BEAUTY THROUGH THE BEAST

Three years ago, I was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer.

I didn’t expect how much I’d miss Lefty.

What Does Being a Caregiver Mean? In the case of my wife, her cancer diagnosis meant she was going to be spending 100% of her time and energy fighting the disease. As a caregiver, I was going to help her with this battle, and then take over everything else so she could focus on fighting mesothelioma. Again, I just thought of it as being a good husband, I keep thinking of the passage in our wedding vows “in sickness and in health.” This was the sickness part.

In Cape May, NJ, with a drain protruding from my right side after a single, prophylactic mastectomy less than two weeks ago, I'm here to recuperate. I barely slept last night, the site where the plastic tube exits my side burns. I text my plastic surgeon a photo of the site and he tells me it's time for the drain to be removed. It's 8:30 pm and I'm three hours from his office on the tail-end of December, how is how this infected drain going to be removed so I can get some sleep tonight?

An oddly familiar thing happened tonight, my panties were instantaneously soaked through to my jeans (and not because I was excited)! Stunned, has my period returned after chemotherapy?

The night before my prophylactic mastectomy, I wanted to be surrounded by my friends' love and light, so I made it happen: I threw a Boob-Bye™ party!

 I "unleash the power of organic healing" daily and nightly on my face, neck and surgery scars, my skin feels hydrated all day.

According to The National Cancer Institute, aluminum-based compounds are used as the active ingredient in antiperspirants; they form a temporary plug within the sweat duct that stops the flow of sweat to the skin's surface.

My eyes lit up with the array of colors and designs that make up Mary's collection; her pieces range from simple and elegant to colorful and playful; all of them bold.

Three hundred sixty five days ago my life changed forever. I lay on the bed and brushed my hand against my chest: chills illuminated my spine. Fear, terror: Oh My God, this doesn't feel normal, it's too big and too hard! 

Out of the ashes true beauty will grow.
And LOVE is the only word you will need to know.

www.mybreastchoiceshow.com

Join me and show your support!
Tuesday, October 13th 8:00 - 10:00pm                                                                                         #BREASTCANCERAWARENESS event

Party anyone? Montclair Radiology will close off their lounge to throw you and 4-7 of your girlfriends a Mammogram Party. 

Pope Francis meets Governor Cuomo in NYC today and blesses Sandra Lee, as she is cancer free. Hooray! Another sister beat the beast! Sandra Lee states both her radiologist and breast surgeon told her she's a "ticking time bomb" and that "you need to get them both done" after her lumpectomy showed unclean margins. 

Join Stella & Dot's stylist Amy Barnett and I for an evening of beauty and bling at The Studio, 8 Lackawanna Plaza in Montclair on Wednesday, October 7th from 6:30 - 8:30pm. You'll enjoy makeup tips and touchups by the amazing artists at Bobbi Brown, a 20% discount on studio purchases, shopping the fall collection of jewelry and accessories from Stella & Dot, raffles, sips & snacks and more! 

This Stella & Dot rose gold "Resilience Cuff" was especially created to benefit us survivors; crafted of micro pave stones, accented with hand-wrapped thread on a delicate vintage rose gold cuff with arrow motif. 

The Ultimate Brow Tutorial by Carly Severn, a beauty with alopecia. Carly details how to draw on brows with powder, a pencil and sealing with lacquer.