The holidays can be tough for anyone with cancer. Everyone else is celebrating, and you’re just trying to get through the day.

When I was first diagnosed, I remember feeling completely checked out. Those early days were foggy and unreal. I couldn’t process half of what I was being told, and I didn’t have the energy to pretend I was okay. Life kept moving like nothing had changed, but everything had changed for me.

And you should know that I wrote this with caregivers in mind too, and for anyone who’s looking at someone they care about and thinking, “I want to help, but I don’t know where to start.”

Here are some ideas.

1. Bring clarity

Those early weeks after diagnosis can feel like information overload. Doctors, appointments, medications, schedules—it all piles up. Fast and furious.

Offering to:

• take notes at an appointment
• keep track of paperwork
• help organize a calendar

…can bring more relief than you realize. Sometimes just having someone listen and write things down helps the fog lift.

2. Take a decision off their plate

Cancer steals energy, and decision fatigue is real.

Simple phrases like:

“I’ll take care of dinner Tuesday”

“I’ll drive you to treatment”

“Let me call the insurance company for you”

…can feel like a lifeline. When I was sick, every choice felt like a mountain. Having someone make one small decision for me lightened the load.

3. Offer a clean, nourishing meal

During treatment, food can be tricky. Heavy casseroles may not be what your body needs. But a warm bowl of vegetable soup? Fresh juice? Organic produce? That can feel like fuel and comfort.

If you want to help, consider:

• homemade soup
• fresh juice
• clean protein
• simple, organic meals

Healing foods matter—especially during the holidays when everything revolves around rich dishes and sweets.

And if you’d like to order delivery from a healthy restaurant in your area, check out The Templeton List. I created it so others wouldn’t have to go through the frustration I did trying to find clean, healing food. Learn more about this unique restaurant guide HERE.

4. Protect their energy

Holiday gatherings can drain someone going through treatment. Noise, crowds, expectations—it can all be too much.

One of the kindest things you can do is help create boundaries:

• limit visitors
• offer an early exit plan
• let them step away without guilt

Sometimes the best gift is permission to rest.

5. Create a quiet space

A cozy chair by the fire. A quiet room to slip away to. A peaceful walk outside.

Those small pockets of calm can help someone catch their breath when the world feels loud.

6. Give practical gifts

Not everybody needs another scented candle.

What really helps?

• gas cards
• grocery delivery
• warm socks
• a journal
• cozy blanket
• cleaning service
• rides to appointments

These may not look flashy under the tree, but they make everyday life easier.

7. Support the caregiver

Caregivers often carry the heaviest load and get the least attention. They’re cooking, driving, worrying, and rarely resting.

Do something just for them:

• a meal they don’t have to prepare
• a few hours off
• someone to talk to
• help with errands

8. Ask real questions

Instead of:

“How are you?” (which most people will answer with “fine” even when they’re not)

Try:

“What feels hardest today?”

“What would make this week easier?”

“Would you like company or quiet?”

These questions open the door to real conversation and connection.

9. Share hope—without pressure

One of the greatest gifts I received wasn’t advice or treatment suggestions—it was quiet, steady hope.

When doctors gave me little chance, the people who stood beside me—consistently, without pushing or lecturing—made all the difference. Hope doesn’t always come from big gestures. Sometimes it’s a bowl of soup, a handwritten note, or someone who believes in you when you’re too tired to believe in yourself.

You can even point them toward stories of real people who’ve walked this road and come out the other side. On our website, we share video conversations with cancer survivors who were told they had little hope, yet they beat the odds. I’ve sat across from these folks, listened to their journeys, and I can tell you—nothing lifts the spirit quite like hearing from someone who’s been where you are and made it through.

The Bottom Line

If you’re supporting someone with cancer this holiday season, remember this:

You don’t have to fix everything. You don’t have to say the perfect words. Just show up in small, meaningful ways. That presence can become the moment they hold onto when the days feel long.

 

Eat Healthy, Wherever You Are!

Visit The Templeton List