Making the chemo journey “a little bit better”
Almost all of our lives have been rocked by the effects of cancer — whether we have been diagnosed ourselves or had loved ones who have gone through treatment.
It is estimated that in the UK, 2.5 million people are living with the disease.
Stylists at Stella and Dot have found away to make the lives of cancer patients going through chemotherapy a little bit easier.
Stella and Dot is a San Francisco based social selling company with a team of 500 stylists and hostesses across the world.
The company prides its self on giving “every woman the means to style her own life”, including women going through chemotherapy.
Alice Hooley, a Stella and Dot stylist, said: “Each October we launch a breast cancer boutique where we sell three different accessories. This year all proceeds will go to breast cancer.
“A stylist decided to make up pouches filled with products which make the chemo process a little bit easier.”
The Stella and Dot team lost one of their members to breast cancer which was their inspiration for putting together the pouches.
They contain items which the stylists believe will most help those experiencing the gruelling effects of chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy works on active cells. Cancerous cells are active, but unfortunately so are some healthy cells, and the side effects of chemotherapy occur when those healthy cells are damaged.
The care packages take into consideration these changes to women’s bodies during their chemotherapy journey and include the likes of hand cream to help with dry hands, lip cream for sore lips, different flavoured tea bags because taste buds change during chemotherapy, and mints for dry mouths.
Aimee Martin had to undergo chemotherapy at the age of 16 to fight ovarian cancer.
At an age where looks are of huge importance to a teenage girl Aimee’s confidence took a massive blow during her chemo journey.
“Going through chemotherapy at the age of 16 was tough for my self esteem and losing my hair had a great impact on this too.
“The idea of a care package is a positive gesture.
“It would have definitely have given me more confidence and helped with feeling comfortable in my own skin during such a traumatic time.”
One woman who received a pouch said: “It is such an amazing thing to know that people want to help. It’s nice feeling like a real woman again and giving us the treats that remind us of that,” she says.
Alice contacted women who have bought Stella and Dot products through her to ask if they would sponsor her in making the pouches. With the money from this commission she will buy the products that will fill the pouches.
She says chemotherapy often affects patients’ memory, so the pouches can also be used to store the items someone might need to take with them to their appointments. Rather than having to remember lots of little bits, they can all be kept in the pouch so they only have to remember one thing.
Alice said: “If you people have got spare time this is a good thing to put it into. Figure out what is going on in your local environment and what you can be part of if you have time.”
Michaela Thouless has watched her mother, her niece and two colleagues suffer with varying types of cancer.
She says: “My niece had long hair which she lost during chemo for Leukaemia.
“The wigs she got from the NHS cost a lot of money and weren’t great.
“Although they gave her some confidence back, she probably would’ve felt so much better by having her nails painted or a hand massage using the hand creams.
“I think when it comes to chemotherapy, looking good and feeling comfortable will help recovery because they will feel good and more positive.”
Find out more about Stella and Dot at their breast cancer boutique.
