Inspired Advice: What Makes You Feel Beautiful?
Those who have faced an ovarian or gynecologic cancer diagnosis have so much to offer to others going through a similar experience – be it support, tips or friendship. “Inspired Advice” is a blog series that tackles specific topics – from what can boost your mood to how to discuss your diagnosis with children – and shares advice and reflections from our OCRA Inspire Online Community. They are, in many ways, the experts.
Getting strong and giving back
- “When I am having a good day. When I smile. Beautiful is now a relative term.”
- “I don’t know if it’s beautiful that I need to feel, but I feel empowered when I am out advocating for ovarian cancer awareness.”
- “When I wake up feeling good enough to put on a little mascara and blush even though I do not leave the house that day.”
- “My strength.”
Rocking real locks (long or short!)
- “My full head of long blonde hair. The Penguin Cold Cap over 18 straight weeks was the best thing I did after choosing Dr. Dennis Chi, oncologist surgeon at MSK.”
- “Having my hair grow back.”
- “I look great with very short hair.”
Feeling support from family and friends
- “Seeing the love in my husband’s eyes.”
- “I lost a lot of weight during treatment and surgery so friends of mine took me shopping to find clothes that fit.”
- “The caring from my friends and family.”
Dressing up…and blending in
- “Dangling earrings and bright lipstick.”
- “I take good care of my grooming and appearance. When I didn’t have hair, I wore a wig and makeup. I didn’t want people to feel sorry for me because I looked sick.”
- “This is a tough one! Not much, actually. I like cute hats.”
- “I just wanted to look like everyone else. The wigs helped. I didn’t want to stand out in the crowd. I just wanted to live and I was willing to go through anything.”
- “I don’t know about ‘beautiful’. I do have fun finding brooches (just costume jewelry) to pin in my hats during chemo. I don’t need to feel beautiful but I do need to laugh and make jokes…even about cancer.”
OCRA’s ovarian cancer online is a support community through Inspire.com which offers a safe and private place to share encouraging feedback, compassionate support, and honest personal experiences. There are members from across the world who share their questions, concerns, successes and struggles with honesty and courage. Learn more or join our online Ovarian Cancer Inspire community.