Well, this is interesting. Two days ago, while going over my calendar I saw a star marked on the 9th and thought, huh, what is that for? I looked back at last year's calendar and I was stunned. My cancerversary. I then thought, wow, isn't that the goal? Well it only took me 14years to get there, but I'm there!
It also didn't help that I just had another scare. I found a lump in my armpit that turned out to be a lipoma, but I have thorough doctors who wanted to make sure it wasn't something breast related. The speed in which I got in to get a mammo and sono was quite incredible and the only blip was seeing the radiologist walk in after my scan. I always tell people, if the radiologist doesn't come in, it's good news. Not only did the radiologist come in but she had a colleague and the tech who did the scan with her as well. I almost fell off the table and my stomach immediately fell to the floor! The doctor introduced herself, and her colleague, and began to explain what they were looking for and why the mammo was necessary. I felt a dry heave come on, which she must have detected as she said 'oh, no, you are fine, it's just a lipoma!' I told her my theory and she laughed and said, yes that is usually the case but not with Virginia Mason, (the new hospital I am with in Seattle). I have never been so happy to have a tiny clump of fat in my life!
So, the point of this is, that for a cancer survivor, although the actual anniversary may start to escape you, the fear and the PTSD continues to live on. That part, I fear, will never fully go away. All one can do is arm themselves with good doctors and forge ahead through the fear, with a little meditation and a little nibble of Xanax.
I look back on the last 14years and think of the people I have met, the people I have lost due to this disease and the randomness of it all. Why do some of us get by relatively unscathed and why do young, vibrant women with families not make it out. One particular friend, Hannah, passed this year and she was a literal bright star, right up until the end. Young, full of life, humor and love and now she is gone. She is one of many. Too many.
For the last few years, I have felt like providing skincare just isn't enough to help women through their journey. I did something over two years ago that I can finally share. I enrolled in Graduate school and just received my MSW (Masters of Social Work) so I can specifically work with women not only going through their journeys, the few years that follow, the years that are almost more terrifying than the journey itself. It was not easy going to school while moving, a big breakup, taking care of my dad who was dying, running my business and helping my sister through her own breast cancer journey. It was so worth it though! I have never been more proud of anything that I have accomplished. The beauty industry focuses on the young, I have many times felt on the outside of it looking in. I am aging, I am self funded, I haven't come from a beauty background. All of these things impede me. All of these things will help my business thrive. I want to help women through cancer, menopause, divorce, business change, empty nest, to empower women to find their voice, their meaning, their path.
I am not closing VAB, merely adding on to it! In Washington state, I can offer services of therapy, outside the state, I can offer coaching sessions. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.
And in the meantime! Please enjoy 20% off today with code CYNTHIA14 at checkout.
I love you all and consider everyone of you a friend.
Cynthia
