Beauty and breast problems: looking good after cancer
Do you have breast problems? Has breast cancer nodded its ugly head at you? As a two-time survivor, I will share some of my thoughts on beauty and breasts.
weight gain
Breast cancer patients often gain weight with treatment. This fact escaped me when I first underwent chemotherapy treatment. One reason is chemotherapy-induced fatigue, which results in decreased activity. Another is the steroids contained in pre-chemotherapy drugs.
To combat these effects, patients should eat a balanced diet of lean protein, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats in moderate amounts. Also, cancer survivors should invest in exercise if possible. Once the chemotherapy was over, I went to the gym. A study reveals that 150 minutes of aerobic exercise five times a week reduced a patient’s risk of dying from breast cancer. Any amount of exercise is better than sitting.
Hate
After the second round of chemotherapy, my hair began to fall out seriously. I’m thinking of shaving my head so my hair doesn’t fall out in clumps. I then headed to my local American Cancer Society (ACS) office, which provided me with a plethora of nice complimentary wigs to choose from. They also provided wig shampoo and styling advice. What a blessing to have these services available!
I asked my oncology nurses about taking a drug to make my hair grow back faster. They were not enthusiastic about any medical remedy. Since I had wigs and didn’t want to apply any other topical treatment besides hair color, I ditched the idea of follicle growth lotion.
Eventually my hair grew back. However, after yearly treatment with Herceptin, it was not as thick as before. Also, the daily Arimidex pill that I take to reduce the chances of recurrence causes hair thinning. To counteract this, my hairdresser advised me to use the Nioxin Thinning Hair System, which consists of a shampoo, conditioner, and treatment spray. After three months of use we noticed new hair sprouting. Wheat protein mousses, volumizers and thickening gels can also create the illusion of thicker locks.
skin products
Cancer treatment can cause the skin to dry out. Our local dermatologist provides free monthly skin care advice to patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation. In his sessions, he not only talked about how and why cancer treatments affect the skin, hair and nails, but also taught us how to use cosmetic products correctly. We learned that creams are better than lotions for moisturizing the skin. Best of all, he handed out free skin product samples in generous quantities.
nails
Another symbol of beauty plagued by breast problems is the nails. The chemo caused permanent ridges to form on mine, and Herceptin gave them the consistency of tissue paper until the drug left my system. “Sally Hansen Hard as Nails” nail polish helped strengthen them. At the urging of my dermatologist, I also took biotin supplements to counteract brittle nails while Herceptin coursed through my veins. I continue with biotin as I think it makes a difference. However, before taking any supplement, patients should consult their oncologist.
make-up
The “Look Good…Feel Better” program offered by the ACS is well worth the time invested. This free service is dedicated to educating cancer survivors on beauty techniques to help restore their appearance and self-image during treatments. Cosmetologists taught us the best way to apply makeup. We also received hundreds of dollars worth of free cosmetics as a goodie bag from this “party.” My message to take away? Blush and lipstick work color magic on faces pale from chemotherapy. And they take very little time to apply!
Reconstruction or Prosthesis
One of the biggest breast issues is the decision to have reconstruction. For personal and medical reasons I chose not to have this procedure after my double mastectomy. However, for many women who have disfiguring surgery, reconstruction is a lifesaver.
I discovered that my local ACS office offers a wide variety of free mastectomy bras and prostheses. Governments can require insurance companies to cover purchases of this type; the patient looking for fake breasts should investigate all possibilities to look and feel better in public.
jewelry
Since my journey with cancer, I have discovered jewelry in all styles, colors, and shapes. Each piece helps brighten my day. I found that my short hair after chemo looks great with dangling earrings. But the rings present a challenge for me, a patient with lymphedema. I solved the dilemma by wearing my wedding band on my unaffected hand and buying rings with elastic bands so I could cover the fingers of my swollen hand. We survivors are always resourceful as we face each new trial.
I pray these reflections on breast issues help you sort through the truths you can use when dealing with the modern obsession with beauty. Like the objects in a rear view mirror, beauty is closer than you think.