10 Cancer-Specific Ways to Declutter and Start Fresh

Cancer can be hard enough without constant reminders that you’re sick. Here are suggestions for decluttering when you’re ready to let some fresh energy in.

Ever thought about spring cleaning when it comes to your cancer journey?

This checklist can help clear out your living space wherever you are in your path. It might also clear up some of the “cancer stuff” in your head.

Here’s my list of things I’ve cleaned up over the years since cancer.

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1. Medications

The deluge of medications at points in my journey has been wild. I had a whole “drug bowl” at one point. Say bye to leftover and expired drugs.

Most grocery store pharmacies offer a bin to dispose of old medications safely, and local police stations may take back opioids and other medications.

2. Clothing and accessories

Wigs, bras, head coverings, that prosthesis not being used — getting these out of my closet felt good.

I had two drawers of pre-cancer bras, plus clothing that was no longer serving my current body after my DIEP flap reconstruction.

I let it all go.

You can donate these items to local cancer charities or your cancer clinic.

3. Medical documents

I’m always wrangling a pile of medical appointment printouts, and receipts or bills for FSA reimbursement or tax records.

If it lives somewhere online, it can go. I now take pictures of receipts to save virtually and have made a designated medical folder in my email account to manage the clutter.

4. Say thanks

If you have a random list of people you need to thank for helping out in your cancer journey, you can clear that list from your head and send those cards, emails, or texts.

If that dreamy casserole somebody dropped off after chemo still lives with gratitude in your head, but you were too busy with cancer to say thanks while going through it all, it’s never too late to express thanks.

It’s also important not to make saying ‘thanks’ a burden. People get that you’ve gone through a lot. A card and stamp may feel overwhelming. A thoughtful text, a funny GIF, or an e-card are all options too.

And if even that feels like a headache, remember that help was likely given with no expectation of return on investment. Your gratitude can be enough.

5. Food storage

I was lucky to receive a meal train from friends during treatment, and I amassed a lot of containers. Often, people said not to worry about returning them.

I kept what I have space for with the intention to use them later when paying forward a meal drop. Who knows when a friend will have a new baby to greet or an appendix taken out?

6. Hospital socks

I acquired a collection of ugly, bulky, grippy-bottom socks from numerous hospital stays. I hated seeing them in my sock drawer. They triggered me — a lot.

Why did I keep them? Once I let them go, I wondered why I hadn’t done it sooner.

7. Medical “flotsam and jetsam’

Each of my hospital visits has netted me a departing “goody bag” filled with barf tubs, pitchers, thermometers, scissors, single-serve alcohol wipes, nitrile gloves, various bandages, and more.

I kept what I would actually use. Those single-serve alcohol wipes have come in handy!

8. Gifts

I was so fortunate to receive thoughtful little gifts along the way in my cancer journey. Just knowing I was thought of was uplifting and encouraging. Ultimately some gifts just became extra stuff.

I kept what was special or useful to me and let go of the rest. It’s okay to regift and donate these items without guilt.

9. Menstrual products

My period disappeared during chemo, stayed away with hormone therapy, and said goodbye forever after my ovaries were removed. The stock supply had to go.

You can donate these to a women’s shelter or simply pass them on to friends — or friends’ daughters — who still use them.

10. Unfollow

Now and then, it’s good for my mental health to clean up what I follow on social media, especially the cancer-related accounts.

At first, I unfollowed accounts that were giving me FOMO because cancer had slowed down, halted, or changed the things I wanted to do.

Later in my survivorship, I wanted to see fewer cancer-related things on my platforms in an effort to give myself a reprieve from the cancer space.

The bottom line is this: Does it bring me joy? Does it trigger me? This particular clean-up always makes me feel better!

Takeaway

Ways to get rid of stuff include donating, giving away, offering on a neighborhood free app, or regifting. Most pharmacies have safe disposal bins for prescription meds.

I hope you feel lighter releasing or managing some of the cancer-related clutter in your world!