I regularly see questions about what to get a friend who is going through cancer treatment. Here’s what helped me as I underwent surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and various tests in 2024.
- Meal vouchers – UberEats, DoorDash, MenuLog were great. Dinner Ladies vouchers were fabulous for homestyle meals.
- Laundry service vouchers. I do a lot of washing due to my skin, so having someone else take the load off was so helpful. See also dog walking, babysitting, house cleaners, taxi services, gardening services.
- Home cooked meals. Friends dropped cake, spaghetti bolognaise and soup around. Adam and I were so appreciative. But check with your friend about whether there’s anything they can’t eat, or are having trouble eating, as chemotherapy may limit what they can and feel like eating.
- A bag of groceries. Some friends came to pick me up for lunch one day, and they brought a bag of groceries for me. They included fruit, easy meals like dahl and curry that I could just add water to, dried fruit (great for chemo poo) and a few other treats. So thoughtful.
- Chemist vouchers. I spend a lot on meds each month, and a chemist voucher helped while I wasn’t working.
- Your time. Friends coming to chemo and other hospital appointments with me were so welcome. Passing the time with friends made the appointments so much more bearable. We laughed, we ate snacks. They helped me open my drinks. They held my hand while I had needles. Helping around the house was also very welcome, as well as trips out to lunch and walks too. I have fond memories of a work colleague visiting and doing my dishes, and we had a tea and cut out hexagons for a quilt.
- Fidget toys. These helped keep my hands and mind busy.
- Nice tea. Peppermint was great, so was tummy tea.
- Heated blanket, hot pack, crochet blanket. It’s always good to use while sitting on the couch or in bed.
- Pretty scarves and hats. Check if your friend is irritated by any fabrics first.
- MooGoo creams (they do a cancer pack) and Avène water spray.
And if you cannot afford to spend anything, a list of fun lighthearted things to watch, read and listen to; a handmade artwork or hat is also wonderful.
Note: these are useful for other diagnoses and recoveries too.
Image: carly in hospital, sitting in a chair having chemo. She’s dressed colourfully and a colourful blanket is over her. A towel covers her arm where the drip and cannula gives the chemotherapy. Text reads: “what are some gifts to give your friend who’s having cancer treatment?”
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