The C-Factor

Cancer – it's a word that a lot of us are afraid of. Afraid of hearing, afraid of saying and afraid of what it can mean. Cancer awareness as a cause and the disease to be eradicated and overcome has been powerful and pertinent for years, but insight into what it's like to live with is less forthcoming. 

Statistically, at least 40% of us will suffer cancer at some point in our lives, yet the wellness sector has been reluctant to offer care and treatments to patients due to misinformation about their impact (worries include if massage can spread a tumour) to high insurance rates as a result of a lack of knowledge. 

Despite this reluctance, some studies have proven that what spas and wellbeing centres offer can go a long way to improve the lives of those suffering. Depression can be helped with mindful meditation, manual lymph drainage has been proven to prevent secondary lymphedema in women, and massage reduces nausea in women undergoing breast cancer chemotherapy. Anxiety caused by body image issues can be lessened by touch, and even permanent make-up can help those suffering from facial hair loss.

The beauty industry is waking up to the underserved needs of cancer patients, realising the unique beauty issues they face and then targeting them across the wellness sector.

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"AS A RESULT OF TREATMENT, SKIN WILL OFTEN BECOME DRIER AND MORE FRAGILE THAN EVER BEFORE. RADIOTHERAPY LEAVES SKIN FEELING ITCHY, RED, AND DRY WITH SOME SWELLING. IN EXTREME CASES IT MAY EVEN BLISTER."

Amanda Barlow

Founder, The Made for Life Foundation