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- Event Recaps
Resources
About
- Contact
- Our Team

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Cancer Wellness

312-734-1466
401 N Michigan Ave., Ste. 325
Chicago, IL 60611

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Melissa Berry was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer seven years ago. After her diagnosis, she promised herself that she would never allow breast cancer to steal her dignity or make her feel like less of a woman.⁣
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Her mission is to ensure that nobody feels defeated. Through @cancerfashionista, she helps her "little sisters" feel like the same beautiful women that they were before being diagnosed.

We are SO excited to introduce our latest cW column, Everyday Runway! @cancerfashionista creator Melissa Berry will be sharing all of her favorite things with us to help you look and feel fabulous throughout your cancer treatment and beyond. ⁣
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Be sure to mark your calendar for the third Monday of every month for a one-stop shop for warriors seeking style.⁣
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Click our link in bio to get to know Melissa and read Everyday Runway!

Is your mood as low as the temperature outside? The lack of sunlight and colder weather can make many people vulnerable to the blues in the winter. Swipe for a few tips on how to beat the seasonal slump!

Today's #FighterFriday and Supporter issue Warrior is Dr. Rick Brown. After being diagnosed with two separate cancers, he took charge in finding ways to help his body heal itself, but starve the cancer. ⁣⁠
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"Healing and curing are not necessarily the same. I think we can be healed—bring wholeness and holiness into our lives—without ever receiving a cure." ⁣⁠
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Click our link in bio to learn more about his cancer journey.

In 2016, June Heston's husband Mike Heston started having severe back pain and fatigue, losing 75 pounds without trying. After 10 months of tests and unclear results, he was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer in January 2017. He began treatment with Thomas Abrams, M.D., an oncologist at the DanaFarber Cancer Institute. Abrams had never heard of burn pits before he met the Hestons.⁣
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“I said to myself, ‘This can't be good. This has to be contributory to human diseases, certainly lung diseases, and probably cancer,’” recalls Abrams in a phone interview. “Though it’s very hard to pin down a specific cause of any cancer, there certainly would be enough toxins in the smoke to contribute to human cancer.”

The words “burn pit” may sound like a little hole in the ground, but the open air pits used to burn garbage on military bases across Iraq and Afghanistan are of epic proportions, like that biblical lake of fire.⁣
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The Environmental Protection Agency website notes that burning trash creates dioxins that endanger the environment and human health. These potent organic chemicals accumulate in the body, and over time dioxins can suppress the immune system, disrupt hormones and cause cancer. While burning trash is outlawed across the U.S. because of the toxins it creates, those laws didn’t apply on military bases.⁣
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But the Veteran Affairs’ (VA) position is that while smoke from toxic burn pits causes temporary eye, skin and lung irritation, “research does not show evidence of long-term health problems from exposure to burn pits.” As of August 2020, more than 212,000 service members have signed up for the VA’s Airborne Hazards and Burn Pit Registry.⁣
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Yet the VA has denied 78 percent of burn pit exposure disability claims as of September 2020. An article in Stars and Stripes revealed that of the 12,582 veterans who made claims since 2007, just 2,828 have been granted. Most vets and their families are handling disabling health problems and paying for medical treatment on their own. ⁣
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Click our link in bio to learn more about how burn pits are impacting the health of many soldiers and veterans directly from those who have been affected.

Bella Caetano crafts each piece of jewelry she creates with an abundance of meaning, asking herself questions like why she wants to design a piece and what she wants it to reflect. ⁣
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When creating the @bellinacaetano x Cancer Wellness collection, she used rose quartz which is known for its ability to cultivate inner healing and a deep sense of peace, to provide a sense of grounding and "magical hope."

Jewelry designer Bella Caetano, owner of @bellinacaetano, is committed to creating products abundant with meaning. So when a Bellina Caetano x Cancer Wellness collection was proposed, the decision was crystal clear.⁣
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“I believe the world has enough products and I don’t want mine to just be one more,” she says. “I have felt in the past that it really helps me to put the product in the world if it has a meaning.”⁣
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Bella crafted the 10-piece collection of rings, necklaces and bracelets with care and intention, incorporating elements to represent love, hope and peace. ⁣
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Although she initially created the pieces for warriors, Bella now believes her collection can empower people on many different areas of the cancer spectrum—from warriors to thrivers to supporters.⁣
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Click our link in bio to learn more about the Bellina Caetano x Cancer Wellness collection! The best part? Twenty percent of all proceeds will be going towards a Cancer Wellness charity partner. ✨

Deciding whether or not to have reconstruction after breast cancer treatment is an incredibly personal decision only you can make. No matter what you choose, know that being a woman is so much more than having breasts.

We are so incredibly honored to introduce you to the women of our newest portrait series, "Going Flat." Our resident photographer @sarahbellphoto was able to capture the beauty and strength of six women who chose to live flat post-mastectomy, opting out of having reconstruction surgery. ⁣
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Post-treatment stigma may make many women desire implants, but going flat is a valid option and lessens the chances of further complications down the road. The women photographed for this project explained how it has been a challenge to learn to make peace and love their new bodies. For some, posing for this project has been part of that process.⁣
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First, we'd love to introduce you to Laura Zenker. Before being diagnosed with cancer, Laura described herself as a v-neck girl. After surgery, she began wearing those shirts backward. Laura knows her body, she knew something wasn't right, but still, she went misdiagnosed for a year and a half until June 2018. After five months of chemotherapy, she had a meeting with her surgeon and told him that reconstruction was not an option for her. ⁣
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“Your breasts don't make you feminine. I am a woman, I will always be a woman," says Laura. ⁣
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Click our link in bio to view the complete "Going Flat" portrait series.

When @allynrose realized there was no one comprehensive place that women could go to to learn about their options for optimal breast health, she launched her nonprofit, @ThePrevivor. ⁣
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The Previvor is a digital, accessible platform that quickly and seamlessly provides information so women can make informed decisions and advocate for themselves. ⁣
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What was your most valuable resource during your cancer journey? Share below!

While it has been many years since @allynrose underwent and recovered from her mastectomy, she continues to work as an advocate for the breast cancer community. ⁣
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Prior to COVID-19, Allyn regularly traveled around the glove, giving motivational speeches and appearing in events like @anaonointimate's 2020 NYFW show. ⁣
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Allyn takes her role as a supporter so seriously that she recently launched a new nonprofit, @ThePrevivor, which aims to educate people about their options for optimal breast health.⁣
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“I quickly realized there was no one comprehensive place that women could go to to learn about their options. And there are options about everything.”⁣
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Click our link in bio to learn more about Allyn's path to previvorship and all she does to support the breast cancer community.

Unlike most young people, cancer has always been a part of @AllynRose’s vocabulary. Allyn—the beauty pageant contestant turned motivational speaker, social media influencer and nonprofit founder—witnessed many family members, including her own mother, battle the disease. ⁣
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That's why, when Allyn made the decision to undergo a preventative double mastectomy in her 20s, she was not afraid to share her story with the country and, ultimately, the world. ⁣
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"I saw all these women out there who had battled cancer and had a mastectomy and why was my voice important? Why wasn't it them?” says Allyn. “Until there were other people saying, ‘I wouldn't have had this surgery had I not seen someone who was able to move on with their life.’”⁣
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Click our link in bio to learn more about Allyn's path to previvorship and how she's continuing to support women in the cancer community through her new nonprofit, @ThePrevivor.

New year, new issue! ✨ We are so excited for you all to read our very first Supporter issue of Cancer Wellness magazine! In our winter issue, you will find beautiful and inspiring examples of what it means to "show up" and support those who need it most. Here's a sneak peek at what's inside: ⁣
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@allynrose, former beauty queen turned motivational speaker, social media influencer and nonprofit founder, shines a brilliant spotlight on previvorship as this issue's cover star. ⁣
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In "Where There's Smoke, There's Fire," Maria C. Hunt uncovers the price many soldiers are paying due to exposure to toxic burn pits on U.S. military bases across the Middle East. ⁣
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In "Going Flat," our resident photographer @sarahbellphoto captures the beauty and strength of six women who chose to live flat post-mastectomy, instead of having reconstruction surgery.
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Ready to get reading? Click our link in bio to read the winter issue of Cancer Wellness!

It's easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of the new year, but don't forget to take time to make sure that your emotional needs are being met! Swipe to see our favorite self-care tips to celebrate you in the new year. ✨

In losing one precious family member to colon cancer, Lauren DeMello gained a new family of previvors and warriors. ⁣
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Before her mom passed, doctors recommended she get tested for a genetic condition called Lynch syndrome, which predisposed her to an 80 to 85 percent risk of cancer by the time she was 50. ⁣
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"It wasn’t quite so surprising then to find out she had Lynch syndrome; in fact, it helped make sense of it all, considering her early and repeat cancer diagnosis. What perhaps came as a bigger surprise was learning about my 50-50 chance of inheriting it myself." ⁣
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Click our link in bio to learn more about Lauren's decision to get the test and the community she's found in her growing Lynch family.

Like many other physicians across the country, Dr. Nita Lee had to pivot the scope of her work as the COVID-19 pandemic began to ravage the country. ⁣
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Surprisingly, the pandemic provided a number of opportunities for Lee and her clinic to connect with patients who might have been more inaccessible in the before times and provide more personalized care to patients in treatment.

For many nonprofits, the state of charitable giving was fairly strong going into the COVID-19 pandemic. But as millions of people found themselves unemployed this spring and summer, their proverbial purse strings also tightened, significantly reducing their charitable activities. ⁣
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As a result, many charities—especially those in the medical research field—now face dramatically reduced research budgets. ⁣
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What does this mean for the future of cancer research initiatives and progress? Click our link in bio to learn more.

A cancer diagnosis is exhausting enough without a financial calamity that affects your care options and choices. Luckily, there are organizations aiming to lessen everyday financial burdens for active warriors so that they can focus more on fighting cancer than fighting collection agencies. ⁣
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Click our link in bio to learn more about a few of the organizations helping to provide financial relief for cancer warriors.

Dana Divine’s can-do, no-limits attitude is the way she’s always lived. And it came in handy when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer more than a decade ago at age 41. ⁣
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While shaving, Dana discovered a small lump under her right armpit. She had also noticed that there was a weird odor from her armpit that no amount of washing could make go away.⁣
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“I dismissed the lump, but did call to schedule my annual appointment with my OB-GYN,” she says. “He did not notice the pea-sized knot during my visit. He did, however, order an ultrasound so that I would not worry. It was during the ultrasound that the lump was found.”⁣
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Dana opted for a double mastectomy followed by chemotherapy and has had no recurrence of cancer since 2009, but her experience has birthed a new ministry of doing her part for breast cancer awareness. ⁣
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Click our link in bio to learn more about her breast cancer journey and how she continues "making lemonade out of lemons."

Cancer doesn't end when treatment ends. Be gentle with yourself and allow yourself all the time you need to navigate your new normal. What has helped you on your journey to navigating life after cancer? Share below!

Season's Greetings from the Cancer Wellness team! To all the warriors, thrivers, and supporters in this fantastic community, we hope your day is full of love and light. ⁣Before we step into 2021, we wanted to celebrate all that we accomplished this year with our cW 2020 in Review!
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No matter where you might have found yourself this holiday season, we hope we have been a resource during the dark times, the joyous times, the boring times—all of them—and we promise to continue giving you the content and community you need as we welcome the new year. ⁣
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Sending the warmest holiday wishes to each and every one of you. ❤️

Mano a Mano was able to bridge this gap thanks to the trust it has built with its community, which has allowed them to reach and assist immigrants in familiar and comforting ways.

Twenty years ago, Mano a Mano started as a tiny resource center for immigrants in Illinois’ Round Lake Park community. It has since evolved into an organization—with community sites in Mundelein, Highland Park and Wauconda, Illinois—that helps more than 4,500 Latinx people by providing access to health resources and services, educational classes, workshops and immigration legal services.⁣⁠
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When it comes to fostering better health among Latinx families, @mamfrc_ has made it a goal to increase colorectal cancer screening rates by 80 percent over the next five to six years. ⁣⁠
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Colorectal cancer is just one of many health issues affecting Latinx people disproportionately. While colorectal cancer is 99 percent preventable, it has a high morbidity rate for Latinos as it accounts for 11 percent of the demographic’s cancer deaths, according to the @americancancersociety.⁠
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For immigrants who may lack access to basic health resources, early detection screenings can mean the difference between beating cancer through successful treatment or death. ⁣⁠
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Click our link in bio to learn more about how Mano a Mano is improving screening rates and awareness among immigrants.

Happy holidays from the Cancer Wellness team! We wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who participated in this year's #cWAdvent Calendar! We loved celebrating our inspiring and amazing community this December. ❤️

ENTRIES CLOSED. Congrats to our winner @dearcancer! 🎉 Can you believe this is the LAST day of the 2020 #cWAdvent Calendar? For our final giveaway, we'll be gifting a one-year (four issues) subscription of Cancer Wellness magazine to one lucky winner! ⁣
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We love sharing our tips, tricks, insight and advice to our strong cW community. But did you know Cancer Wellness is also in print? We distribute issues of our magazine to charity partners, hospitals and homes around the country.⠀⁣
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HOW TO ENTER:⁠⠀⁣⁣
1. Like this post. ⁠⠀⁣⁣
2. Follow @cancerwellmag ⁣
3. Tag a friend in the comments below. ⁠⠀⁣⁣
4. Enter as many times as you'd like!⁠⠀⁣⁣
5. Entries close 12/25/20 at 11AM CST. ⁠⠀⁣⁣
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The winner of the #cWAdvent Day 24 giveaway will be announced on Friday, December 25th at 12PM CST. To win, your account must be public, spam accounts and giveaway/contest only accounts will be disqualified. Giveaway is no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram.

ENTRIES CLOSED. Congrats to our winner @melanielynnpenndesign! 🎉 @anaonointimates is back for day 23 of the #cWAdvent Calendar! One lucky winner will receive their choice of one of AnaOno's loungewear pieces! ⁣
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Who says you can't look and feel your best as you're recovering from a mastectomy? AnaOno believes that every patient, survivor and thriver deserves to be true to themselves, and our mastectomy clothing and loungewear is designed to help you do just that.⁣
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Every step of the way - from post-op to years after treatment - these solutions will help complement all of those much-needed relaxing moments that allow you to re-center and decompress.⁣
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AnaOno's mastectomy loungewear has been expertly crafted with care to help ease the stress and discomfort of post-surgery recovery. Choose from the super soft Miena Mastectomy Robe, the Conley Romper, the Kara Wrap Dress or the Abby Lounge Pant! ⁣
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HOW TO ENTER:⁠⠀⁣⁣
1. Like this post. ⁠⠀⁣⁣
2. Follow @cancerwellmag + @anaonointimates⁣⁣
3. Tag a friend in the comments below. ⁠⠀⁣⁣
4. Enter as many times as you'd like!⁠⠀⁣⁣
5. Entries close 12/24/20 at 11AM CST. ⁠⠀⁣⁣
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The winner of the #cWAdvent Day 23 giveaway will be announced on Thursday, December 24th at 12PM CST. To win, your account must be public, spam accounts and giveaway/contest only accounts will be disqualified. Giveaway is no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram.

Upcoming Events

27 Feb

Cal's Angels - Got Hope Gala
Virtual TBD -
18 Nov

AKTIV Against Cancer Virtual Conference
Virtual 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
14 Nov

Twist Out Cancer - Brushes with Cancer
Virtual 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

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