making our surroundings more beautiful!

It may seem strange that I suggest a cooler as a gift for a cancer patient, but it’s actually become one of the most frequently used items we own- here’s how… Due to an obligation to eliminate as many germs as possible, I’ve not been able to see many people face to face. This includes even my sweet friends who have signed up to bring a meal via our meal train. This is where the cooler comes in. One of my sweet friends left a cooler on our front porch before the Meal Train officially started with ice packs in it so that food from our train could be left in it for a few hours without it going bad. The cooler became such a blessing we decided to buy one of our own (we never had one until now). It’s kind of quirky but it’s also given me a bit of hope as I think about all the other ways we’ll someday use it- for camping, parties, beach vacations and more. Soon and very soon!

Again, might seem quirky, but hear me out… We cancer patients are not allowed to go out much. One of the most startling realities for me was learning that because I was immunocompromised I would not being able to go to the coffee shop and get a hot, delicious, foamy mocha or an extremely well blended caramel iced coffee. I missed professional made coffee so much… Until I found this gadget! This is another item I would pay three times the price for because of the happiness it brings me. This hand held frother is so easy to use- I simply add my creamer to my coffee and froth away or add caramel to homemade cold brew and blend. It creates a gorgeous, delicious foam for hot drinks and perfectly blends syrup in cold drinks (no more syrup left behind on the bottom). This has not only soothed my aching heart that missed coffee shops but also saves me a lot of money- win win!

It’s so helpful for patients to be able to keep track of their health habits. A Fitbit makes it much easier to gauge how much activity, water intake, sleep, etc. they’re actually getting and then report it to their doctor/nurses. I actually have a much older version of the Fitbit, but for some reason it’s about four times the price of the one that I have listed below. I’ve listed this one not only because it’s more cost effective, but it has a great screen. This would be an amazing gift for any patient!

The Roomba (robotic vacuum) has been a game changer for me as a mom of two very messy little girls who are not quite old enough to vacuum yet. Between chemo and a stem cell transplant, I’ve barely had energy to wash my own face over the past two years. But there’s nothing more embarrassing than friends stopping by to check in & seeing our horribly dirty floors. With the Roomba I am able to press a single button, let it go to town while I nap and wake up to clean floors (is there anything dreamier than clean floors and a nap?). I guarentee this will save your loved one so much time, energy and stress/embarrassment when they’re just not up for cleaning.

For Their Kiddos

I can’t tell you how many times I was asked what the girls wanted/needed during treatment & how much it meant to me that people were thinking of not only me but my family. Here are a few things that made my kids forget all about mommy being sick (& are pretty meaningful too).

This was a game changer for us. This is a bear that has a voice recording box inside which allows the parent undergoing treatment to record a message for their child to listen to anytime they’re away. I listed this specific bear because it is one of very few that has 60 seconds of recording time versus 20 seconds (which most have). We have two of these and I recorded a personal message and their favorite song on each of my girl’s. They used it when I was away long-term for the stem cell transplant and short term when I left them with a sitter for chemo.

This book has been incredible for helping us teach our girls about missing loved ones, loss, etc. It is such a sweet and meaningful book. I highly recommend for all kids!