What to Put in a Cancer Care Package

It seems like everyone has someone close to them fighting cancer. In fact, we have at least two people close to us currently undergoing treatment.

Unlike my C-section gift basket and our sick mom get-well kit, this is a basket that I hate that I had a reason to make. Many of the same principles apply when putting together any recovery care package: focus on comfort, practical support, and small reminders that someone is thinking about them.

My sister’s mother in law, who my kids lovingly call, “Auntie Lyn,” is undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Before I agreed to publish these gift ideas, I asked her permission so the gift basket was not a surprise. However, she had no idea what we planned to put in the basket.

Quick Answer: What Goes in a Cancer Care Package?

The best cancer care packages balance comfort, encouragement, and practical support. While every treatment experience is different, we found that some of the most meaningful gifts weren’t the things we originally expected to have the biggest impact.

When we put together a care package for a family member undergoing treatment, a few items quickly became clear favorites. Below is everything we included and the reasons behind each choice.

Cancer treatment is extremely taxing. During treatment, even everyday activities can feel exhausting, which is why we focused on gifts that offered comfort, distraction, and a reminder that she wasn’t facing it alone.

What we put in our Cancer treatment gift basket

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Handmade gifts — cards, mohawk beanie, and a loom bracelet

I hadn’t crocheted in years, but Auntie Lyn mentioned she would love a mohawk beanie during treatment. So I dusted off my crochet hook and made one especially for her.

There was something meaningful about creating a gift by hand. Cancer treatment can make people feel like so much is outside of their control, and we wanted every item in this basket to remind her that she was loved and supported.

The kids made cards and Pea made a pink Breast Cancer Awareness bracelet with her Rainbow Loom.

Entertainment

Puzzles 

Puzzles are a great choice for chasing away cabin fever. If someone is going through chemo or radiation treatment, they may not feel up to going out and about. However, puzzles are a fun way to pass the time with family members.

For times when a solo puzzle is preferred, we chose a Sodoku book.

Books

I knew ahead of time that Auntie Lyn loves puzzles and is always a big reader. (I used to check out her bookshelves every time we visited!) Books are always a great choice. If you don’t know what books to get, ask family members or grab some popular titles.

Comfort 

It goes without saying that some days Lyn won’t feel up to puzzles or reading. So I included a warm/cold gel eye mask to help with headaches and a comfy throw (in Alabama’s color) for her to curl up in.

Huge thanks go to my sister Kathryn and my brother-in-law Andrew for hand delivering our gift basket. Andrew Bunn gets credit for the delivery pictures. 

When it comes down to it, everything in our chemo care basket was included as a way to show her that even though she now lives in another state, we are thinking about her and cheering her on.

Looking back, the most meaningful items weren’t necessarily the ones that cost the most. The handmade gifts, comfort items, and simple reminders that we were thinking about her ended up being the things that mattered most.

If you’re putting together a cancer care package for someone you love, focus on comfort, encouragement, and helping them feel supported during treatment.