When someone close to you is diagnosed with cancer you often feel helpless and want to make it all better for them, but that is simply impossible. What you can do, though, is show you care and send them a practical gift to make their treatment slightly easier.
When I was diagnosed with cancer I receive care packages from a few friends and family, and they were lovely! It really lifted my spirits to know that people were thinking of me. It can be hard to know what to buy though, and particularly at the moment when it’s not easy to get to the shops.
Luckily there are businesses who put together parcels which save the stress of wondering what to buy someone. I was invited by Cancer Parcel UK to review one of their packages.
#Gifted The package I received was gifted to me but I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and my thoughts below are my honest opinions.
Cancer care packages
Cancer Parcel UK offer a range of cancer care packages for adults, children and teenagers. There are options for different types of cancer and also end of life gifts for adults.
Prices range from £44 to £199, and the great thing is that the website lists what’s in each package so you can see what you’re getting beforehand. When you place an order you can opt to either get it sent to your own address or directly to the recipient.
I ordered a ladies breast cancer care package for £89. I ordered it on a Sunday, and it arrived 9am Tuesday using the normal delivery option rather than the speedy one. Communication was superb, and I received a text confirmation when I placed the order and then when it was despatched.
When I was checking out I opted in for the email newsletters, which I have been receiving on a regular basis ever since. They include great tips for how to help someone going through cancer and I would highly recommend them even if you don’t buy a package.
The website also includes lots of resources including blog articles with practical things you can do for someone with cancer.
Receiving my cancer care package
Opening my care package was really exciting. It came in a box covered in positive messages, and inside were a range of really useful and well-packed items.
Because I chose a breast cancer package, many of the gifts were lilac and pretty colours, but different options are available.
The items I received included a snuggly blanket (ideal for chemo, especially if you have to wear a cold cap as I did), neck cushion (great for relaxing on car journeys to hospital – assuming you’re not driving – and I wish I’d thought of taking one with me as you’re often so tired) and spare headphones (I’m forever losing mine!).
There were items to help alleviate the side effects of chemo, such as vaseline for dry lips and peppermint tea for when you’re feeling queasy.
There was also a sturdy, great quality water bottle to remind you to keep up your fluid intake which is so important, and a massager. One thing I loved when I was feeling poorly was when my mum gave me a head rub, and that’s one of the best things you can do for someone going through cancer. It’s sometimes really hard to relax, so a Sunday afternoon snooze on the sofa with a head massage was something I really cherished.
Conclusion
If you know someone who is going through cancer then these care packages are a lovely gift. They take the hassle out of researching what to buy and needing to get to the shops to gather the gifts. It’s all packaged up in a box for you and sent swiftly and directly to your loved one.
You can see the full range of cancer gifts here.
I’ve written another post, 10 Ways to Help Someone With Cancer, which you can read here.
Read more about my cancer journey :
– My cancer diagnosis
– My first breast cancer surgery
– What happens at a chemo session?
– My chemo half time analysis
– My chemo side effects
– Making a breast cast
– My mastectomy
– My radiotherapy treatment
– 10 Ways to help someone with cancer
– Am I in remission?
– What is Scar Work?
– My breast reconstruction surgery
– Find travel insurance after cancer
It’s good that you can buy useful care packages for people who have cancer. As a friend or family member, you feel so useless not being able to help.
Hi, yes it is, and nice to have websites like this to take the hassle out of choosing what to buy. Thanks for reading!