Hallmark Makes Cards for Cancer?!!!

lexislove

 http://www.blisstree.com/healthbolt/hallmark/

I wasn't sure where to actually post this so here it is.

I really don't know HOW I would have reacted if someone had given me one while I was going through treatment. What do you all think....yay or nay?

Anonymous

couldn't get thru  with that link

candie1971

Lexislove,

I am a nay!!! I saw this on the Today show this morning. Meredith Viera spoke to a Halllmark rep,

the Today resident Dr and some guy..I cant remember who he was. He did not like the idea. He felt it was capitalizing on a serious disease and if one wanted to send a card to someone, then even a blank one would do, adding your own sentiment from the heart. I agree!!

Marple

I couldn't get through to the link either but I say 'nay'.  Surely to goodness there is enough money made off of people having cancer.  I'd much prefer a card with even a short hand written note.  I remember those were the cards that meant the most to me.  Even for mother's day etc.........I usually end up buying some 'generic' card and writing how I actually feel.  Hallmark doesn't cut it for me.

lexislove

Sorry I'll try to find a better link. you can go to hallmark.com to take a look.

I am NAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whatever happened to Get Well Soon!

Marple

Do they make cards for gall bladder removal?  LMAO.

lexislove

and eating discorders!!!!   Geesh....I'm shocked!

Ok...new link.

giglgrl

I dont know.....I have gotten so many cards that are of the "Get Well Soon" variety......like I just broke my leg or something.....and then some that seem like sympathy cards.....I think maybe getting a card that just addressed the cancer head on.....would be a relief.....so I guess I am the lone yay?

BFidelis

I think they're kind of dumb, but am reluctant to judge, as I would rather have gotten a "canned" Hallmark "cancer card" from someone who didn't know what to say, than to not get a card.  But I DO think the personal note goes a long way, as does the "thinking of you."  I'm trying to be the change I want to see in the world.  (Thank you, Ghandi.)  I want the world to be kinder and less judgmental.  So I'm going to try to be that.  Better "canned" than not-at-all.

My dear, dear aunt (40+ year member of the club) sent me a greeting card on every treatment day.  I think most people who asked about my treatment plan let it slip right out the other ear; I think my aunt marked her calendar, as if she were physically going with me.  Every 3rd Monday, there was a card, usually "thinking of you" with a little note.  It meant the world to me.  When I finished the AC/T, I called my Dad first, then I called my Aunt and invited her to celebrate with me.  Fact is, she could have sent me a card saying "hope you don't feel like crap" because I really felt her support.

Peace,

Beth

lafera12

Hi all

I saw the cards on the Hallmark website...They are pretty nice...If you want to see them go to "Hallmark.com"..click on in stores --then click on greeting cards--then click on journey--then give hope..  I would have loved to have gotten one of those instead of a get well soon card...I wasn't really sick, just going through chemo and surgery....

Stay well

Angie

barbe1958

I liked the humour of the article....

smithlme

My sister, who is a 19 year survivor, sent me several cancer cards while I was going through treatment. Our family has a twisted sense of humor when it comes to cancer, so I say yay, depending on who the recipient is. Get Well cards made it seem like I was sick and would get better soon. Ummmm...chemo drags on and on...

Linda

Celtic_Spirit

My best friend and her mom sent me cards every week during chemo and radiation. Some were "get well" cards, some "thinking of you," but most were funny cards (I lost my boobs, not my sense of humor!). I will keep every one of those cards forever.

I was waiting for (and dreading) the inevitable pink ribbon or cancer-themed gift for either my birthday or Christmas. A round of applause for my friends and family for not sending any!

BevR

I saw the discussion on the Today show......I don't know, I'd rather have a "canned" card from someone who doesn't know what to say rather than just being ignored.....on the other hand, if I ever felt the need to buy one for someone, I would certainly add a personal note.

flfish

I had so many people tell me that they wanted to send a card, but didn't know what to say, so if these would have let me know they were there for me, I would have appreciate it.  It is a fine line, and they must be discreet, but I don't see anything wrong with these cards.  I do however think that they should NOT be sent with just signing your name, but a personal note should be written as well.  So, I guess if they are used to "open" the conversation, then I have no problem with them.

otter

Apparently those "cancer" cards have been out for awhile, but I've never seen them in the stores.  They are a part of the "Journeys" series of Hallmark greeting cards.  Here's a link to an MS-NBC piece about the "Journeys" cards that was done in February 2007.  The cards cover a lot of awkward territory, like depression, divorce, chemotherapy, etc.:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17171399/

I couldn't figure out how to find the "cancer" cards via links on the Hallmark site--the path is way too convoluted.  The easiest way is to Google "Hallmark", "card", and "cancer"--you'll find 'em right away.  According to some of what I read, they're being sold at Hallmark "Gold Crown" stores ... whatever they are.  Apparently, that does not include the run-of-the-mill dedicated Hallmark stores.  I buy cards in those stores all the time, and, believe me, I would have noticed "cancer" cards.

Through my 6 months of BC diagnosis and treatment, I received maybe 3 or 4 cards total.   They were all very generic--"Hope you're feeling better"; "Sorry about your recent difficulties"; "Wishing you well"; etc.  None of the cards hit the spot; no person said (in their card) what I'd liked to have heard.  What bothered me the most through all of this was the near-total lack of communication from some of my closest relatives, even though they knew about my diagnosis.  Now, some of them are coming out of the woodwork and telling me, "Oh, I'm so sorry--I know I should have written or called, but I just didn't know what to say!".

I would have treasured one of those Hallmark cards.  Some people think it's commercialism gone haywire, but those cards say what I wish my closest relatives and friends had said.

otter 

[I forgot to add this:  Take a look at the Hallmark "Journeys" page, which you can reach via the path mentioned in a previous post.  In addition to the cards, there are "suggestions" on the right-hand side of the page.  If friends and family don't know what to do to help, maybe they can try some of those suggestions.] 

Leah_S

It strikes me as exploitive, and believe me we get enough of that. If someone doesn't know what to say, a "Thinking of You" card is the best option. Someone who doesn't know what to say and says that's why they didn't send a card - well, it stretches the imagination if they really WERE thinking of you.(OK, maybe thinking but not at the card store and found nothing appropriate).

What do the ones for eating disorders say? Don't make yourself barf, it's so unnatractive? And for depression? Hope the cloud lifts?

Even "Get Well Soon" is better, if a little off the mark.

Leah

lexislove

I agree Leah,

I'm interested now to see what the eating disorder cards do say!

wendyk13

My DH bought me a "chemo" card from Hallmark.  It was NOT well-received.  It's been 2 years now and we still laugh about that card.  I know he tried to be nice but really - what was he thinking??????

roseg

I think they're nice.

Two big themes we hear is: stupid things people say, and people who drop off the face of the earth after diagnosis.

If a "cancer card" would help with those two issues and keep a friend in our lives then I'm for it. Not everybody knows what to say and many just don't say anything. 

My son is part of a recovery group and he's got a drawerful of cards for that situation. When he gets down he'll look through them. It's trivial but for some people they're a little boost when they need one.

gypsycowgirl

What's so sad about this topic is the 'need' for the Hallmark Cards at all.  I'm a Yay and a Nay on this one.  The thing that bothers me the most is the huge dollars that Hallmark makes off of these cards.  The good thing is that when we don't know what to say Hallmark seems to help with the words.  I wonder if we really sat down and thought about it we could come up with something perfect to voice our humour and concerns for each other?

pip57

I have to jump in here.  I work for a Hallmark store and we have had the Journey line of cards for almost 2 years now.  There are cards for every occasion in it.  Congrats for babies but recognizing that not all babies are bundles of joys, loss of jobs, miscarriage, recovery, divorce, anniversary of loved ones death or end of tx, etc.  Some are beautiful and others make me cringe.  I have never given one of the cancer ones because I don't know how I would feel getting one myself.  But that is partly because I have been there and know what I want to write in a card.  Others don't know what to say.  

I received about 80 cards myself, almost all were Hallmark (yes, I look) and only one was a 'journey' card.  It was the one looking forward to the last tx.  I did like it, but it was given by another bc sister who knew what the words meant.

My thought is that a card is not complete until you add some words of your own.  Those are the ones that people will keep to read again.  But we need to remember that not everyone knows what to say.  It is just a way for people to let you know that you are in their thoughts, words or no words. And I say it is better than nothing!