You Are Beautiful!

Getting older and watching nature take it’s course is one thing, but being diagnosed with cancer and seeing your body change in front of your eyes is quite something else! I tried to pretend I wasn’t bothered about it, but inside I was hurting like mad. Even as I had just turned fifty I still took a pride in my appearance, did my best to keep my weight under control and was lucky to have a good head of hair. I attempted to dress appropriately and would have liked to think I could have still turned the odd head, and I guess we would all like to think we could do that? Actually I was quite shocked at how much my appearance meant to me, even at my age. Firstly my hair came out, then I lost an incredible amount of weight. Having got used to that, the long term treatment included steroids which made me look like a night club bouncer, with more neck folds and chins than I care to remember. The treatments have continued for many years, and are now affecting my teeth, eyes and brain, and it takes almost continual ‘maintenance’ to look like a human being these days. But being older, I have more confidence to deal with these issues and have become resigned to what is going on, however make no mistake it is still extremely tough to look in the mirror on occasions!

CLARISSA (USA)
CLARISSA (USA)

I appreciate that this situation is even harder for a woman, and I have been party to many conversations in the last few years on this very subject. In most cases it is not about how others see us after our illness, it is how we see ourselves, and that is even more difficult!

But what if I were a young person, how would I have coped? The issues that young people face with a rapidly changing body image due to treatment can stay with them for life psychologically. In previous posts I have mentioned how I enjoy working with young people in the cancer support field, there is a freshness and vitality about how they view things, and I am delighted to collaborate with a charity in Italy, Adolescenti e cancro (Teens and cancer.) They work with young people between the ages of 13-24 and look to offer peer to peer support.

They are currently running an exhibition of photographs of young people affected by cancer, who wish to celebrate their beauty, despite the treatment they are going through. The girls are rightly proud of who they are and the piece below is written by Simona (21,) who has Germ Cell Neoplasia,  and explains why she wanted to participate in the exhibition.

“Beauty is truth, truth beauty, – that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to… this was said by John Keats in one of his most famous poems. And our pictures say the same thing, we’re beautiful, and there is nothing truer than that. It’s really hard to face such a radical and prolonged change in your physical appearance, especially for us girls!

SIMONA (ITALY)
SIMONA (ITALY)

We always look for attention and other people’s approval. Many girls are shy and can’t cope with this obstacle; it seems such an insurmountable hurdle when you have to relate to the external world.

Other girls accept the change with real strength. We’re here, without fear and without being ashamed, to show that cancer is a horrible disease and it brings a lot of difficult aftermaths and they’re hard to accept, but it also pushes us to tell that nothing changes inside us. We’ve got bald heads but we’re warriors, each of us has her own story, her own voice, and even her own anger. We’re all beautiful because if you look at the thousands of shades in our eyes, or at our smiles, you can see all the beauty and all the truth you can find in this world. These details are those that people are going to remember and that can make a difference.

I decided to send my picture for the international photography exhibition “You’re beautiful” for all these reasons. I took the picture one evening as I was about to go out and in that moment I was feeling like I’ve never felt before, beautiful. I’ve known many girls who were ashamed of being bald or of wearing a wig. We often forget that what makes us different from the others are their pity and compassionate glances. We’re the same person we were before the diagnosis, just stronger, more beautiful and happier than ever, and these three things make true beauty!”

It is refreshing to see things like this, and a great way for people to express themselves. The Internet has given us an incredible tool which many are using to change the traditional world of cancer support. Not only can we share ideas, but we can connect across the world and work together against cancer! As I mentioned earlier in the piece, each age group has it’s own unique challenges when facing cancer, and up till recent times, this group was struggling to find it’s voice. Now I am seeing units designed particularly with young people in mind, and charities growing to help support them, and projects like this photographic exhibition  are doing a lot to raise awareness of these issues. I would like to congratulate Rebecca and her colleagues who run the charity, for their incredible passion and enthusiasm for helping young people affected by cancer, and hope you gain the support you require to continue this incredible work. Finally I would like to thank Simona, for writing the above piece and all the young ladies who participated in the exhibition, well done all!

Have you been conscious of your changing appearance because of cancer and it’s treatments? How did it affect you? As always it would be great to hear your experiences below.

 

 

 

14 Comments

  1. Oh dear Chris you made me cry for you and those wonderful women I think underneath we who have or had cancer are so with you on the feelings you have had and I know it was the same for me. Lucky for me I was 20 years older than you when my cancer started so it did not come a massive shock as it has for you and our wonderful friends you have shown in your blog. Thank you as always Chris for your blogs they keep the world going round. Georgine xx

    • Thx as always for your comments Georgine. Initially I never really thought about my appearance changing but it happened quickly, and I was shocked at how I felt. Even today although things have settled down I’m still angry for everything I have lost. I think this is certainly a side of cancer no one can prepare you for. So pleased you are enjoying the pieces, and you are providing invaluable resource by sharing your own experience. I hope you are finding some sunshine now xx

  2. Thank you, Chris. This is a powerful piece of writing. Thank you for sharing it. Best wishes. Leah. And to everyone reading this, I hope that you can breath in, enjoy a stretch and feel gorgeous, for at least a moment – but maybe longer.

    • Thx so much Leah. When I heard about the exhibition I was keen to share it, so was delighted to be invited to write a piece for it. It is a wonderful project and the girls have shown incredible bravery talking about body image change whilst so young. There is a lot for us all to learn and thanks for helping me share this. Chris x

  3. lovely post. Cancer made me fat and I need plastic surgery on my boobs but I feel more beautiful than before cancer

    • Thx Caroline! What you have experienced is exactly what the pics and piece is about. Redefining how we understand #beauty

  4. B4 BC men were drawn to my smile and cleavage. Sadly I cannot get beyond the fact one of those is gone! I am trying to feel beautiful but it isn’t working for me yet. I have huge admiration for these young ladies

    • Me too,these are difficult issues and I love what the girls have done. Thx for sharing ur smile and I hope time can help

  5. 9yrs post dx, closing in on 35. My hair grew back yrs ago, now just left with loving my scars and battle wounds.

  6. Of life’s two chief prizes, beauty and truth, I found the first in a loving heart and the second in a laborer’s hand.
    Khalil Gibran

    There is no definition of beauty, but when you can see someone’s spirit coming through, something unexplainable, that’s beautiful to me.
    Liv Tyler

    Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_beauty2.html#2MK6E9ilqWko2DEo.99R There are pages of beautiful quotes, these two just stuck out.
    Chris you are a beautiful person!
    Beauty lies within. But we must also learn to love ourselves and our battle scares as these amazing women show us.
    Thank you for the love, kindness and beauty you share Chris.
    Big hug and best wishes
    Tricia

    • Hi Tricia,

      Thanks for the lovely comments. I think the definitions you have highlighted are fabulous. Yes indeed, beauty lies within, but maybe we only see that as we get older? As I said in my piece, I feel that these ladies have different challenges to some we faced. The society we live in is very appearance conscious now, and more difficult for young people. I think it is fantastic what they are doing to raise awareness of this issue.

      Your contribution to the community is much valued Tricia! I hope you are managing to find some ‘me time,’ now the sun is finally arriving 🙂 x

  7. I tell people when they question me on where I find my strength in dealing with cancer..
    Learn to love you and you’re half way there, for loving you makes you realize your true value, and from that value you find the strength to live for every second because you are amazingly beautiful… in your own right.. and don’t forget it.

    • Thanks for sharing these comments Sarah, which many of us can learn from. We are all beautiful in our own way but there are times it is difficult to remember that, so thanks for reminding us!

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