This post is contributed by Sherry Abbott, cancer survivor and Executive Director, Canadian Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CCTFA) Foundation for the program Facing Cancer Together. This is her story.
Cancer turned my family’s world upside down the day my mother was diagnosed with cancer. While my sister, my father and I rallied around her, we really didn’t know how to support her, nor could we begin to relate to the challenges she faced. From nausea, fatigue and uncontrollable pain, to what is now known as “chemo brain”, the harsh reality of her world grinding to a halt was unbelievable. We all felt helpless as we watched her face cancer, and eventually the end of her life, with grace. And yet, I had no concept of the power of cancer until those most dreaded of words, “You have cancer” were directed at me.
I knew cancer had the power to shatter dreams and change lives in a heartbeat, but it wasn’t until it was my personal reality that I began to fathom the complexity of emotions that come with a cancer diagnosis. At the age of 30, when I was still grieving the loss of my mother, my doctor delivered the news that I had stage IV, small-cell ovarian cancer. They told me that the only treatment options available for such an advanced and fast-growing cancer would leave me physically disabled and dependant on others for daily care for the rest of my life which, according to them, would only be a matter of months. My spirit was broken and I was horrified at the thought that cancer was not only poised to rob me of my future, but also of my independence and quality of life. It was then that I became determined to defy the odds and find what I have since referred to as ‘the other side’ of cancer.
And so, inspired by my mother’s strength, I embarked on a treatment journey that included nauseating chemo, painful surgeries and radiation that caused severe nerve damage in my legs. My looks changed dramatically as my body was repeatedly sliced and diced; treatment made me weak as medication heightened my newfound fears and anxieties. My 5’10” frame withered to less than 90 pounds (I stopped weighing myself after that) and every hair, eyelash and brow fell out. And yet, at each stage of the journey, I knew that I had a formidable cheering squad of family, friends and healthcare professionals cheering me on and supporting me with cards, phone calls and trips to the hospital to bring me my favourite lipstick. Today, I am a 21-year cancer survivor and I credit their caring and encouragement, coupled with amazing medical treatment, for giving me the strength and optimism to move forward toward wellness and recovery. Knowing firsthand how crucial it is for anyone facing cancer to have a strong support network, it is now my mission to ensure that no woman has to face cancer alone.
In the early 1990’s as an employee of the cosmetics industry, I participated on the Canadian Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association’s Operations Committee that put forward the formal recommendation to establish the CCTFA Foundation to deliver the Look Good Feel Better program in support of women with cancer. Since the launch of the program in 1992, more than 110,000 Canadian women have participated in our workshops which help women manage the effects that cancer and its treatment have on their appearance. This includes learning about proper cosmetic hygiene for weakened immune systems, covering dark under-eye circles, drawing on eyebrows, choosing and caring for a wig and tying a headscarf. The two hours a woman spends in our workshop is an opportunity for her to connect and share stories with other women on the same journey – women who really ‘get it’.
Today I am the Executive Director which has broadened its mission to further support the psychosocial needs of people living with cancer, at every stage of their journey. Most recently, we have launched a new program, Facing Cancer Together to provide additional support to help lives affected by cancer. The program’s online community, facingcancer.ca, provides a place where women with cancer, and those around them, can find and give support and talk about all of the many ways cancer affects daily life. These are the things that your best girlfriend or doctor may not understand, but another woman who’s been there may. The women on our website help each other know that they are not alone on their cancer journey. If you are a woman living with cancer, or know a woman living with cancer, I invite you to join the conversation. No woman should have to face cancer alone.