Hallmark Makes Cards for Cancer?!!!

couldn't get thru  with that link

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.

Do they make cards for gall bladder removal?  LMAO.

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?

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

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

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.

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.] 

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.

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!