Many people send tokens of their well-wishes when someone is first diagnosed with an illness. As treatment goes on and on, it can get harder and harder to choose a gift that’s sensitive, meaningful and relevant. It’s lovely for those going through treatment to receive little treats to provide a little boost and act as a reminder that someone is thinking of you and rooting for you. Not Another Bunch of Flowers offer a new bespoke gift box subscription for regular gift deliveries. The service is completely bespoke but was introduced with the intention of sending a gift to coincide with every chemotherapy session (usually 6 gifts in total with a gift sent every 3 weeks.
How it works: The customer supplies Not Another Bunch of Flowers with a budget, frequency of gifts and total number of gifts. A list of suggested gifts is shortlisted. The suggestions can be amended to suit the recipient. Not Another Bunch of Flowers willI then get in touch with the customer before every treatment session to check that they are still happy with their selection of gift(s) and to see what message they would like to include. All gifts are lovingly wrapped, include a handwritten message and are pretty, pampering or practical plus safe for use during treatment and welcome in hospitals.
Although the gift box subscription was introduced for chemotherapy patients, as it is a completely bespoke service there is an option for everyone; gifts suited to men, women, new-mums, teens and more! It can be applied to any illness, treatment regime, pregnancy and birth. It has already proven really popular with families, groups of friends or work colleagues who club together to buy a selection of gifts to be spread out to coincide with the treatment sessions.
Editor’s Notes: Not Another Bunch of Flowers
Not Another Bunch of Flowers is an online web shop set up by Anikka Burton to help friends and family of poorly people make thoughtful gift choices for their loved ones.
Anikka was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 aged 33, and has had the full works of chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy and 5 operations to date. When first diagnosed, Anikka’s friends, family and colleagues sent so many bunches of flowers that she ran out of vases, jugs, pint glasses… until she was putting them in saucepans and anything else that would hold water! Not Another Bunch of Flowers was founded on the principle that whilst flowers are bright and beautiful amongst the gloom of illness, there are only so many a girl needs!
Buying an alternative present can be a difficult choice: some usual food and drink gift options may be off the cards; some ingredients in toiletries must also be avoided by some, such as parabens, sulphates and even some natural ingredients. Not Another Bunch of Flowers helps shoppers pick out the right practical (never boring!) gifts for those going through chemo, such as eye masks, button front pyjamas, beanies, and all sorts of bits and bobs you would never have thought of if you hadn’t been through it yourself.
Not Another Bunch of Flowers is generally known for supplying gifts for cancer patients – due to Anikka’s personal story and the resulting PR. However, Not Another Bunch of Flowers also sells general get well gifts, hospital gifts and gifts for mums-to-be and new mums.
The website offers a wide range of gifts such as jewellery, nightwear, quilts, puzzles, beauty products and sweets. You can also buy cards for every occasion: get well cards, empathy cards, cards for mums-to-be or birthday cards. And on top of that the website features a blog where you can find supportive and useful tips for specific situations.
Each year 55,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK – that’s one person every 10 minutes. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual campaign during October to increase the awareness of the disease. Misdiagnosis of cancer does happen more than you would think, and for a variety of reasons.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month reminds the public to ensure that they check for symptoms, this can include monthly self-examinations or by attending a scan. Read our post on How to Check Your Own Breasts for more information.
The failure to diagnose or undetect breast cancer and it’s symptoms are fatal as this gives the opportunity for the disease to advance to a more serious stage, and increase the risk of harming the patient and lowering the cure rate. It’s not just older women who experience breast cancer, it can also happen at a younger age.
Anikka Burton was misdiagnosed and had to fight for a biopsy despite her family history. At a young age, Annika’s mother passed away with breast cancer and when Anikka found herself experiencing symptoms of breast cancer she was told by doctors that it definitely wasn’t cancer. After the struggle for a biopsy, Anikka was diagnosed with an aggressive, locally advanced primary breast cancer in 2011 at just 33 years of age. Anikka has gone on to have the full works of chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy and 5 operations to date. During treatment she wrote a blog to help others through treatment: www.chemoforbeginners.com.
From her negative experience, Anikka went on to create a positive with the launch of Not Another Bunch of Flowers, of which Anikka says:
“Sometimes our light bulb moments don’t come from positive experiences. It can be the hardest things we go through in life that inspire our creativity. I hope that from my actions I inspire and motivate others to see there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Unfortunately, a misdiagnosis can happen to anyone. Going through a cancer diagnosis can be an unexplainable, terrifying and uneasy experience. If you feel that you have been given a misdiagnosis, don’t be afraid to seek another doctor or specialist elsewhere.
To avoid a misdiagnosis, it’s vital that you let your Doctor know exactly how you are feeling. Here are 5 steps to avoid misdiagnosis:
Seek a specialist.
Write down each symptom.
Know your medical history.
Describe and be specific about your symptoms while talking with your doctor.
Question. Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you possibly can.
Editor’s Notes: Not Another Bunch of Flowers
Not Another Bunch of Flowers is an online web shop set up by Anikka Burton to help friends and family of poorly people make thoughtful gift choices for their loved ones.
Anikka was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 aged 33, and has had the full works of chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy and 5 operations to date. When first diagnosed, Anikka’s friends, family and colleagues sent so many bunches of flowers that she ran out of vases, jugs, pint glasses… until she was putting them in saucepans and anything else that would hold water! Not Another Bunch of Flowers was founded on the principle that whilst flowers are bright and beautiful amongst the gloom of illness, there are only so many a girl needs!
Buying an alternative present can be a difficult choice: some usual food and drink gift options may be off the cards; some ingredients in toiletries must also be avoided by some, such as parabens, sulphates and even some natural ingredients. Not Another Bunch of Flowers helps shoppers pick out the right practical (never boring!) gifts for those going through chemo, such as eye masks, button front pyjamas, beanies, and all sorts of bits and bobs you would never have thought of if you hadn’t been through it yourself.
Not Another Bunch of Flowers is generally known for supplying gifts for cancer patients – due to Anikka’s personal story and the resulting PR. However, Not Another Bunch of Flowers also sells general get well gifts, hospital gifts and gifts for mums-to-be and new mums.
The website offers a wide range of gifts such as jewellery, nightwear, quilts, puzzles, beauty products and sweets. You can also buy cards for every occasion: get well cards, empathy cards, cards for mums-to-be or birthday cards. And on top of that the website features a blog where you can find supportive and useful tips for specific situations.
When a friend or family member is diagnosed with cancer, there is shock, sadness, and there’s the inevitable question of what to say. All too often people stumble and hesitate while struggling to find the right words, then out pour clichés and platitudes (all well-intended) that are often inappropriate.
These are some things to remember when talking to someone who is or has been affected by cancer or other serious illness. Here are a couple of things you could or absolutely shouldn’t say:
Don’t say : “We’ll do something fun when this is all over” and disappear. Do say: “I’m here for you.” And mean it.
Cancer can be very isolating and friends tend to fall by the wayside. The best friends are those who remain by our sides throughout and keep in touch with regular phone calls, texts, letters, emails and visits (when we feel up to it).
Don’t say: “You’ll be fine” or “Just stay positive”
Do say: “I’m so sorry you are ill.”
You’re not a doctor. If our oncologists can’t tell us we will be fine, then you have no way of knowing this. While we realise you are trying to be ‘positive’ and ‘optimistic’, it feels like you are belittling our very real fears. It’s not easy to come to terms with a diagnosis and it is entirely natural to feel scared and worried and have a good cry! A simple acknowledgement that you care and realise that we are having a rubbish time is much better than any meaningless platitude or cliché.
Don’t say: Nothing
Do say: “I don’t know what to say.”
Honesty is the best policy. It’s entirely natural to not know what to say. Just acknowledging the situation and simply being there for your loved one is enough. Try to be open and honest about how you feel, ask how the other person feels and don’t shy away from the heavier topics if they feel the need to talk about them.
Don’t say: “I’ve read about this miracle cure…”
Do say: “Would you like a lift to your treatment?”
Don’t believe everything you read online. ANYONE can write about a hokum pokum cure on the internet (think Belle Gibson). We have the internet too and have made informed decisions about our treatment options and it is up to me whether to believe that half a lemon a day with a teaspoon of turmeric is a better cure than chemo. Much more useful is an offer of practical help.
Don’t say: “You must be glad this is all over.” Do say: “How are you feeling now?”
It’s very important to know that with something as serious as cancer, it’s never really over. Recuperating from surgery or treatment can take a lot longer than is outwardly obvious. Don’t make assumptions on how someone in remission is feeling, but do check in from time to time. Even if a person is given the all-clear, cancer and treatment can cause long term issues and there can be ongoing side effects (fatigue, weight loss or gain, scarring). It also takes its toll on a person emotionally and afterwards there is often the fear of the cancer returning.
Now that we’ve covered what to say and what not to say to a cancer patient, you might also need some inspiration on gifts that aren’t a total cliché. A simple ‘get well soon’ card maybe isn’t always appropriate and you have to be careful bringing flowers into hospitals.
Visit Not Another Bunch of Flowers for some heart-warming gifts and original alternatives to flowers. One of the reasons this web shop was set up was because when the founder, Anikka Burton, was diagnosed with cancer she got so many flowers she ran out of vases and had to start putting the flowers in pint glasses and saucepans!
If you still need help figuring out what to say to someone going through cancer treatment or someone who’s just unwell and feeling a bit under the weather, here are our favourite picks of cards that will do the talking for you:
Editor’s Notes: Not Another Bunch of Flowers
Not Another Bunch of Flowers is an online web shop set up by Anikka Burton to help friends and family of poorly people make thoughtful gift choices for their loved ones.
Anikka was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 aged 33, and has had the full works of chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy and 5 operations to date. When first diagnosed, Anikka’s friends, family and colleagues sent so many bunches of flowers that she ran out of vases, jugs, pint glasses… until she was putting them in saucepans and anything else that would hold water! Not Another Bunch of Flowers was founded on the principle that whilst flowers are bright and beautiful amongst the gloom of illness, there are only so many a girl needs!
Buying an alternative present can be a difficult choice: some usual food and drink gift options may be off the cards; some ingredients in toiletries must also be avoided by some, such as parabens, sulphates and even some natural ingredients. Not Another Bunch of Flowers helps shoppers pick out the right practical (never boring!) gifts for those going through chemo, such as eye masks, button front pyjamas, beanies, and all sorts of bits and bobs you would never have thought of if you hadn’t been through it yourself.
Not Another Bunch of Flowers is generally known for supplying gifts for cancer patients – due to Anikka’s personal story and the resulting PR. However, Not Another Bunch of Flowers also sells general get well gifts, hospital gifts and gifts for mums-to-be and new mums.
The website offers a wide range of gifts such as jewellery, nightwear, quilts, puzzles, beauty products and sweets. You can also buy cards for every occasion: get well cards, empathy cards, cards for mums-to-be or birthday cards. And on top of that the website features a blog where you can find supportive and useful tips for specific situations.
