Here's exactly what you should buy someone who has cancer.

It’s devastating when you find out someone you love and care about has been diagnosed with cancer. When my beautiful brother died of a brain tumour at 35, my world went very dark. I was angry, sad and anxious that my awesome, kind and funny brother had his life taken away from him, when he loved his life so much.

It will be 13 years next March, and although my grief is lighter, my heart breaks that he hasn’t been able to see his son grow into a beautiful young man, or spend time doing all the things he loved to do: his love of music, good times with his mates and family. Just being him and sharing his presence with us all.

My experience inspired me to think of ways to make a cancer sufferer just that little bit more comfortable, hence my involvement in The Empathy Gift Company. It’s so hard to know what to buy someone who is ill or has cancer. Flowers are a common gesture, but at The Empathy Gift Co I wanted to be able provide gifts that are a little more helpful, practical and useful.

Here are our best and most popular cancer gifts that will help show your understanding and support.

A ‘meal train’.

If your loved one is having cancer treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation, these treatments can be very intense and take a toll on their body, mind and immune system. You can help by providing home cooked meals for them and their family – get a group of supportive friends, neighbours and family and create a meal train. This takes a lot of pressure off the family and can still provide them healthy home cooked meals from those that care about them. Visit the Meal Train website: https://www.mealtrain.com/

Sleepwear.

It may seem obvious, but sleepwear always makes a nice hospital gift. Sleep masks and eye pillows are also great for sleep and relaxation.

Things to help and things to do.

Some less often thought-of gift ideas include Queasy drops for nausea, healing teas for relaxation, water bottles for hydration and our most popular are adult colouring books and coloured pencils to do while having chemo. Radiation can make your skin ultra sensitive so our Berts Bees skincare range has been popular for both women and men having treatment for cancer.

LISTEN: Mia Freedman, Holly Wainwright and Jessie Stephens discuss how you can help a friend or a family member in hospital. Post continues below. 

A journal or a book.

There are some beautiful journals and books written by cancer survivors which offer hope, comfort and plenty of practical advice to help navigate the changes and needs during treatment and healing.

Although gifts are beautiful way to show you care, there is nothing more special than giving your time and ongoing support for your loved one during this challenging time. Even if you are not sure what to say or do - do some research online or ask others that may have gone through cancer treatment what they found helpful and comforting.

This is a time where your loved one may feel vulnerable, and if they know that you are there for them 100% it will give them some extra strength to be positive and feel more empowered to fight this insidious disease.

This post was originally published on The Empathy Gift Co and was republished here with full permission.