There is a particular skill in gift-giving to someone who’s navigating cancer treatment during the holidays. The season can feel loud and cheerful and glittery–but your loved one might not be feeling so festive. Gifts that acknowledge (and suit) their changing needs are going to be especially appreciated.
This guide has items that offer comfort, warmth, and a little bit of fun—and the hope that even a very difficult season has pockets of joy.
Tartan Tradition with a Feathery, Edgy, Funny Little Detail
The Feather Trim Tartan Pajamas from Mark & Graham bring together classic holiday tartan and deeply fabulous feather sleeves, and feel both cozy and glamorous (a hard combination to achieve). They’re not quite a gag gift, but this is a sleepwear set with a strong flavor; it might not be for everyone, but it’s really for some people. It’s very likely that the holidays might be spent never emerging from loungewear–and giving an item like this adds a little celebratory element to everyday recuperation.
For a lounging outfit that doesn’t emphasize the fabulous, Eberjey are some of Jadey’s go-to pajama sets; they’re incredibly soft and lightweight. We love this long sleeve set in pretty holly red stripes or little menorah patterns.
Some No-Fuss Decor
If you know your loved one typically looks forward to the decorating part of the holidays, this year might hold them back. Sending over (or coming over and installing) a very easy piece of decor (that doesn’t require upkeep, and also won’t rot or smell when the holidays are over) could be a welcome substitute for traditional labor-intensive decor. We love this pretty, green-and-gold garland and this candy cane garland from Meri Meri.
A Snuggly, Plush Throw to Calm and Comfort
This soft, soft, soft, plush faux-fur is Jadey co-founder Michelle Reiss' favorite blanket. It’s substantial and ideal for quiet rest and midday naps. It’s also got that nice drape, so leaving it casually tossed around on your couch looks very intentional and cozy-wintery.
Statement Glassware (To Mix With a Nonalcoholic Cocktail Kit)
There’s nothing that makes some seltzer and lemon feel like a cocktail… like putting it into a cocktail glass! We love some jaunty glassware (with a little nice non-alcoholic cocktail mix set). These sculptural gin-and-tonic glasses from Maison Balzac would make anything (water!) feel like a tiny party to hold in your hand. These ones with hearts from Crate & Barrel are also so perfectly playful.
And to complete the gift package, send along a set of our favorite non-alcoholic cocktails: St. Agrestis’ Phony Negronis.
A Cancer Insider’s Sweatsuit
Worldclass is a colorectal cancer advocacy group that makes great merch. Every purchase helps fund colonoscopies for the under‑insured. We love everything they do, especially their cozy, bold “Worldclass” sweatsuits. Bottoms up!
Festive, Puffy (Nausea-Quelling) Peppermint Candies
Sucking on candies with appealing flavors like lemon or mint can actually help produce more saliva and readjust your taste from chemo’s signature metallic tinge. Also, a huge batch of individually wrapped peppermint candies looks so celebratory in a bowl, and are easy to take on-the-go for any as-needed nausea-reduction.
Instead of a ‘Bright and Busy’ Season, These Silky Sleep Accessories Facilitate A ‘Rest and Relax’ Season
Someone in treatment will be resting a lot–including during bright daytime hours, and sometimes under glaring hospital lights. A soft sleep mask will help block out light, and this one comes with jewelry-esque baubles, so even though they’re sleeping, they’ll feel that they’re also ready for a party.
A silk pillowcase is an upgrade to anyone’s rest, but will be particularly appreciated for someone who’s resting a lot more. We love the scalloped edges and bold-and-pretty pink-and-red stripes on these Slip cases. Also, if your loved one is going through a treatment where they’re experiencing hair loss, they might be making a switch to silk bedding to help reduce friction on hair and be more gentle on sensitive skin.
Little Bottles, Big Comfort: Some Good Trial-Size Skincare Staples
It’s likely that if someone is going through cancer treatment, their skin is going to be very sensitive and dehydrated. This means they’ll both be churning through gentle skincare products, and possibly replacing their existing items and hunting for new favorites. And so: the very useful trial-size gift sets. We really love old reliable Burt’s Bees: they’ve got natural ingredients and they typically have a lighter scent profile for anyone who is sensitive to fragrance during treatment. This set has items to soothe from head-to-toe: face wash, foot cream, lip balm.
Because Even Tissues Deserve a Festive Outfit This Year
There’s something funny and cheering about a box of tissues dressed for the holidays. This tartan Christmas print tissue box turns a humble necessity into something festive. Its soft red-and-green pattern brings warmth to hospital rooms and bedside tables.
Some Matzo Ball Soup (or Panettone or Another Festive Favorite) Delivery from Goldbelly
Especially if there’s a home-cooked meal you know they usually love to make, and it’s not the year for them to make a 12-step masterpiece in the kitchen, ordering a great restaurant/food-store version of their favorite item to be delivered can be a really nice, comforting gesture. Send the feast to them! A hearty, simple chicken soup like Matzo ball soup is also really soothing when their appetite isn’t great; and also, it’s something that’s pretty easy to freeze and thaw later if they're not in the mood.
