This will be a long
writing post with only a few pics. But I just need you ladies to spare me your 5
minutes to read this article. =))
I have always had a
passion for fashion-from shoes to makeup, nail polish to handbags, and
everything in between! Coupled with that is belief that all women need to feel
beautiful, no matter what circumstances they may be facing. Women are powerful
beings and WE need to realize it! Sadly, many women are hearing those
devastating words 'you have cancer.' Despite a cancer diagnosis, women can
still feel beautiful in their own skin. Fashion is a wonderful way to feel
strong and confident.
And today my guest
blogger Jackie Clark from Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance will share you
the reality of cancer and how women can say 'YES I have cancer'.
Every woman wants to feel beautiful. Whole industries
have been created to make hair shinier, skin clearer, and eyes more alluring.
And in fact, while some may deride this as mere vanity, liking the reflection
in the mirror is a great confidence booster. Who doesn't take care to dress and
groom their best for a job interview or first date? Sometimes, looking good
helps to bolster confidence to allow a woman to face a difficult situation.
Conversely, when a woman knows she looks bad, it undermines her confidence and
she doesn't deal as effectively. At no time does a woman need her confidence
more than when facing a diagnosis of cancer. And at no other time does looking
good become so difficult.
Part of what makes looking good so difficult when going through cancer is the
effects of the treatment. Take the treatments for mesothelioma for
example. Surgery, sometimes quite radical, radiation, and chemotherapy all
leave a patient pale, weak, and feeling terrible. While most people understand
that chemotherapy makes someone lose their hair, many don't realize that means
all the hair on the body, including eyebrows and eyelashes. Already feeling
sick and scared, when a woman looks in the mirror and sees someone who looks
like a concentration camp victim looking back, it can be difficult to soldier
on through the day.
But through the wonder of cosmetics, a woman can look better. Makeup,
especially mineral based makeup, can return the color
to a woman's face. First, the foundation, evens out the blotchy skin and brings
color to the pallor. A little blush makes the cheeks look healthy again.
Perhaps a little bronzer might make her look even healthier.
For many women, chemo means that makeup is no longer optional but necessary.
Some women might choose a wig while others find scarves and hats suit better.
Some women even find that braving the world while bald is empowering. But rare
is the woman that won't benefit from makeup. Eyebrow pencil fills in where
chemo has stripped the brow. Eyeliner can create the illusion of eyelashes. So
when the patient looks in the mirror, a confident, beautiful woman looks back.
Battling cancer is scary, anything that gives a patient more assurance is a
valuable thing.
Cancer is a disease whose treatment can take as large
a toll on a person as the disease itself. Human beings are a visual species and
whether we should or not, we judge what we see and act accordingly. So when a
patient is a woman and she dreads to look in the mirror, it just makes the whole
ordeal more difficult. But when good cosmetics are available, she can take
confidence in her appearance and that translates into confidence to take on her
disease. This is not vanity but treatment in and of itself.
Hope you enjoy this little article here. Do share with your friends ya!! :D
