The Gift That Actually Helps
Functional, research-backed cancer care packages — because patients need relief, not another tote bag.
Quick Facts:
Founded: Fall 2020 | Headquarters: Overland Park, Kansas
Quick Facts:
Founded: Fall 2020 | Headquarters: Overland Park, Kansas
Founder: Liz Benditt, 6x cancer survivor and President/CEO
Research base: 500+ patient and caregiver interviews
Product range: 20+ SKUs spanning chemo, radiation, surgical recovery, and general cancer care
Available: TheBalmBox.com | Domestic + International shipping
The Balm Box was born from a very specific frustration: six cancer diagnoses, too many well-meaning casseroles, and not a single gift that made treatment feel one degree more bearable.
Founder and CEO Liz Benditt knows cancer from the inside out. A six-time survivor — melanoma (twice), thyroid cancer, basal cell carcinoma, and breast cancer (twice) — Liz spent years navigating treatments with little guidance on what non-prescription tools actually helped. During her breast cancer radiation, she found herself doing page-20 Google searches at midnight looking for burn salves, aluminum-free deodorant, and a mini-pillow to buffer her seatbelt. The resources simply didn't exist.
After completing treatment, her friends threw her a "Finish Line" party. That night became the starting line for something new.
In fall 2020, Liz launched TheBalmBox.com — a curated gifting company built on a deceptively simple premise: give cancer patients what they actually need. She conducted research with more than 500 patients and caregivers before building a single product. The finding that shaped everything? Patients ranked functional items like ice packs and lotion 400% higher than branded t-shirts and tote bags.
Today, The Balm Box offers a full range of treatment-specific care packages, including curated boxes for chemotherapy, radiation, mastectomy, lumpectomy, liver cancer, and post-treatment rest and recovery — for both women and men. The Fabulous Friends line extends the assortment with premium loungewear, wigs, robes, comfort pillows, and candles. Shoppers can also build a fully custom box or purchase individual items like the brand's Nix Nausea Essential Oil, No Sweat Ice Packs, and unscented Botanical Body Cream — all selected to provide genuine palliative relief from treatment side effects.
The Balm Box ships domestically and internationally, and is available direct-to-consumer at TheBalmBox.com.
What sets The Balm Box apart isn't just the products — it's the point of view. This is a company founded by someone who has lived every product category. Liz's approach is grounded in quality, radical authenticity (no false claims, no miracle cures), and a firm belief that laughter is good medicine — literally. Seven peer-reviewed studies back her up.
For patients in the middle of it, The Balm Box offers a small but meaningful sense of control. For the friends and family who desperately want to help, it gives them something real to give.
Press coverage
"Benditt now has more freedom in her career than ever before, with unlimited PTO and the flexibility to spend as much time with family and friends as she pleases."
The U.S. Sun
- April 04, 2026
"When you ask cancer patients things that they want and need when they're undergoing treatment, it's all functional - lip balm, lotion, functional pillows, and fleece blankets. The things that they don't want, things that get low scores across the board: kicking cancer tote bags, coffee, mugs, worry stones, and inspirational poetry."
Social 333
- March 24, 2026
"The lesson was powerful, though: not every “yes” serves the mission. Growth isn’t about volume — it’s about alignment. I learned that my time and energy have value, and I need to protect both. Leadership is about making choices — learning when and how to say no is a powerful skill."
Authority Magazine
- March 12, 2026
" Gamechangers and Champions 2026 is a “Bracket Bash for Innovators and Angels,” organizers said. The competition is designed to bring together Kansas startups with angel investors and regional venture-capital fund managers — all set amid the excitement of the Men’s Big 12 Basketball Tournament being hosted in Kansas City "
Startland News
- February 25, 2026
"In this compelling episode of PharmaShots CXO Talks, we sit down with Liz Benditt, Founder & CEO of Balm Box, to explore how thoughtful innovation is reshaping the patient experience. Liz shares the inspiration behind Balm Box, the strategic vision driving its growth, and how personalized care solutions can create meaningful impact for patients navigating complex health journeys. "
PharmaShots
- February 20, 2026
"Liz Benditt doesn’t do platitudes. She’s a six-time cancer survivor, founder of The Balm Box, mum of two, and a woman who has rebuilt her body and identity more times than most of us can comprehend."
Midlife by Design
- February 15, 2026
"When life delivers a rupture, some women break. Others bend. And a rare few—like Liz Benditt, founder of The Balm Box—rebuild something stronger, more intentional and profoundly meaningful from the pieces. "
She's Got Issues
- January 29, 2026
"“We interviewed 500+ patients and caregivers, online, to curate functional care packages for cancer patients,” she said. “It totally validated my business idea, and this huge disconnect between what cancer patients want and what they’re actually getting.”"
Nifty50+
- December 25, 2025
" Liz has faced — and beaten — six different cancer diagnoses, transforming her pain into purpose by creating The Balm Box, a company that redefines what it means to give meaningful, functional gifts to cancer patients."
Growth Mavericks with Adam Callinan
- November 12, 2025
"“The beauty of starting a business this late in life is that you have this network of people you can call upon,” said Benditt, president, founder, and CEO of The Balm Box, an ecommerce company that delivers gift boxes tailored for cancer patients. “I have this incredible network of people that have worked for me, or I have worked for, that I was able to rely on.” "
Nifty50+
- November 03, 2025
"Liz Benditt, CEO of The Balm Box and five-time cancer survivor, champions functional, scent-safe, and reusable gifts over novelty items. She advises wrapping with shipping boxes, choosing artificial trees, and using gentle, unscented products."
A Further Inquiry
- September 18, 2025
"Today’s guest is a powerhouse of resilience, innovation, and heart. Liz Benditt is a 6-time cancer survivor turned entrepreneur who took her personal struggles and transformed them into a mission-driven business."
Rule 42
- December 01, 2024
"In 2000, Liz Benditt moved from California to Kansas City to be closer to her mother, who was recovering from breast cancer. She fully expected the relocation to be temporary. Twenty years later, she launched The Balm Box, a cancer care package service, from her Leawood home. “Kansas City has taken such amazing care of me and my family,” she says today. “The people I love most are all here—it is my forever home.”"
IN Kansas City
- October 01, 2024
Awards
Team
Liz Benditt
Founder and CEO
lbenditt@thebalmbox.com
Liz Benditt is a six-time cancer survivor turned entrepreneur and founder of The Balm Box. With an MBA from USC and 20+ years in corporate marketing, she builds thoughtful gifts for cancer patients, blending grit, empathy, and humor to turn hard experiences into meaningful impact.
Howard Weiner
COO
Howard Weiner is the Chief Operating Officer of The Balm Box, where he brings his extensive National and International Operations leadership experience and entrepreneurial insight.
Before joining The Balm Box, Howard built a successful career in Manufacturing and Business leadership and strategy, drawing on decades of experience in operations, engineering, innovation, and team development. After a distinguished career and a period of retirement, he chose to come out of retirement to help launch and scale The Balm Box.
Howard is known for his strategic vision and operational excellence. He currently lives in the Kansas City metro with his wife of over 50 years. He enjoys spending time near his favorite golf courses and with his four grandchildren.
Mikayla Johnson
Operations Manager
customersupport@thebalmbox.com, 913-991-1048
Mikayla is the Operations Manager at The Balm Box, where she oversees daily business operations and plays a key role in ensuring a seamless customer experience.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Mid America University, where she also played collegiate volleyball, developing leadership, discipline, and communication skills she brings to her role every day.
Her responsibilities include managing customer service, handling inventory, fulfillment, and coordinating part-time staff to support efficient workflows. Mikayla began her journey with The Balm Box in a part-time role and transitioned into full-time operations management through her dedication, reliability, and strong attention to detail.
Marni Frischer
Marketing and Sales Manager
marni.frischer@thebalmbox.com
Marni is a Marketing and Sales Manager at The Balm Box, where she helps drive growth through thoughtful strategy, meaningful partnerships, and purpose-driven storytelling. Born and raised in St. Louis, she earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing and supply chain from the University of Kansas, a dual focus that shaped her ability to connect creative vision with operational execution.
Marni began her career in the logistics field, gaining hands-on experience in coordination, problem-solving, and understanding how strategy translates into action. That foundation sparked her passion for marketing—particularly social media, content marketing, partnership development, and campaign strategy—as a way to bring structure, clarity, and heart to mission-driven work.
At The Balm Box, Marni leads marketing and sales initiatives that amplify the brand’s mission and expand its reach. She focuses on building authentic relationships, shaping brand voice, and ensuring the company’s products connect with individuals, caregivers, and organizations looking to support those navigating cancer treatment.
Leo Heather
Customer Support Coordinator
customersupport@thebalmbox.com, 9139941048
Leo Heather is a Customer Support Coordinator who keeps customers informed, heard, and smiling. He handles emails and phone calls with heart, humor, and clarity, turning questions into solutions and challenges into moments of genuine human connection.
Logos
Testimonials
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"Yes, this was a gift from a young mother (family member) who had a prophylactic double mastectomy with reconstruction and replied "I received the most amazing care package from you today! Thank you so so much, all of this is so useful and will make recovery lot smoother. Thank you, thank you, thank you! ...""
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"Our niece's husband was thrilled with this box! He has recently been diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer and is still processing the news. He had never seen anything like it and was overwhelmed with the variety of items included in the box! We appreciate the thoughtfulness that goes into creating these boxes! This is the third Balm Box that we have sent to family and friends and all have been grateful for the specific items in the boxes. I must say the seat belt protector has been the most helpful in all three cases....thank you!"
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"My sister was thrilled with this thoughtful gift and said as soon as she opened it, she could see herself using the socks to help with the cold therapy during her treatments. Thank you for providing this essential support for cancer patients- so happy I found you!"
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"Got this message from our friend who received as a gift after first cycle of treatment: What a lovely surprise I received yesterday afternoon from you! How lucky I am to have friends like you guys! The package contained a variety of very unique items that I found very enjoyable. You guys are too sweet and I so much appreciate your thoughtfulness and support.""
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
""I gifted the Balm Box to Ann, and she was so moved that she cried when she opened it! She loved everything inside, which truly speaks to the thoughtful curation of each item. I adore this concept and hope it continues to bring comfort and support to all survivors. It's a beautiful gift for healing!""
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"I was given a Balm Box when I was diagnosed with breast cancer and it is so special, the Most special and memorable gift I have probably ever received! When I found out my friend was diagnosed, I wanted her fo experience that same feeling of each gift personally picked just for her 🫶🏼 I love this company, the story of how it came to be, and the care that goes into every unique box"
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