Prior to launching, we interviewed over 500 Cancer Patients and Gift Buyers to curate our Self Care and Gift Boxes. The survey asked respondents to rate almost 50 different items – broken down into four categories: Functional, Thoughtful, Motivational and Fun/Silly. I thought it would be interesting to dig into the Top 3 scoring items, and a little bit about WHY they scored so well.

#1: Lotion

Everything about cancer treatments – from surgery, to chemo, to radiation is hard on the skin. Surgical wounds are tender long after the stiches come out, chemo ports can be itchy and tender, and of course radiation burns hurt more intensely than a standard sunburn. Throw in a gazillion liters of hand sanitizer and you have a recipe for head-to-toe dry, itchy, and painful skin.

We worked directly with the brilliant brains over at Polish Your Parts to develop the Botanical Burn Balm. The ‘secret’ ingredient is a very high concentration of premium quality calendula oil. Calendula oil has been studied for years – both by holistic health and traditional medical establishment alike – as the root is known to take the ‘sting’ out of burns.

You can find.65 ounce sticks of Botanical Burn Balm in the Radiation Essentials, Radiation Care, Cancer Care, Colossal Cancer Care, and Soothing Skin & Lips boxes. Or buy a 1.1 ounce stick for $19.99 here.

#2: Lip Balm

Anyone who has spent as much time as I have in and around hospitals can agree - medical establishments are COLD and DRY. Why is that? Presumably, it is because bacteria thrive in warm environments, so hospitals address this with cold temperatures to help slow bacterial and viral growth. And all that air conditioning naturally takes humidity out of the air. Enter: dry mouth, dry hands, and DRY LIPS. It is so simple, yet so often overlooked – a nourishing lip balm can make a huge difference in patient comfort.

We selected the orange mimosa lip balm for its delicate, mild scent, organic ingredients, and smooth application.

You can find the orange mimosa lip balm in the Radiation Essentials, Radiation Care, Cancer Care, Colossal Cancer Care, and Soothing Skin & Lips boxes.

#3: Aromatherapy

I will fully admit that I am an essential-oil newbie. It never occurred to me to try lavender oil to address my tired eyes and headaches or peppermint for nausea when undergoing my cancer treatments. But I wish I had!

When I was growing up essential oils were a rare specialty item. I remember seeing a display by an herbalist on her folding table at my local farmer’s market. Last week, I came across an end-cap assortment of 20+ varieties of essential oils at my local CVS! The reality is that essential oils can absolutely have a palliative effect and are worth trying for patients suffering from a host of treatment side effects.

Our lavender essential oil and diffuser bracelet set is one of our most popular items. Lavender oil has been in use for thousands of years as a treatment for anxiety, insomnia, and restlessness. The scent is delicate and oh-so-relaxing. We just started sourcing our essential oils from an organic producer – eResonance – all the way from Switzerland. The lavender essential oil and diffuser bracelet can be found in our Radiation Rest, Cancer Care, Colossal Cancer Care, and Soothing Skin & Lips boxes.

Fun fact: eResonance also now makes our lavender scented eye pillows found in the Radiation Rest, Cancer Care, and Colossal Cancer Care boxes.

You can purchase a lavender essential oil & diffuser set for $14.99 here.

I take great pride in the market research we do to ensure our boxes are curated based on direct feedback from cancer patients, helping to ensure our boxes deliver functional support products that genuinely help and heal.

And more is coming soon – stay tuned for a NEW line of boxes coming out later this year!