For some types of cancer, surgery and treatment can cause weight gain. Certain chemotherapy drugs, surgically-induced menopause, and hormone therapy are a few of the reasons that scale needle starts trending upward. During my treatment for breast cancer, I gained fifteen pounds from chemotherapy. A few more, after I had my ovaries removed and I… Read More »
The Osto Beauties have all experienced different life-altering medical conditions (cancer and ulcerative colitis), which caused us to be PERMANENTLY left with ostomy. We have to deal with medical circumstances for the rest of our life. Truth is some of them are still dealing with various issues now. We have been through rough times and… Read More »
Fall is here. Even as I admire the beautiful leaves, inhale the crisp delicious air, and enjoy a walk with my dog Sam—I am cold! The kind of any minute my nose might start to run-type of cold. I am not ready to breakdown and breakout my winter clothes yet, but I have to concede… Read More »
One of the many challenging aspects of life after ostomy surgery is finding comfortable clothing to wear. For many of us, this is our first serious surgery and we are trying to adjust to life with an ostomy. Whether you weigh the same, lost weight, or gained weight, here are some tips that can get… Read More »
It’s an unhappy fact; “chemo brain” is real. Chemo brain is often described as a sort of mental fogginess that can impact short term memory and make it harder to stay organized or concentrate on specific tasks. From frantic searches for the car keys to not remembering when to take medication, chemo brain is frustrating… Read More »
According to current style fashionistas, skinny jeans are out and bootcut jeans are trending again. (Whew!) Boot cut jeans are a great go-to when you are between styles and they are considered universally flattering.I have a confession to make, I like this trend. I am a breast cancer veteran of the chemo wars, who is… Read More »
One of the undisputed darlings of the fashion industry is throat cancer survivor Diane Von Furstenberg. Von Furstenberg’s mantra is, “Be the woman you want to be.” That’s not always easy when it comes to coping with treatment side effects like weight gain or loss. But personal style like fashion is constantly being re-interpreted. This… Read More »
“Effortless Chic,” is a phrase that I never heard bantered about during my cancer recovery. While coping with fatigue from surgery or treatment–walking from the bed to the bathroom, or even reaching for that all-important remote, was effort enough! While it was tempting to never leave my new best friends, (my bed and my couch)… Read More »
Contributor: Pamela Friedman – CV Skinlabs StyleList calls not taking enough care of our skin, “one of the worst beauty mistakes a woman can make.” Extreme hot or cold days, dry indoor air, and overly hot showers can wreak havoc with skin. Flaky, irritated and dry skin is often already a problem for women undergoing… Read More »
One of the side effects many women are unprepared for following abdominal surgery is swelling. The degree of swelling involved often depends on the type of surgery. Be sure to ask your doctor prior to surgery what you should expect in terms of incisions, swelling, and other possible side effects. Dress For Discharge Success: Prior… Read More »
Explaining hair loss to a young child can be a challenge. It is often hard for children to understand that even though you look different on the outside, you are still the same mother they know and love on the inside. The book, Nowhere Hair, by cancer survivor Sue Glader can help get that conversation… Read More »
Being a mom can be challenging at the best of times. Even more so when battling chemotherapy or radiation treatment side effects like extreme fatigue. During that time, it was important to me to keep cancer from consuming my family life and to continue to give my daughters the time and attention they deserved. In… Read More »
