Surgical Oncologist
Founder of Hope & Beauty
Dr. Singhal’s Tips On How To Look and Feel Great While Undergoing Cancer Treatment
Every new year there are millions of people around the world getting the big C diagnosis. Luckily, cancer treatments have come a really long way in the past couple of decades. Still, many of those therapies still cause side-effects, some of which are noticeable in patients’ looks. Let’s see if we can do something to reduce and remedy those side-effects.
Patients Prepared For Side-Effects Cope Better
Every year more than an estimated 1.8 million people in the US are diagnosed with cancer. Cancer always takes its toll on patients’ looks, not necessarily in the form of the disease itself but in the side-effects of treatment. The experience can be disorienting, and also the so-called cosmetic side effects are sometimes disturbing—to the point that some women decide to pause treatment. Yet doctors often overlook differences to a patient’s condition: the loss of hair and nails, the rashes, the burns. “Oncologists are more likely to prepare you for things like nausea and diarrhea, which are regarded more significant,” says Dr. Shyamali Singhal, surgical oncologist and founder of H&B. This is unfortunate, Dr. Singhal says: “It’s been revealed that if patients are told about what can occur, they are better prepared to cope with the disease and deal with problems caused by treatment.”
Cancer Therapies Often Cause Skin Related Problems
Cancer therapy can present hurdles when it comes to makeup and cosmetics. Normally oily skin can become momentarily dry and flaky. Even your skin tone can vary, making you look paler, or tanned. And because medications can undermine your immune system, proper care requires to be considered when picking and utilizing cosmetics.
Tackling cancer with chemotherapy eliminates cancer cells, but sadly, numerous cases also have undesired side effects, such as hair loss, dry skin, and brittle nails.
Seeing your hair fall out can be particularly hard to deal with. Usually, how we look is really important to most of us. The idea of losing hair can be very overwhelming to some people.
But cancer patients have many ways to cope with such changes from cutting their hair short to moisturizing their skin frequently.
“It is essential for people to know that there are many things that they can do to counter these side effects,” says Dr. Singhal.
The Importance Of Eyelashes For A Great Look
Having nice-looking, thick eyelashes is like a finishing touch to every look we want to sport. But some cancer therapies can cause eyelashes to fall out. Luckily, we can replace them with false eyelashes.
False eyelashes have come a long way over the years. Today’s versions are more refined, lighter, shorter, and easier to attach. There are two basic types: the strip and individual lashes.
Strip lashes are the quickest solution. Purchase a set in your natural lash color and cut with nail scissors to your chosen length. Most false lashes now have an adhesive along the base and need only to be precisely fitted to the lash line. If they do not, use a small line of adhesive and put the strip along the lash line. Remove with an oil-based eye-makeup remover.
Individual lashes are used to achieve a more natural look, but keep in mind that they can take some time to apply. Most come with adhesive at the base of each lash; if they do not, apply a little dollop of adhesive and position along the eyelid with tweezers. If you’re not up for doing it yourself, most salons and day spas have an aesthetician on staff who can do it for you.
Everything You Need For Your Body Care In One Box
Balancing chemotherapy and personal hygiene and body care can sometimes prove a much too difficult task for the average person to handle. This is where H&B steps in. Pick up our Gift Box, with everything you or your loved ones might need for their body care while undergoing therapy.
This deluxe Chemo Companion Gift Box includes twenty of the best H&B’s body care products. Everything that cancer patients’ sensitive skin, hair, and nails could require in one convenient gift box. Whether it’s you or your loved ones that are undergoing chemotherapy treatment, products in this gift box will help you maintain your body care rituals. Some of the products are in sample size.