27 ways to help someone with cancer

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I wish everyone knew these 27 things!  Take note my friends!

27 Ways to Help Someone With Cancer

1. Deliver a meal. Make sure to ask in advance if they have any dietary restrictions or are following any guidelines. Stay for a visit, or just drop off the food if they’re not up for it.
2. Deliver a tupperware of several pre-made meals that your friend can heat up as needed.
3. Send a quick email, text, or message saying you’re thinking of them.
4. Add “Feel free to take me up on this offer whenever” when you offer help — they’ll know the offer will still be sincere whenever they need it — in a week, a month, a year.
5. Set a calendar alert reminding you to check in with a quick hello or offer of help on a regular basis.
6. Text them next time you’re at the grocery store and ask if they’d like you to pick anything up.
7. Send a housekeeper to clean up their place. Take care of the details so they just need to be there to open the door.
8. Send a mobile masseuse for a gift massage.
9. Text them the next time you’re at the drug store to see if they need any toiletries.
10. Text them the next time you’re at the pharmacy to see if they need any prescriptions picked up.
11. Add “No need to respond” to the end of your message — they’ll appreciate hearing from you without feeling they need to do anything in return.
12. Offer to take them out for a coffee or lunch date.
13. Offer to visit. Make sure to check that they’re feeling up for it.
14. Offer to take them out to a movie. If they’re too tired, come by with a rental.
15. Offer a ride to chemo and keep them company during the treatment. Even better, commit to giving a ride on a regular basis throughout their treatments.
16. Let them know you’re “on call” for emergencies. Mean it.
17. Send a flower delivery. However, make sure the person isn’t on neutropenic precautions first; fresh flowers can be an infection risk for cancer patients with weakened immune systems. Sadly, I had to give away the many wonderful flower deliveries I got right after my diagnosis.
18. Order take-out and have it delivered. Ask if they have a favorite restaurant, or if they seem too overwhelmed to make any decisions, just get a sense of their dietary preferences and pick out a nice meal for them.
19. Gift a magazine or newspaper subscription.
20. Gift your favorite book.
21. Tell them you love and care about them. Even if they don’t have the energy to respond, your message means a lot.
22. For your lady cancer friend, take her out to a nice beauty treatment. Think: manicure/pedicure, facial, makeup application, etc. It may be the first time she’s splurged on her appearance in a while.
23. Send a card. Make sure it’s legible — cancer eyes are tired eyes 
24. Give an Uber or Lyft gift certificate if you’re not available to offer a ride. I’m a huge fan of Uber and have been using it happily and regularly since my diagnosis.
25. If you’re a close friend or family member, offer to be a “point” person” where you screen and accept/decline other’s invite and help offers. Right after a diagnosis there are many who want to help and visit and call, but the person with cancer might be extremely overwhelmed and need some space for the time being.
26. Understand that a cancer patient is likely too overwhelmed to ask what they need; take the initiative by offering specifics instead of saying “Let me know if there’s anything I can do for you.”
27. Cancer isn’t contagious — give your buddy a hug to let them know you’re on their side.