Beauty Despite Cancer

Yesterday the no make up selfie hit social media bringing an awareness to Cancer, I have to admit I felt naked not wearing make up, which is how some ladies must feel knowing that adding cosmetics and skincare to their skin during treatment can only add to the toxic overload.

So it was refreshing to be find a website Beauty Despite Cancer offering advice, support and some highly recommended products to help women still feel feminine despite their health challenges.

The story that caught my attention on their website, was headed  “I was prepared for the cancer treatment but not an instant menopause at 43.”

Being 43 myself, I couldn’t begin to imagine how that must have felt and it was a stark reminder of the many challenges that women face when diagnosed with cancer.

The story was from Jo Holmes, mum of two , who was 43 when her cancer symptoms first started to manifest themselves, bleeding so heavy that she was unable to continue to work as well as excruciating pain. Jo was refused treatment for nearly 12 months, despite being ‘barely able to function’ .

It took and emergency admission to hospital for the bleeding and pressure from Jo’s wonderful GP to persuade Jo’s hospital team to perform a partial hysterectomy.

Two weeks after the long awaited surgery came the diagnosis – womb cancer. A transfer to another hospital, a further op and radiotherapy followed.

Like many female cancers, Jo’s womb cancer was oestrogen positive. Her surgery had plunged her into an instant menopause. There was no slow descent into the menopausal symptoms suffered by many, one day Jo was not menopausal and the next her menopause was complete.

If you or someone you love is going through Cancer treatment then please share www.beautydespitecancer.co.uk as I think they will find it very inspiring and they have a lovely selection of beauty products.

[quote]‘I wasn’t really prepared for the instant menopause and effects of radiotherapy, I found myself getting increasingly irritable and frustrated, my skin being dry, itchy and sore just added to this. Some days I felt like I could have ripped my skin off, my scalp was terrible too, I would make it bleed from scratching. I suffered this horrible skin for 6 months until I discovered Defiant Beauty. Nothing before had helped, I had tried so many products. I found Defiant Beauty Itchy Skin Oil as some of the ladies on the marvellous Womb Cancer Support UK group had been discussing it. I have recommended it to lots of women, not just cancer sufferers, it is just wonderful.’[/quote]