Following my cancer diagnosis in 2011, I started to pay a lot more attention to the personal care and cosmetic products I was using. Today’s post looks at the dirty dozen ingredients to avoid in cosmetics. Plus, you’ll find tips on how to reduce your exposure, and some examples of clean cosmetic brands.
Finding an aluminum-free deodorant that really works
There’s nothing like a cancer diagnosis to make you keenly aware of what you’re putting on and in your body. After hearing of a possible link between breast cancer and antiperspirants containing aluminum, I started to look for aluminum-free deodorant options. Today’s post is an unbiased review of several brands that I’ve found to be effective. As an added bonus, there are even a few plastic-free options.
The stinky truth – I tried several brands before I found one that worked.
It’s almost Pinktober – Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month—or Pinktober as I call it—starts tomorrow. As it does every October, the world will turn pink and pink ribbons in the name of breast cancer awareness will pop up everywhere you turn.
Having fought a personal battle with breast cancer, I have mixed feelings about Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Today, I’m sharing my honest thoughts on Pinktober and the whole pink ribbon movement.
Are you at risk for breast cancer? Here’s what you need to know!
Early in my cancer journey, my doctor told me that, unlike some other cancers, most women diagnosed with breast cancer have no known risk factors beyond being a woman. Today, I’m looking at those known breast cancer risk factors and some new emerging risks that you may not have heard of.
It’s time to end cancer cure conspiracy theories once and for all
Thanks to social media, we’re seeing an explosion of conspiracy theories these days. Let’s face it, behind the veil of freedom of speech, anyone can publish anything they want with no requirement that it be based in fact. Today, I continue my Breast Cancer Awareness Month series with a reality check on one of my pet peeves – cancer cure conspiracy theories.
12 things you should never say to someone with cancer
When a friend or family member has been diagnosed with cancer, it’s hard to know what to do or say. In Best ways to support someone with cancer, I shared ideas on how to offer your support. Today, I continue my Breast Cancer Awareness Month series with 12 things you should never say to someone diagnosed with cancer.
Breast cancer survival stats and trends – There is hope!
“It’s not a death sentence.” The day I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I clearly remember hearing the doctor say those words amid the fog of jumbled messages about surgery, chemotherapy, disability leave, and more.
Today, I continue my Breast Cancer Awareness Month series with a look at breast cancer survival stats and trends, and why we have good reason to be optimistic.
10 years, 10 lessons – What cancer taught me about life
Ten years ago today, at around 2:30 in the afternoon, I sat in the doctor’s office and heard the life-changing words no-one wants or expects to hear in their life. “You have cancer.” To celebrate my 10 year “cancerversary”, I’m sharing my reflection on what cancer taught me about life. Spoiler alert – It’s all good news!
Lessons in Loss – What I learned from losing my hair
My friend over at Smelly Socks and Garden Peas invited me to contribute a guest post to her Lessons in Loss series.
At first, I didn’t feel qualified to write a post about loss. When I put my thinking cap on, an idea started to take shape. I was taken back to an emotional time when I lost my hair following my cancer diagnosis.
Terry Fox – Inspiration in the fight against cancer
Forty years ago, a young man set out to walk across Canada. What made this journey special was this brave young man had lost a leg to cancer at the age of 18. As Terry Fox dipped his prosthetic leg into the Atlantic Ocean to start his Marathon of Hope, no-one could have predicted the effect he would have on the lives of so many.