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Revised 10/01/26
gifts for cancer patients
How to Make a Chemo Care Package
What to put in a chemo care package, what to leave out and how to wrap it, from a family that has made head coverings for women in treatment since 1995. Start with four essentials, then make the rest about her.
It's called a care package for a reason.
Remember the care packages that showed up at camp or college? A box of goodies from home that meant somebody was thinking about you. A chemo care package works the same way. It gives her things she'll use during treatment, and it tells her she isn't going through this alone.
It helps the giver, too. When someone you love starts chemo, you want to do something, and packing a box is something you can do this afternoon. In the words of Brigham Young, "love the giver more than the gift."
An imperfect box beats silence. A lot of friends go quiet during treatment because they're afraid of saying or sending the wrong thing, and going quiet can hurt her more than any wrong gift. A box with the wrong color cap still says you didn't go quiet.
Short on time? Skip to the four essentials, write the card, and you're done.
before you pack
three questions that shape the box
What belongs in the box depends a lot on where she is in treatment. Three quick questions will tell you what to put in.
Has she started treatment?
Before the first infusion, a lot is still unknown, and some women aren't ready for anything that says "chemo" yet. A soft, everyday piece and a kind card may be plenty for now.
Is she ready to think about head coverings?
Hair loss from chemo usually starts one to four weeks after the first treatment.1 Some women want a cap and a sleep cap waiting before then. Others would rather not think about it until it happens. If you're not sure, a gift certificate lets her choose when she's ready.
How does she handle hard things?
Some women love pink ribbons and slogans and wear them proudly. Others would rather not wear their diagnosis at all. Choose for her the way you would for any other gift.
My mom has fitted women through treatment since 1995, and she says a woman often has to deal with how she feels about losing her hair before she's ready to choose what goes on her head. So if your gift sits in its box for a few weeks, don't take it personally. She'll get to it.
if any of these are running through your head
"It's too soon. She hasn't even started."
It isn't. A box before the first treatment can be the gentlest one of all: a tote, a short card, nothing that says chemo.
"I don't know her well enough."
Then don't guess. A soft cap in a neutral like black, gray or navy goes with everything, and lip balm and an unscented lotion need no inside knowledge at all. If even that feels like a guess, a gift certificate and a card are a complete gift.
"What if I pick the wrong thing?"
Then she has a cap in a color she wouldn't have chosen, which she can exchange or pass along, and a card she keeps.
"I'll wait until I know what to say."
That's how friends go quiet. Send the box. The words can come later, or never, and the box still counts.
three sizes of box
- A little something. One soft cap or sleep cap, a lip balm and a card. Small enough to drop off on your way to work.
- A full box. The four essentials, plus two or three extras that sound like her. If she has a port, make one of them a port-access top.
- From the whole group. Friends, a book club or the office can go in together on a bigger box and add what she'll use most: gift cards for meal delivery, rides to treatment or parking, and a schedule of who is helping when. A hat party is a good time to set that up.
If the box is for you.
When friends ask how they can help, "a soft cap and a sleep cap would be wonderful" is an easy answer to give. Let them do the rest.
Packing for a man? Nearly all of this works for a man too. Swap in a cap from our men's hats.
the four essentials
start here, whatever else goes in
Four things belong in nearly every box. They help with the hair loss, dry lips and dry skin that so often come with chemo.
a soft cap or turban
Many women lose their hair during chemo, and a soft cap is the head covering she'll reach for every day, even if she also has a wig. It goes on in seconds and can live in the car or her purse for quick trips. When you're choosing a chemo cap, look for soft fabric, few seams and full coverage, in a basic color that goes with everything and dresses up with accessories.
If you know her style, follow it. Berets and slouchy beanies are two of our most popular shapes, and many women find one they love and collect it in several colors. Browse our turbans and beanies.
a sleep cap
A bare head gets cold at night, and a soft sleep cap keeps it warm. It also catches hair on the pillow while her hair is still falling out. Many turbans double as sleep caps, or you can pick something a little more fun.
lip balm
Dry, cracked lips are common during treatment, and cancer centers recommend keeping them moisturized.2 Our Vitamin C and Vitamin E Lip Treatment is an easy one to tuck in.
an unscented lotion
Chemo can leave skin very dry, and a gentle lotion is a comfort. Choose one without fragrance or dyes. They can irritate sensitive skin, and smells can hit differently during treatment, so a scent she loved before may bother her now.3
Our Alra Therapy Lotion is made especially for skin going through treatment, and it is as much a pampering gift as a practical one.
more ideas to add
for treatment days, for home, and for her spirits
Once the essentials are in, add what she'd enjoy.
for treatment days
- A tote bag. Treatment days come with a lot to carry. A roomy tote holds everything to and from appointments, plus a change of clothes for a hospital stay. Our cotton woodblock tote comes with a matching head scarf.
- An extra-long phone charger. A cord that reaches from the wall to the infusion chair means she can stay on her phone for as long as treatment takes.
- A lap blanket for the infusion chair. Hospitals can get chilly and often feel sterile. Our bamboo lap blanket is ultra-soft viscose from bamboo on one side and cozy fleece on the other, and it's the perfect size for cuddling up during treatment. One good blanket is plenty.
- A port-access top. Many people having chemo get it through a port, a small device placed under the skin of the chest. Every time the nurse needs to reach it, a regular top means pulling a neckline down, lifting a shirt or changing into a gown. Our chemo port shirts have an opening over the port, so she stays dressed, covered and warm while the nurse works. If she has a port, this may be the most useful thing in the box, and it's one she will wear to every treatment.
- Something easy to pass the time. Appointments can run long, and treatment can make it hard to concentrate. Puzzle books, magazines, an audiobook or streaming gift card, or a light, easy read will get more use than a heavy novel.
- Mints or hard candy. Chemo can leave a bitter or metallic taste in the mouth. Sugar-free mints or hard candy in mint, lemon or orange can help mask it.3
- Plastic or bamboo utensils. When food tastes metallic, eating with plastic utensils can help.4 A reusable travel set fits in her tote.
- Ginger chews. An old favorite for a queasy stomach. Our Chimes ginger chews are made with real ginger, with no additives or preservatives. Some women go off ginger during treatment, so if she has, leave these out.
for home
- A comfy outfit. Soft, loose clothes are a comfort on the days after treatment. Our Pippa pants and Loralai tee in viscose from bamboo work as pajamas and are nice enough to wear out, and they match our bamboo headwear.
- A silk pillowcase. Her scalp may feel tender while her hair is shedding, and a smooth silk pillowcase is gentle on it. A soft sleep cap helps too.
- Gentle mouth care. Cancer centers often recommend a soft toothbrush and a mouthwash without alcohol during treatment, so an extra-soft toothbrush is a practical thing to tuck in.2
- A gentle shampoo. Treatment can leave her scalp tender and sensitive, whether her hair is still in, thinning or growing back. Our Alra Mild Conditioning Shampoo is made especially for sensitive scalps during treatment, and it pairs beautifully with the Alra Therapy Lotion for a little pampering.
- Personal care basics. Tissues, hand sanitizer and cotton swabs are easy, inexpensive and always useful.
- A planner and a journal. A planner keeps appointments, treatment dates and medications in one place. A journal gives her somewhere to put the frustrations, the good days and the hard ones.
for her spirits
- Hat accessories. A flower pin or headband turns a basic turban into several looks, and a pair of earrings finishes it.
- Gentle cosmetics. Along with lotion, lip balm and a mild shampoo, a new mascara, blush, lipstick or eyeliner is a treat she may not buy for herself right now. See all our makeup.
- Something that lifts her. A magnet, a piece of jewelry, a key chain or a t-shirt with an encouraging quote can brighten a hard day. If she wears her pink proudly, our gifts for cancer patients have plenty. If she's private about her diagnosis, choose something that's simply pretty.
- Something handmade. A hand-knitted hat or scarf in a soft yarn, a handmade bracelet, a framed family photo or a drawing from your kids. Baked goods are lovely too, but ask first, since her tastes may have changed.3
- A promise of help. Tuck in a card that says what you'll do: a meal on a set night, a ride to treatment, a walk with the dog. Gift cards for meal delivery, rides or hospital parking help too, because the small costs of treatment add up. If her friends want to do more together, a hat party is a lovely next step.
I still wear some of the hats I purchased with gift cards.Jennifer S.
Shared with us by women who have been through chemo, for our chemo and hair loss guide.
a quick shopping checklist
Take a screenshot and bring it with you.
- Pick a soft cap or turban in her style
- Add a sleep cap
- Tuck in a lip balm
- Add an unscented lotion
- If she has a port, add a port-access top
- Choose two or three extras for treatment days, home or her spirits
- Write the card
- Wrap it, or tuck it all into a tote
For more ideas, browse our gifts for cancer patients, or send a gift certificate and let her choose.
what to leave out
the gifts that end up in a drawer
Most of these are given with love. They end up in a drawer, or make her feel worse, because of what treatment does to her nose, her taste buds and her energy.
- Strong scents. Perfume, scented lotions and scented candles, even the "calming" lavender kind. Treatment can change how things smell, and a scent she loved before may bother her now.3
- Food as a surprise. Tastes change too, and a favorite snack can suddenly taste wrong. Ask before you bake or send food.3
- Pullover tops for infusion days. If she has a port, anything she has to pull down or lift up so the nurse can reach it makes treatment harder. A port-access top solves it.
- Bath bombs and bath salts. Some women are told not to soak in a tub during treatment, for example with a PICC line or a healing incision. Ask before you add anything for the bath.
- Gifts that need looking after. Flowers need water and plants need care. Skip anything she has to keep alive.
- Slogans she didn't choose. "Warrior" shirts and pink ribbon everything suit some women and not others. When in doubt, choose something that's just pretty.
- Anything scratchy for her head. A tender scalp does best with soft, smooth fabrics like cotton and viscose from bamboo.
when to send it
and why more than one box is a good idea
A care package doesn't have to be a one-time gift. What she needs changes as treatment goes on.
before treatment
keep it light
Keep it light and practical: a tote, a planner, a long charger and a short card. If she is having a port put in, a port-access top will be ready for her first infusion. A gentle shampoo, since her scalp may soon be sensitive, is a thoughtful add. Add a cap and a sleep cap if she's ready to think about them.
the first treatment
treatment-day comfort
Treatment-day comfort: a cozy layer, something to pass the time, mints and lip balm.
one to four weeks in
when her hair starts to go
Hair loss usually starts one to four weeks after the first treatment.1 This is when the soft cap, the sleep cap and a silk pillowcase matter most, and when a visit or a call means the most too.
the middle rounds
when the cards slow down
The cards slow down after the first few weeks. Friends can take turns sending something small each round, so the attention doesn't disappear with them.
the last treatment
celebrate finishing
Celebrate finishing, and keep the card about her. Some women aren't ready for "you beat it" talk, so "so proud of you for getting through this" is easier to hear.
after treatment
the in-between months
Regrowth takes time. A gentle shampoo for her new hair, an eyebrow pencil, a soft cap for the in-between months and a no-pressure invitation to lunch are all welcome.
the card and the wrapping
the part she'll keep
The card is the part she'll keep, and the part most people get stuck on. Keep it short and warm, and take the pressure off a reply.
what to write
try writing
- "No need to write back. I'm just thinking of you."
- "I don't know what to say, so I sent a hat."
- "I picked this because it's your color."
- "Keep what you like and pass the rest along. No feelings hurt."
- "I'm bringing dinner Thursday. Leave the cooler on the porch."
- "I'm walking the dog every Tuesday until you tell me to stop."
- "Want company on the 14th? I'll bring the crossword and keep quiet."
- "I'll call you after your next treatment."
- "How's today?"
skip
- "Everything happens for a reason."
- "Stay positive!"
- "You've got this, warrior!"
- "At least they caught it early."
- "Let me know if you need anything."
- "Have you tried cutting out sugar?"
- "My aunt had the same thing."
- "I know exactly how you feel."
- "How are you?" (every single time)
The ones to skip are meant kindly. Each one hands her a job. "Stay positive" and "everything happens for a reason" ask her to feel better than she does. "At least" tells her it could be worse, which she knows. "Let me know if you need anything" makes her the one who has to ask. "Have you tried" says she isn't doing enough. "My aunt" and "I know how you feel" turn her news into someone else's story. And "how are you?", asked every day by everyone, means writing the same report twenty times. "How's today?" only asks about today.
The ones to try do the opposite. They take the pressure off a reply, they name a day and a job, and they let her say no. If you'd like a few more words to borrow, our quotes for cancer patients are full of them.
how to wrap it
- Use the tote as the gift bag. If a tote is part of the gift, wrap each item in tissue paper and tuck them all inside.
- Fill a box with confetti. Nestle the items in bright confetti. It looks fun, and it could not be easier.
- Wrap every piece. Wrap each item on its own and pack them in a box. Whether you mail it or hand it over, she gets to open one little gift after another.
A chemo care package doesn't need to be big or expensive. A soft cap, a lip balm and a handwritten note are enough, and they still show you care.
care package themes
five to get you started, if you'd like ideas
A theme ties the box together. Build it around what she loves, her faith, the season, or the kind of cancer she is going through. These are a few we put together.
comfort and pampering
Think spa. Headwear in soft, supple fabrics, care for her skin and lips, and a little makeup for the days she isn't feeling her best. Our Alra Therapy Lotion and Alra Mild Conditioning Shampoo, both made for women in treatment, are the heart of this box.
faith
Many women lean on their faith through treatment and surgery, and a box built around hers says you know her.
the holidays
Send it a month or two before the holidays, and it gives her something festive to look forward to on the days she's feeling down.
comfy and cozy
All about comfort: soft, warm headwear, a good book and clothes she can wear to chemo, around the house or to bed, all in colors that match.
for the fashion lover
Avant-garde headwear, pretty accessories and a little sparkle.
care package questions
the short answers
what do you put in a chemo care package?
Start with four essentials: a soft cap or turban, a sleep cap, lip balm and an unscented lotion. Then add what she'd use, such as a tote bag, a port-access top if she has a port, an extra-long phone charger, a soft lap blanket, something easy to pass the time, sugar-free mints for a metallic taste, a comfy outfit or a card promising a meal or a ride.
what should you not put in a chemo care package?
Skip strong scents such as perfume, scented lotions and candles, because treatment can change how things smell. Ask before sending food or anything for the bath. Flowers and plants need care she may not have energy for, and slogan gifts suit some women and not others. For her head, choose soft, smooth fabrics over anything scratchy.
what is a good chemo care package for her?
A soft cap in her style, a sleep cap for cold nights, a gentle lip balm and an unscented lotion, plus one or two things that feel like her: a favorite color, a pair of earrings, a book she has been meaning to read.
how do you make a DIY chemo care package?
Pick a tote bag or a box, start with the four essentials, add a few extras for treatment days and home, and finish with a handwritten card. Wrap each item in tissue paper or nestle them in confetti.
when should you send a chemo care package?
Any time, and more than once if you can. Before treatment, keep it light and practical. Around the first treatment, focus on treatment-day comfort. When her hair starts to go, usually one to four weeks after the first treatment, a soft cap and a sleep cap matter most. A small pick-me-up in the middle rounds and a gift at the last treatment are lovely too.
what should I write in a chemo care package card?
Keep it short and warm, and take the pressure off a reply: "No need to write back. I'm just thinking of you." A specific offer, like a dinner on a set night, helps more than "let me know if you need anything."
can you make a chemo care package for a man?
Yes. Nearly everything in a care package works for a man too: lip balm, unscented lotion, a long phone charger, something to pass the time and a soft cap from our men's hats.
does a chemo care package have to be expensive?
No. A soft cap, a lip balm and a handwritten note are enough.
why we care about this
specialists in hair loss since 1995
My grandmother Carol came out of breast cancer surgery in 1990, and there was simply nothing she wanted to put on her head. In 1995 she and my mom, Danielle, started Headcovers, because they wanted women going through hair loss to have better choices.
We still make most of our headwear ourselves, and my mom and I try on every hat together. The soft caps and sleep caps in these boxes have all been on our own heads first.
If you have put together a care package of your own, we would love to hear what went in it. Tell us about it.
Putting a box together?
Soft caps, sleep caps and scarves, most of them made by us.
keep learning
hat parties for cancer patientsGather her friends and a pile of new hats.
cancer hats buying guideHow to choose a comfortable chemo hat.
chemo and hair lossWhat to expect, and when.
skin and nail care during chemoGentle care for skin and nails.
quotes for cancer patientsWords for the card.
15 ways to help someone with cancerMore ways to show up for her.
sources
1 Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Hair Loss and Your Cancer Treatment.
2 Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Mouth Care During Your Cancer Treatment.
3 American Cancer Society, Taste and Smell Changes.
4 University of Rochester Medical Center, Appetite and Taste Changes During Chemotherapy.
This guide is for informational purposes only. It does not replace advice from your surgeon, oncologist, or certified fitter. If you have questions about your specific situation, please consult your care team.
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