Today is World Breast Cancer Day, we are all exposed to this difficult disease, it will depend on our genetics, but also on the care habits that we have created in our lives: smoking, alcohol, unhealthy eating...
We know that there are many risk factors, and we never think that it could affect us.
If we are given this news, we must prepare our minds and start a different life, full of care, more than ever, and positivity.
Attitude will be key to the results.
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES AND FEEL BETTER?
Emotional care:
In cancer we know that our cells go crazy and if we do not paralyze them in time it can be fatal.
Although science is advancing in parallel, we can only control ourselves and if we have suffered such terrible news, accept it and get to work...
In cancer we know that our cells go crazy and if we do not paralyze them in time it can be fatal.
Although science is advancing in parallel, we can only control ourselves and if we have suffered such terrible news, accept it and get to work...
The first reactions when we get the news, according to people who have been through it.
I HAVE CANCER... and now?
There is an initial shock (disbelief and confusion...), Fear (of the diagnosis, the tests and the future), anxiety about the results and uncertainty, emotional reactions, such as anger, hopelessness, sadness, depression, denial..., sleeping difficulties , loss of appetite…
WHAT HAPPENS TO US DURING THE TREATMENT?:
Self-esteem decreases, when we see our body image, sexuality decreases and we suffer social isolation.
Phobic reactions and fears, anxiety, depressed mood, anger...
Phobic reactions and fears, anxiety, depressed mood, anger...
WHEN DO WE GET BACK TO NORMALITY? :
Fear of relapse and dying, personal change, change in friends, concerns related to activity
work, greater existential spirituality, change of values...
There is a before and after in our life and if the disease is advanced: fears of death and suffering, difficulty in communication, loneliness, hopelessness, helplessness and exhaustion, apathy, loss of roles, concern for the family...
HOW TO ADAPT OUR MIND?
The majority of patients adapt well to the news, but 40% present clear symptoms of psychological discomfort.
The way in which each person faces their illness will depend on the combination of a set of psychological clinical variables. It is important to note that there is no single best way to adapt, and there are important individual differences.
CHANGES IN THE PHYSICAL APPEARANCE :
Presence of scars, skin problems, weight changes, hair loss or weakening, loss of eyebrows, eyelashes, body hair, alterations in nails, facial expression.
There are some alterations in our image that affect us.
Dysfunctional beliefs associated with identity: feeling less of a woman or man, loss of personal identity. Loss of important attitudes: eroticism or sensuality, possible loss of a vital function... change of habits.
At the affective level, emotional responses conditioned to physical changes, anxiety, dissatisfaction, frustration.
Our behavior can change: avoidance and/or compensation behaviors towards one's own body and towards others: obsessive behaviors, social avoidance behaviors, isolation, avoiding looking in the mirror...
There are some alterations in our image that affect us.
Dysfunctional beliefs associated with identity: feeling less of a woman or man, loss of personal identity. Loss of important attitudes: eroticism or sensuality, possible loss of a vital function... change of habits.
At the affective level, emotional responses conditioned to physical changes, anxiety, dissatisfaction, frustration.
Our behavior can change: avoidance and/or compensation behaviors towards one's own body and towards others: obsessive behaviors, social avoidance behaviors, isolation, avoiding looking in the mirror...
HOW TO FACE IT?
Promote and take care of our physical appearance, with the appropriate products.
Pamper ourselves more than ever.
Integrate with the new image: we are already physically different people.
Treatment and psychological help, a coach can help us feel better during the process.
Information and correction of misconceptions.
Maintain habits and styles that are beneficial to us.
Learning to communicate experience and feelings is very important.
Being with people in the same situation, they are the ones who can understand us the most, participate in support groups, enhance other aspects of self-esteem and personal self-worth.
Pamper ourselves more than ever.
Integrate with the new image: we are already physically different people.
Treatment and psychological help, a coach can help us feel better during the process.
Information and correction of misconceptions.
Maintain habits and styles that are beneficial to us.
Learning to communicate experience and feelings is very important.
Being with people in the same situation, they are the ones who can understand us the most, participate in support groups, enhance other aspects of self-esteem and personal self-worth.
To conclude I will say:
We can all suffer from this great disease, we must design a new lifestyle with adapted Routines and Rituals.
We often cannot change the circumstances, but we can change the way we face them.
Taking an active role during the disease process provides a sense of control, which will influence our well-being.
Having courage does not mean not experiencing fear, it means that despite our fears we decide to act and confront.
We often cannot change the circumstances, but we can change the way we face them.
Taking an active role during the disease process provides a sense of control, which will influence our well-being.
Having courage does not mean not experiencing fear, it means that despite our fears we decide to act and confront.
Illness can also bring positive experiences, it will make us grow spiritually and be stronger when we have overcome it.
DERMATOLOGICAL ALTERATIONS:
With radiotherapy sessions :
Depending on the dose of radiotherapy, dry peeling, mild follicular edema, mild erythema, mild itching, decreased sweating, and alopecia in less than 50% may occur on the skin. These effects increase with greater toxicity of radiotherapy.
Approximately two months after radiation, we will observe mild atrophy, hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation, telangiectasias, mild alopecia, pruritus, possible ulceration. If the toxicity of the radiation is greater, these signs are enhanced.
With chemotherapy sessions: reversible effects but sometimes they can take months to disappear.
Alopecia, dry skin, erythema, hyperpigmentation, phototoxicity, photosensitivity, pruritus, hypersensitization to radiotherapy combined with chemo.
What should we stop doing?
Do not harm the skin, avoid the use of:
Aggressive soaps, perfumes or colognes, deodorants, be careful!! To breast cancer!
Antiseptics: hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, iodine,….
Shaving with a razor, avoid daily shaving, it is best with an electric shaver
Hair removal until the skin recovers
Avoid products with lanolin
Agents being sensitized
Harsh laundry detergents and softeners
Rub the skin with towels
Avoid woolen clothing, synthetic fibers: better cotton
Protect the skin from the sun, avoid sun, wind and extreme temperatures.
Shaving with a razor, avoid daily shaving, it is best with an electric shaver
Hair removal until the skin recovers
Avoid products with lanolin
Agents being sensitized
Harsh laundry detergents and softeners
Rub the skin with towels
Avoid woolen clothing, synthetic fibers: better cotton
Protect the skin from the sun, avoid sun, wind and extreme temperatures.
What can we do with cosmetics?
. Proper hygiene with mild surfactants, cleansing oils go very
good.
. Unscented products or allergen-free perfumes.
. Try to avoid parabens as preservatives, better natural ones.
. Showers and short baths, avoid long baths
. Do not dry by rubbing with a towel
. Short and clean nails
. Avoid nail polish or false nails
. Thin cotton gloves under rubber gloves for house cleaning…
MOISTURIZING COSMECEUTICS :
The dermis is the skin's reservoir with the largest amount of water, if we do not hydrate the epidermis with cosmeceuticals (the most superficial layer), it will take it from the dermis and the skin will suffer dehydration.
In addition, radiation: chemo and radio generate many free radicals, we must provide antioxidants in our formulations.
In addition, radiation: chemo and radio generate many free radicals, we must provide antioxidants in our formulations.
Peeling and epidermal hyperplasia occur due to an alteration of the lipid barrier.
. Fluid lotions and/or moisturizing oils.
. We must restore the lipid barrier of the epidermis, stimulating
our lipid synthesis processes.
our lipid synthesis processes.
. Stimulation of endogenous regeneration of retention capacity
watery
watery
. Stimulation of epidermal regeneration
. Protection of epidermal lipids against oxidative processes (it is advisable to combine several antioxidant active ingredients)
What do we do in case of alopecia?
We know it is one of the treatments that most distress the patient. Although socially the social acceptance is greater. Not all chemotherapy treatments cause hair loss.
In all cases, the hair will grow back once the treatments are completed, although the new hair may have a different color and texture.
The effectiveness of a preventive hair loss treatment is almost zero.
Always daily sun protection, it is very important.
During
18% of the cells or keratinocytes of the basal layer disappear due to radiotherapy, and those that remain, their DNA is affected and we must repair it. Cosmeceuticals that stimulate stem cells are effective, but not those affected. It is not good to stimulate the affected keratinocytes.
There is a decrease in Langerhans cells, regulators of the immune system, there is an alteration of the cascade of pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive cytokines.
There is a decrease in Langerhans cells, regulators of the immune system, there is an alteration of the cascade of pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive cytokines.
Radiotherapy also causes pigmentation, during treatment do not use depigmentants, these cosmeceuticals are not completely harmless, we will then treat the spots when we stop receiving chemo and radiotherapy.
The cosmetic must act on three levels:
During the treatment, pure aloe vera gel, ideal for everything, together with a soft base cream.
- Provide antioxidants,
- Modulate inflammatory and immunosuppressive processes.
- Stimulate defense capacity
- We must activate the formation of fat, liposynthesis.
- I hope this information has been interesting to you, I am going to leave you the testimony of Cristina Montaña, who was diagnosed with breast cancer and used Restore look serum and Antiox Revital with incredible results, revitalizing the skin. The new DNA REPAIR cream is ideal for repairing affected DNA fractions and activating lipid formation. As a cleansing gel Micellar Cleansing Gel with aloe vera and hyaluronic acid.
ReVitality Ritual.
For any questions you can write to me and if you liked share the article.