![\"Breast](\"https:\/\/s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/img.prod.aplaceformom.com\/main\/uploads\/sa-blog\/2015\/09\/Breast-Cancer-Survivor-Gifts-350x350.png\")
<\/h1>\n<\/h1>\nIt\u2019s a sobering statistic that\u00a01 in 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0over the course of her lifetime. In fact, after skin cancer, it\u2019s the number one diagnosed cancer for American women. Knowing it\u2019s common doesn\u2019t make it any easier when it strikes someone you love.<\/p>\n When that day comes and someone you care about is dealing with breast cancer, it can be hard to know the best way to help out and show your support. If you\u2019re struggling to figure out the right move to help a loved one with breast cancer, here are a few options to consider.<\/p>\n You can find loads of pink breast cancer themed gifts, but your loved one\u2019s probably already getting offered a lot of those. There are things you can offer that will be more useful or meaningful than one more pink ribbon t-shirt (not that there isn\u2019t a value to those too).<\/p>\n A spa day or massage is a great gift for someone who\u2019s been through a hard time. Being handed an excuse to relax and be pampered will always be appreciated. Make sure the gift allows them plenty of time to schedule the day at their leisure though, if you get a gift card from a spa with a quick expiration, they may have a hard time getting there in time.<\/p>\n Sometimes one of the best ways to feel better is to actively think about the positive contributions other people have brought to your life.\u00a0The Year of Gratitude Kit<\/u><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0includes 52 thank you cards with the idea of devoting a little time each week to showing someone you care about your appreciation for them.<\/p>\n The recent trend of gifts that give back extends to some of the shoes and activewear sold by New Balance. Their\u00a0Lace Up for the Cure<\/u><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0line gives a portion of the proceeds to breast cancer research. Since exercise and healthy living are good goals to pursue when recovering from an illness like breast cancer, these gifts can do the double duty of encouraging healthy habits.<\/p>\n Breast cancer gift baskets are a smart choice because they collect various items your loved one needs into one convenient gift package. You can buy pre-made ones from sites like\u00a0\u00a0Healing Baskets<\/u><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Just Don\u2019t Send Flowers<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong>\u00a0Some of these are put together by survivors or others familiar with the effects of breast cancer, so they include gifts particular to what your loved one will need and want during their recovery process.<\/p>\n You can potentially create a more meaningful gift though by putting together a homemade breast cancer gift basket personalized to what you know your friend likes. If you know their favorite candy or that they love hot tea, you can collect items you know they\u2019ll be happy to have around.<\/p>\n There are special-made pillows that can make your loved one more comfortable on the ride home after a mastectomy and during the healing process. They\u2019re designed to provide comfort under your arms and across your chest. If your loved one doesn\u2019t have one yet, this may be a good, useful gift to consider.<\/p>\n Assuming your loved one is a reader (if they\u2019re not, go with #7 instead), then some books to keep them occupied through their time in the hospital and recovery can be really appreciated. Make sure to stick with the types of genre they normally prefer and consider if you know of any favorite authors they have.<\/p>\n When you\u2019re sick, one of the most comforting ways to spend your time is on the couch watching TV. Give the gift of a TV subscription. Netflix or Hulu can provide nearly endless hours of entertainment for someone recovering from breast cancer.<\/p>\n For many people, the experience of struggling makes them realize how important giving is. A donation to a cause they care about \u2013 whether it\u2019s breast cancer research or something else you know is close to their heart \u2013 can be as appreciated as anything else on this list.<\/p>\n Something small, light, and beautiful that your loved one can easily take into the hospital with them can give the something pleasant to make the dreary space a little more comfortable and colorful. There\u2019s\u00a0mini\u00a0art on Etsy<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0that\u2019s specifically for breast cancer survivors, but you can also browse print options for artists you know your loved one likes to try to find something that can easily be made portable that they\u2019re likely to love.<\/p>\n Another Etsy-inspired idea, this\u00a0Box of Encouragement<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is filled with little scrolls that each include a line of encouragement for the recipient. It\u2019s a gift that continues to give little by little over a number of days and serves as a reminder that you\u2019re thinking of your loved one each time they pull out a scroll to read.<\/p>\n Objects aren\u2019t the only type of gift you can give; sometimes offering your time can be even more appreciated.<\/p>\n A physical item won\u2019t provide the same quality time and memories that planning a special experience together does. Think about what your loved one really enjoys doing \u2013 or something you\u2019ve enjoyed doing together in the past. Is there a restaurant in town that\u2019s a particular favorite? A city nearby that makes for a great weekend trip? A comedy show coming up they\u2019d probably love?<\/p>\n If you want to be able to hand them an item, print up a nice invitation to the event you have planned. Be flexible on the when as much as possible though, you don\u2019t want your gift to end up adding any stress to their life.<\/p>\n You know how sometimes when you\u2019re tired or stressed or not feeling well for any reason, the one thing you really want is for your house to be be clean and your dinner to be cooked. You just want all those day-to-day tasks that constantly need to be completed to go away for a little bit.<\/p>\n Offer to help out. Give the gift of a day spent doing all the chores your loved one has been dreading dealing with. It will almost certainly mean more to them than a present that comes gift-wrapped.<\/p>\n Food is a standard gift during times of sickness for good reason. We all have to eat, but making meals requires energy your loved one may not have. Before bringing anything over, ask first. A lot of people will probably be thinking the same thing and it won\u2019t do your loved one any good to receive 10 casseroles in the same day that will all go bad within a week. But once you\u2019ve checked in, bring over one of their favorite recipes or offer to cook it with them as a way to spend some time together.<\/p>\n Necessary errands like getting groceries, going to the post office, or getting basic car maintenance done can be a pain on a normal day, but for someone dealing with breast cancer treatment they\u2019re that much more tiring. So offer to take some of that off their plate.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re like most people, it\u2019s probably been a long time since you received a handwritten letter from a friend, but remember how nice it feels when you do? There\u2019s nothing quite like it. So try to bring back the habit. Even if you\u2019ll be seeing them in person too (but especially if you live far away and won\u2019t be), sit down and write a letter sharing some of your thoughts, feelings, and your support for what they\u2019re going through.<\/p>\n Obviously, this one only works if your loved one has kids, but if they do, it can be a big way to help them out. Offer to give them some time off from taking care of their kids. Whether they want a chance to go out or stay in and watch TV in peace without interruptions, you\u2019ll be making it possible for them to spend some time in the way they most see fit.<\/p>\n If your loved one is a dog owner, keeping up with the walks their dog needs is likely a struggle. See if you can\u2019t swing by to take the dog out now and then. It takes one more task off their hands and the dog will get some well-appreciated exercise.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve been sick in the United States, you know the experience comes with a whole complicated level of bureaucracy patients have to navigate. Help them make sense of the bills and other paperwork they receive from the doctors and insurance companies. Oftentimes, people end up overpaying because the system\u2019s so complicated that it\u2019s hard to understand what you\u2019re paying for. A friend willing to review the paperwork and help to\u00a0dispute medical bills<\/strong>\u00a0<\/a>can save breast cancer patients a load of money and stress.<\/p>\n We\u2019re not always good at guessing what someone needs most at any given moment (hence survivors sometimes finding themselves with 10 casseroles at once). The best way to find out what your loved one really wants is to ask. Check in once every week or two to see how they\u2019re feeling and how you can help. Maybe they\u2019ll just want some company or maybe they\u2019ll send you off on errands. More than anything else, it will remind them that you\u2019re there and thinking about them.<\/p>\n You can do everything in your power to be there for your loved one and still not really be able to understand what they\u2019re going through. The opportunity to get the perspective, advice, and information from someone who has \u201cbeen there\u201d can therefore be of immeasurable value. That\u2019s what makes support groups so valuable, they\u2019re a safe space for breast cancer survivors to share their experiences, complain about the day to day, and connect with others that are going through the same thing.<\/p>\n Your loved one may not need a support group; they\u2019re usually most helpful for people comfortable sharing their emotions and experiences in a group setting. If your loved one is comfortably able to share with family and close friends and seems to be getting everything they need emotionally from the support of those they already know, then a support group may not add anything they\u2019re missing. But if the support you and their other loved ones offer doesn\u2019t seem to be getting them as far as they need, then it may be worth helping them find the right support group for them.<\/p>\n Breast cancer support groups cover a wide range of specific topics, and many have a specific focus such as those that connect people by:<\/p>\n Support groups are often hosted at hospitals, churches, community centers, or private residences. There are options available for one-on-one counseling, over the phone or in person. And in today\u2019s socially connected world, excellent support can be found online in the form of message boards and digital communities. Check out the\u00a0Susan G. Komen<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0American Cancer Society<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0websites to find support near you.<\/p>\n Remember that there is no right and wrong in how people deal with breast cancer. That makes it complicated to know exactly what your loved one needs \u2013 what worked for someone else won\u2019t necessarily be right for them. All you can do is show up, let them know you support them, and figure out the best ways to help as you go.<\/p>\n With the understanding and compassion of loved ones, the fight against breast cancer can be made a little less lonely. Just knowing there are people around who care and want to ease the pain can help make a difficult burden like breast cancer feel a little lighter.<\/p>\n When someone you care about is going through a hard time, it\u2019s often hard to figure out how to best show your support. Someone recovering from breast cancer has been through a lot and sending a gift their way can let them know you\u2019re thinking about them and care. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There are tons of pink ribbon t-shirts and books about surviving cancer you could get them, but let\u2019s be honest, that\u2019s probably the route a lot of other people are going and many breast cancer survivors find themselves getting sick of pink pretty quickly. Try to think beyond the obvious and go for something a little more meaningful. You know your loved one better than we do and if you have a feel for something they\u2019d appreciate on a more personal level, trust your gut. But if you\u2019re having trouble with ideas and want to offer something to show your support, maybe some these gift ideas will help.<\/span><\/p>\n A spa day or massage is a great gift for someone who\u2019s been through a hard time. Being handed an excuse to relax and be pampered will always be appreciated. <\/span> People tend to think of gifts in terms of objects, but an item doesn\u2019t provide the same quality time and memories that planning a special experience together does. Think about what your loved one really enjoys doing \u2013 or something you\u2019ve enjoyed doing together in the past. Is there a restaurant in town that\u2019s a particular favorite? A city nearby that makes for a great weekend trip? A comedy show coming up they\u2019d probably love? <\/span><\/p>\n If you want to be able to hand them an item, print up a nice invitation to the event you have planned. Be flexible on the when as much as possible though, you don\u2019t want your gift to end up adding any stress to their life.<\/span> You know how sometimes when you\u2019re tired or stressed or not feeling well for any reason, the one thing you really want is for your house to be clean, your dinner to be cooked, your errands to be run \u2013 in short, you just want all those day-to-day tasks that constantly need to be completed to go away.<\/p>\n Offer to help out. Give the gift of a day spent doing all the chores your loved one has been dreading dealing with. It will almost certainly mean more to them than one more pink ribbon t-shirt.<\/p>\n Sometimes one of the best ways to feel better is to actively think about the positive contributions other people have brought to your life. <\/span>The Year of Gratitude Kit<\/a><\/strong> includes 52 thank you cards with the idea of devoting a little time each week to showing someone you care about your appreciation for them.<\/span> The recent trend of gifts that give back extends to some of the shoes and activewear sold by New Balance. <\/span>Their<\/span> Lace Up for the Cure<\/a><\/strong> line<\/span> gives a portion of the proceeds to breast cancer research. Since exercise and healthy living are good goals to pursue when recovering from an illness like breast cancer, these gifts can do the double duty of encouraging healthy habits. <\/span> Think about all the things you like to have around when you\u2019re seeking comfort. Hot tea? Your favorite snack? A comfy blanket? Try to remember anything your loved one has told you about their go-to comfort habits and collect as many relevant items as possible into a gift basket for them. You can find some websites that sell previously put together ones (like <\/span>Healing Baskets<\/a><\/strong> and <\/span>CareGifting<\/a><\/strong>), but if you can make it more personal it will mean more to your loved one.<\/span><\/p>\n10 Gift Ideas for Breast Cancer Survivors<\/h2>\n
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9 Service-Based Ways to Help<\/h2>\n
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Are they still struggling? Recommend a breast cancer support group.<\/h2>\n
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How To Find A Support Group Near You<\/h2>\n
7 Gift Ideas for Breast Cancer Survivors<\/h1>\n
1. Spa day<\/h2>\n
\n<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n2. An experience together<\/h2>\n
\n<\/b><\/p>\n3. A day of chores<\/h2>\n
4. A Year of Gratitude Kit<\/h2>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n5. Lace Up for the Cure Activewear<\/h2>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n6. Comfort-themed gift basket<\/h2>\n
7. Donation in their name<\/h2>\n