What to Put in a Chemo Care Package: A Guide from People Who've Been There
Lip Ganache exists because our own family members went through treatment. This guide comes from what we watched help — and what sat unused on the nightstand. It's general advice, not medical guidance; when in doubt, ask the person's care team what's appropriate.
What actually makes a good chemo care package?
The best care packages solve small, recurring discomforts. Chemotherapy days are long, treatment rooms are cold and dry, and side effects like dry lips, dry skin, nausea, and a changed sense of taste show up over and over. A useful package is built around those realities rather than around what looks nice in a basket. The thoughtful version of this gift says: I learned a little about what your days are like.
The essentials most patients actually use
- A gentle lip balm. Dry, cracked lips are one of the most common and most persistent side effects of chemotherapy, because treatment affects fast-dividing cells like the ones lining the mouth and lips. Choose something with a short, simple ingredient list and no synthetic fragrance. (This is the product our company was founded to make — our gift sets let them pick flavors, and our chemo lip-care guide covers how to use balm through treatment. One honest note: if the person currently has mouth sores, go fully unflavored — we explain why in the guide.)
- A soft blanket or warm socks. Infusion rooms run cold, and chemo can make people more sensitive to it.
- Unscented hand cream. Skin dries out along with lips. Unscented matters — treatment often creates new sensitivities to fragrance.
- Hard candies — lemon or ginger. Many patients get a metallic taste during infusions; sour or ginger candies are the classic countermeasure, and ginger can settle a queasy stomach.
- A good water bottle with a straw. Hydration is constant work during chemo, and a straw helps when lips are cracked or the mouth is sore.
- Entertainment for waiting. Long sessions mean podcasts, an easy book, a crossword, or a small puzzle — something that doesn't demand much energy.
- A soft beanie or head covering, if hair loss is part of their treatment — heads get cold quickly.
What to leave out
- Strong fragrances — perfumed lotions, scented candles, heavily flavored products. Smell sensitivity and nausea often travel together during treatment.
- Fresh flowers and fresh fruit for some patients — immune systems can be compromised; check with the family first.
- Supplements, teas, or anything "medicinal" — even natural remedies can interact with treatment. Leave anything ingestible-for-health to their oncology team.
- Anything that demands energy — thick novels, elaborate crafts, or gifts that come with an obligation to respond.
How do you put it together?
Keep it small enough to carry to an infusion appointment — a tote bag beats a giant basket, because the tote itself gets used. Add a short note that doesn't need a reply ("thinking of you, no need to write back"). If you're far away, several small packages over the months of treatment mean more than one big one at the start; treatment is a marathon, and the fourth month is often lonelier than the first.
Why we care about this
Lip Ganache started when family members going through medical treatment couldn't find a lip balm gentle enough for their lips. We made our own from certified organic, petroleum-free ingredients, handmade in small batches — first for them, then for anyone who needs simpler, gentler lip care. If a balm ends up in a care package you build, we're honored. Read more about lip care during chemotherapy, or ask us anything — we remember what it's like to be the person assembling the package.
Written by the Lip Ganache family in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Lip Ganache began when members of our own family were going through treatment and couldn’t find lip care gentle enough for their sensitive skin — making a pure, petroleum-free balm for them is how this company started. We’re balm makers, not doctors, so please lean on your care team for anything medical.
