Today’s guest is passionate about her cause – spreading the word on cancer and building strong communities of support among women. Her other passion is fashion (say that a few times fast) and how it can raise hope and help a woman in crisis feel beautiful and vibrant in spite of the fear.
Source: Uploaded by user via Nicole on Pinterest
When a woman first discovers she has cancer, it can be devastating. Her spirits crash, shock sets in and she spends hours trying to deny what is happening. That denial causes her confidence and feelings about herself to crash. She is different now.
While true, differences do not define who a woman is. Women do not lose their power and influence just because they need chemotherapy or surgery. Women do not magically change into an old hag just because something went horribly wrong inside. Yes, cancer treatments strain wellbeing. They can cause weight gain for some, weight loss for others and make a woman feel so tired she would rather crawl underneath the covers and stay in bed. It is easier to hide from what is happening than to face reality, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Cancer does not make a woman unworthy of the beauty that lives within. Nothing can do that. Who a woman was before receiving a diagnosis of mesothelioma cancer is who she still is afterwards. Even those that have lost a breast or lung continue being the same beautiful individual they were before. That is why fashion needs to remain an important element in every woman’s life. What women wear helps them cope with what is happening inside.
While it is unrealistic for women with cancer to spend hours shopping at the mall, fashion is always within their reach. Between fashion magazines, catalogues, and online stores, there are simple alternatives to physical shopping that can enable a woman with cancer to stay trendy and in style. Gone are the days when heading down to the nearest department store was the only way to stay abreast of what was happening in the fashion world. Now there are easier methods to keep up with this year’s colors, materials and new designs. In fact, most online sources will send a newsletter to those who sign up for it.
[Sidenote: A newsletter you'll love - Collages & Commentary]
Source: pinerly.com via Linsi on Pinterest
Fashion newsletters are a wonderful way to shop when one’s budget is already stretched. They often offer discounts and clearance sales on the current season’s clothing, shoes, purses and other accessories. Vivid and detailed pictures show how to put together various outfits, this season’s fashionable colors and styles, and what is coming the trend will be for next season. Newsletters offer valuable ideas women can use to put their own outfits together from among the offerings inside their own closets.
Try pairing a long pink or floral tunic with a pair of stretch jeans or leggings, or hot glue a few large craft-store roses to the front of last year’s sandals. Usher in the summer with a simple lavender or pale blue peasant dress, or grab that long lacy skirt with the elastic waist that is tucked into the back of the closet. When these outfits are coupled with a nice pair of earrings and stunning make-up, a woman’s true beauty can shine through and nothing can stop that.
Jackie joined the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance in 2009 after graduating. Jackie’s interest in health and wellness spawned into a passion for fashion from her desire to treat her body well. Jackie saw the power in fashion and how it can enhance a woman’s overall self-esteem. As a result of this, Jackie was able to blend her experience in technical and medical research to assist in the development of medical content and outreach efforts, with specializations in alternative care, cancer support programs, and social media outreach.
