Blog | Facing Cancer Together

“Make it absolutely beautiful”: A story of epic self love through cancer

Leisse Wilcox lives by the motto, “Take whatever it is that happened to shape you throughout your life, and make it your own. Make it make sense. Make it serve a purpose. Make it absolutely beautiful.”

Although a self-proclaimed ‘relentless optimist’ and advocate for self-love, Leisse confesses that being diagnosed with breast cancer last August, just a week before her 37^th birthday, was an unexpected and trying test of these beliefs.

Aug. 7, 2019 | by Benita Hensraj

My ultimate fight

On December 17, at the age of 48, Josée was diagnosed with a Sarcoma cancer, a very rare form of cancer that usually affects men, 50 years and older and tall. "I'm 135 pounds, I don’t smoke, and I was in good health," says Josée, "it was a real shock and a total misunderstanding”. Josée defines herself as a person who loves life, who is always positive, hardworking, athletic and who likes to be surrounded by people. Her life changed without warning ...

She was referred to a wonderful doctor to whom she entrusts her life with a feeling of …

June 14, 2019 | by Marsha Roc-Malychenkova

“Why we WINK”: Employees inspired by peer

Fifteen years ago, Aida was 30 years old, with a 6-month-old son and had just been diagnosed with cancer.

The diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma was devastating. Having a new baby at home and learning to navigate life as a new mother as well as a cancer patient was the hardest thing Aida had ever done. As much as the treatment was physically and mentally taking its toll, she was surprised to find another thing weighing on her – the changes to her appearance.

June 12, 2019 | by Benita Hensraj

My LGFB Workshop Experience: "Tales of a Makeup Rookie"

This was the first time I had been in a room with a group of other women with cancer. Although cancer is a club you wish nobody needed to join, it was reassuring to see people so positive at various stages of their experience. Beside me sat a woman with no hair who was radiantly smiling and looking beautiful. I began to realize that this event was not about looking good by someone else’s standard but about and feeling comfortable in your own skin. I immediately felt it was going to be okay.

May 24, 2019 | by Shawna Potje

"The first steps to the old me": My first walk post-treatment and what I did to prepare

In my last blog, when I talked about my own recovery and “taking sickness to fitness” post-treatment, I credited my first walk for being the first steps in getting back to the old me. I also shared how scary those first steps can be - I hope that this story inspires someone to have the confidence to take theirs.

May 16, 2019 | by Adriana Lombardo

Finding friendships through cancer: "They just get it."

As a nurse, Shelley has been helping patients navigate their health for years. But when she was diagnosed with aggressive Stage 1C breast cancer in the summer of 2017, she was thrust into a system she had spent years a part of – in a very different experience.

April 16, 2019 | by Benita Hensraj

“Take it day-by-day. Do what’s best for you.”

One year ago, Jennie had just returned to her hometown of Napanee, Ontario, after a year teaching English in the UK. She was 25-years-old and was supply teaching locally when she came down with what she thought was the flu. Living in a town without a walk-in clinic, she made a trip to the ER after becoming concerned with how tired and short of breath she was feeling. 

March 29, 2019 | by Benita Hensraj

How I Overcame Cancer Fatigue

During my two and a half years of weekly chemotherapy, I had no energy. Like I’m sure many of you can relate, getting out of bed was a struggle; the idea of getting dressed made my head hurt. I forced myself to get up, get washed and dressed and move my body to the couch. Although I had been an active person before my diagnosis, the possibility of anything remotely close to exercise felt so far away from me at the time.

March 22, 2019 | by Adriana Lombardo

"I'm taking sickness to fitness."

Hey! It's been awhile since I've shared with you. I've been ‘busy’ with school, work, and trying to stay on my feet. ‘Busy’. That word has a whole new meaning now that I'm 'back to normal'. I've actually been working on a few things that I feel would be beneficial to share with all of you.

March 12, 2019 | by Adriana Lombardo

LGFB and Gorgeous You: Helping women feel their best

We thank Gorgeous You for helping us raise funds and share the Look Good Feel Better story so we can reach even more women facing cancer. From January 15 to March 31^st, Gorgeous will donate 15% of all hats sales to Look Good Feel Better in support of women facing cancer.

Jan. 10, 2019 | by Marsha Roc-Malychenkova