As well as battling breast cancer you have realised that it is nearly Christmas and you have presents to buy, family who expect visits and children that want to see Santa?

Let’s be honest, the last thing you want to be doing is fighting for a carpark, pushing through crowds and carrying around heavy shopping bags.

If you are in the middle of treatment, you are already facing the emotionally and financially challenging task of beating breast cancer, so you are forgiven for feeling slight dread at the thought of having to survive the emotional turmoil of another family Christmas.

We have already provided some simple but practical tips for surviving the festive season. Today, we want to get to the heart of everyone’s Christmas stress: Christmas shopping.

These tips are especially for breast cancer patients, to help you get through Christmas as comfortably as possible.

Never Shop During Active Treatment 

Perhaps the most important tip of all, and a bit of advice for breast cancer patients knowingly given after unfortunate personal experience. Do not participate in any form of Christmas shopping, whether it be online, instructing a loved one to shop or attempting to head to your local Westfield yourself, while you are still under the influence of heavy medication or any form breast cancer treatment. This will not end well. Budgets will be blown, surprise packages will arrive in the mail. Everyone will end up with matching reindeer jumpers in the wrong size. Trust us and step away from your wallet.

Make a list 
To avoid the embarrassment of matching reindeer jumpers, we recommend making a detailed list. And of course check it twice. Then decide on gifts for each person and a budget. Use this as a sort of blueprint to inform your decision-making. This will not only be invaluable if chemo brain rears its ugly head, but should you be too tired to finish up your shopping, it will be easy to pass on the duties to a family member or friend.

Start Early
There are so many unknowns associated with breast cancer treatment, so try not to leave your Christmas shopping until the last minute. Even if you are not usually that type of shopper, get in early and get your shopping done to save stress and anxiety should your treatment plan extend to Christmas Day.

Consider Online Shopping Options 
Thanks to the magic of the internet, Christmas Shopping is easy to do online and from the comfort of your home in pyjamas. Check out Shopnate, where you can get not only your Christmas shopping done but also make donations to your favourite breast cancer charity Be Uplifted Inc.

Don’t Go It Alone 
If you are hitting the shops, take a driver as a companion. Have your driver drop you off at the doors and pick you up afterwards. The summer heat and bitumen car park is no place to be wandering.

Think Small 
Avoid the crowds for a more comfortable shopping experience. Head to smaller centres or local shopping streets and go the quieter times like earlier in the morning. Have a plan of attack so you don’t zigzag back and forth across the shopping centre.

Find a Trolley 
Grab a trolley on your arrival. Trolleys are great for many reasons: Of course, you can put your shopping in it. But walking with a trolley will help to conserve energy and save your arms and shoulders. It also makes it easy to walk (yep, just like the wheely walker).

Rest Up 
Take breaks every half hour, for at least 5 minutes. Use the time to check up on your list and have a drink to make sure that every breast cancer patient’s enemy, dehydration, doesn’t sneak up on you..

Don’t Overdo It 
Limit yourself to a couple of hours maximum at the shops. While you may feel well while you are out and about, your body will most likely make you pay later if you overdo it.

If you are a Brisbane breast cancer patient who needs support over the Christmas period, contact the volunteers at Be Uplifted Inc today.