11 Useful Gift Ideas for Breast Cancer Patients

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Are you looking for the best gift ideas for a friend or family member facing breast cancer treatment? I started my journey with breast cancer at age 36, just months after having my second baby.

After recovering from a double mastectomy, I began six months of chemotherapy followed by five weeks of radiation therapy. During this incredibly long and difficult journey, I felt so appreciative to my friends and family members for their generosity. 

In this post, I will detail ideas and products that make great gifts for the breast cancer survivor in your life.

These great gift options are perfect for patients recovering from breast cancer surgery, chemo, and/or radiation treatment.

(This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Please see my disclosure policy at the bottom of this page for more details.)

Gift Ideas for Someone with Breast Cancer

While going through breast cancer treatment, I tried to compile a list of the items I found most useful during active treatment and recovery. The gift ideas below are both meaningful and practical, so the breast cancer survivor in your life will actually be able to use the items.

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No matter which stage of the breast cancer journey your friend is currently facing, she will feel so appreciative acts of kindness from others. The list below includes gift ideas that are of various price ranges, including FREE acts of kindness that are super helpful as well! So, don’t feel like you have to break the bank to show someone how much you care.

1. Magazine Subscription 

While recovering from a mastectomy surgery, breast cancer patients aren’t able to DO much. I liked having a lot of different types of reading materials available to keep me busy. Magazines and puzzle books also come in handy during chemo because each session can last for several hours. Reading provides a great way to pass the time, and it gives you something to think about other than cancer!

2. Pajamas and Lounge Wear

Breast cancer patients who have a mastectomy as part of their treatment plan often need to purchase new pajamas to wear after surgery. Shirts and pajamas that button up the front are necessary during recovery because patients do not have a lot of mobility in their arms. 

I ordered and wore these pajamas after my mastectomy. (Amazon Affiliate Link) They are really light and soft, which make them super comfortable! I wore these for several weeks after my bilateral mastectomy as my body continued to heal from surgery.

3. Dining Gift Card

I mentioned this idea in my post on chemo care package ideas, but I wanted to include it again here. A gift certificate to a favorite restaurant or for a meal delivery service is really helpful to cancer patients.

gift ideas for breast cancer patients pin

Many times, those who are going through treatment don’t feel up to cooking or cleaning up after a meal. Meals that are delivered or provided at restaurants are usually hassle free for the patient and her caregivers. 

4. Mastectomy Recovery Pillow

Many breast cancer patients purchase a mastectomy pillow to hold against their chest during the recovery process. I received one of these pillows, but I actually preferred feather pillows that I already owned to the mastectomy pillow. Big fluffy pillows placed under each arm provided more comfort during my recovery.

That being said, I also purchased this wedge pillow for my mastectomy recovery. (Amazon Affiliate Link) I found this pillow to be much more useful because the WORST pain came when I went from laying down to a sitting up position. This wedge pillow allows you to sleep on an incline, so laying down and getting up are much easier!

5. Devotional Book

A lot of friends and fellow breast cancer patients recommended the book, Jesus Calling, after I was diagnosed. This book includes a super short and easy to read passage for each day of the year. It focuses on positive thinking, freeing yourself from worry, and staying hopeful. 

I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone going through trying times. You can find Jesus Calling here! (Amazon Affiliate Link) This is probably my favorite gift that I received during my breast cancer journey. After going through the traumatic experience of cancer, your mental and spiritual well-being are often slow to recover. This daily devotional REALLY helped my mind to heal!

6. Cash

This sounds so simple, but cash is always a nice gift for a cancer patient (or anyone for that matter)! Medical bills can really pile up even when you have great insurance. Sometimes cancer patients are unable to work during treatment as well. Cash comes in handy in so many ways. You could put it in a nice card, make a cash tree, or even organize a fundraising event for your friend to help during these difficult times. 

7. Offering Your Help

Offering help to your friend or family member is a gift idea that’s FREE. Depending on her circumstances, a breast cancer patient could need help with regular day-to-day activities. You could offer to:

  • cook meals 
  • clean her house
  • do laundry
  • run errands
  • do the grocery shopping
  • babysit 
  • walk her dog 

These acts of kindness are great ways to help out without having to spend a ton of money!

8. Meal Train

If you have a group of people who want to help, consider starting a meal train. Friends can sign up for specific dates to drop off meals to the breast cancer patient and her family. This way, they aren’t bombarded with food one week and then low on meals the next. 

packaged meals

My husband’s coworkers set up a meal train for us. We were able to add notes on what types of food we liked or restaurants we enjoyed. Then friends cooked and delivered meals to us each Tuesday and Thursday during my six months of chemo treatments. 

9. Maid Service

maid holding cleaning supplies

After my mastectomy, I was physically unable to clean my house. During chemo, I often felt too sick or fatigued to keep up with house chores. Cleaning for a Reason is a non-profit organization that helps to provide FREE house cleaning services for cancer patients. By organizing a maid service to complete housekeeping tasks, you relieve a ton of stress from your friend or family member who is battling cancer. 

10. Lip Balms

Lip balms make a wonderful gift to a close friend or family member battling breast cancer. If your loved one is facing chemotherapy or radiation therapy, she will probably experience dry lips and sensitive skin. Lip balms and lotions are inexpensive gifts that make great additions to a gift basket.

11. Handwritten Note

letter and envelope

One of the most thoughtful gifts for a good friend or family member is simply a handwritten card. You can include this as part of a care package or gift it alone. While I was going through chemotherapy, my husband collected inspirational cancer quotes from my loved ones. These quotes provided great comfort to me even during the tough days of chemo when I was having a hard time coping with hair loss and nausea.

Final Thoughts 

The meaningful gift ideas listed above are practical items that can be a big help to a dear friend or loved one. Whether the breast cancer survivor in your life is facing breast and reconstructive surgery, chemo, radiation, or any other form of treatment, a special gift is sure to brighten her day.

Would you like to add any gift ideas for someone with breast cancer?

Comment below to share!

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2 Comments

  1. Thanks for this! I was just Diagnosed with Breast Cancer in January this year 2022. Chemotherapy is hard especially when you have 3 treatments in one day.

    1. Hi Rhonda,

      I’m so sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis. Chemotherapy is certainly rough but hopefully you have a great support system around you. I wish you all the best as you complete your treatment! Take care and thanks so much for sharing!

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