Breast Cancer : A List of Products, Practices + People to help you navigate the unknown

I won't ever forget the day I found out I had breast cancer. It was nothing at all like what you see in the movies. There wasn't a doctor's office. No loved ones holding hands, sitting on stiff furniture, awaiting answers. I was wrapped in my favorite blanket, sipping tea, resting on the sofa at my parents when my phone rang — "Do you have a moment to talk about your results?" said the radiology tech assistant. The conversation was much a blur, all I remember was mouthing the words "I have cancer" to my father, who then contacted my mother. The phone conversation ended with me being told that I needed to find a breast surgeon and that the imaging center couldn't help with any direction beyond informing me of my results. Our lives as we knew them had become interrupted. All of my goals and plans and dreams for myself wilted down to just one — surviving cancer.

After that phone call, everything moved so quickly, and yet, so slow. Scans, surgeries, cancer treatments - all during a pandemic. Everything was a first for me, I was a beginner. For someone who loves being prepared (hello, Virgo!) I often found myself in unknown territory, learning and finding support where I could along the way. Below, you will find a list of products, practices and people that helped pull me up my greatest mountain yet. Whether you are newly diagnosed, currently in thick of it, or have someone close to your heart that is navigating cancer - I hope this offering serves you, and you find comfort in the knowing that you are never alone.

BODY RITUAL

Frankincense Oil - Studies have shown that mixing quality Frankincense oil with a carrier oil and massaging your breasts daily, is very beneficial for breast cancer patients, especially those diagnosed with Triple Negative. Other oils that helped me during treatment.

Lip Care - You will want a quality lip moisturizer. Poppy and Pout gifted me their product and I absolutely loved it. Another go-to is my Glossier Rose Salve.

Eyebrow Care - My eyebrows didn’t completely fall out until one month after I finished chemo. To help the growth process, I used Organic Castor Oil that I put in a reusable mascara tube for ease. During and even before/after cancer, I used a Glossier product called Boy Brow - it’s a gamechanger when it comes to eyebrow gels.

Wildling - I use the Wildling Empress Stone and Empress Wand to release facial stress (especially from jaw clenching) and to perform the practice of facial gua sha, which is a traditional Chinese beauty practice. Both products are made from Bian stone, which is known for its rejuvenating properties.

Harlow - I use quite a few products from Harlow. For face care, the Eye Repair Elixir, Youth Dew Face Elixir and Flora Toner are all staples in my daily routine. For body, I tend to already have dry skin, coupled with chemo treatments, I have found success with using the Body Balm (I love the Mist and Boheme fragrance) and with a heavier oil known as the Nourishing Body + Bath Elixir, which comes in many different fragrances. Please note: Chemotherapy can temporarily alter your senses, causing you to be sensitive to different aromas - use with caution, or opt for fragrance free.

Everyday Oil - This is a blend of organic cold-pressed plant oils and steam-distilled essential oils that are cleansing, hydrating + balancing. It is a lighter weight and can be used on your face, body + hair. I purchased both the Mainstay (after chemo) and Unscented (during chemo).

Organic Rose Water Spray - Multiple brands make and sell this. After spending hours in hospitals and treatment rooms, it was the perfect pick-me-up for my face and over-all wellbeing.

Epsom Salt Baths - A dear friend gifted me The Sacred Ritual bath salts in Immunity and Release and both smelled heavenly. The Release bath salt has charcoal properties in it that help with detoxification, and the Immunity bath salt had a mixture of florals in it that enhanced my bath experience.

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELLNESS

Lululemon Yoga Mats - I won’t practice on anything else. They have antimicrobial and anti-slip properties and just enough cushion for a comfortable practice. The company also offers a few free community yoga, meditation and movement classes.

Bolsters - I love to use bolsters in my meditation, Yoga Nidra practice, yoga practice and even while I am watching TV or laying outside. For heart opening, I use Manduka’s Enlight Round Bolster - I will lay the bolster up again my spine and under my neck and let my bum and arms fall down to the floor, allowing my shoulders to open wide. On days that this feels too vulnerable, I use Manduka’s Lean Bolster. There are many other ways that a bolster can help you go deeper into your practices, find what ways feel most freeing for you.

Other Yoga Props in my arsenal: I use HalfMoon’s Organic Yoga Strap for extra length when I can’t grab my toes or I want to do easy hamstring work. I use HalfMoon’s Yoga Blanket during my meditations or if I need extra padding under my knees during floor work. And, I own two of HalfMoon’s 10lb Sandbags - I love to place them on my forearms while I am laying down with my palms facing up or gently on my hip creases.

Weighted Eye Mask - My acupuncturist taught me how to calm my anxiety attacks by lightly pressing down on my eyelids. During my meditation (I always practice lying down), or if I am have difficulty sleeping, I love to put on a weighted eye mask. For sleep, I use the Nod Pod. For yoga, I use HalfMoon’s Silk Eye Pillow with Lavender.

Essential oil roll-ons - Great for on the go. I bring one with me everywhere and apply it on the outside of my mask near my nose - this has been a lifesaver before scans, during chemo or any other high stress scenarios. The two I keep on me at all times are DoTerra’s Console blend and Peace blend.

Rose Quartz - The stone of universal love. It restores trust and harmony in relationships and purifies and opens the heart at all levels to promote love, self-love, friendship, deep inner healing and feelings of peace. I put a tiny rose quartz stone near my bed, on my yoga mat and in my purse so that I always have it with me.

Palo Santo - Not only does it smell wonderful, it also purifies and cleanses energy. I burn Palo to set the tone before my yoga or meditation practice, and also in moments to inspire creativity.

Headspace - An easy to use meditation app that has a series for those that are navigating cancer, it is called Coping with Cancer. Meditations range from only a few minutes to full sessions. Very beginner friendly. New subscribers can take advantage of their Two Week Free offer.

Dr. Joe Dispenza - A neuroscientist that is known for his easy-to-understand approach to rewiring the brain for self healing. His guided meditations are longer, usually around a 45 min - 1 hr commitment. I loved to roll out my yoga mat and lay down in the grass while listening to him. Wherever you choose to take this in, make sure you are comfortable. Many of his meditations begin with breathwork, if that ever feels too overwhelming know that you can always go straight to the meditation - I did many times and still benefited. I personally loved his offering: Changing Beliefs and Perceptions. It helped me visualize what I wanted for my health.

Visualization Exercises - Take a few moments a day to visualize your tumor/cancer shrinking. A few options I did: 1) I would visualize my entire body covered in a white light, then as I inhaled and exhaled, I would imagine as though each inhale was traveling through my body and grabbing the cancer, and each exhale was taking it into the ethers. 2) I would imagine a black circle getting smaller and smaller until it disappeared into nothing. 3) I bought a handheld Ms. PacMan game and imagined that everything she ate on the screen was my cancer. It was a fun game to bring to chemo or to play during moments of bedrest. I also named my chemo port (Ruth after RBG) and tumors (Donald, Brock and Chad), as it offered me a different way of connecting to them.

Tapping aka EFT - My functional neurologist introduced me to this. It is a rapid, evidence-based approach to healing trauma and anxiety. It is exactly what it sounds like, you will repeatedly tap on your body in a certain order. EFT Education offers a free course, or you can find hundreds of online instructional videos via YouTube.

Yoga Nidra - More commonly known as yogic sleep, is one of the easiest, yet powerful, yoga techniques. It is practiced in order to rest comfortably in the savasana pose, also known as the corpse pose, to obtain a sense of wholeness through the meditation. Yoga Nidra is a delicious practice that I return to often.

Breathwork and Meditation - these practices have changed my life and equipped me with tools to navigate difficult situations. I take classes on a platform called Open - their teachers are wonderful and classes are beginner friendly. Use code DANIELLE30 to receive a free month membership.

Legs up the wall pose - One of my favorite poses. You can do it during your meditation, before you go to bed or anytime you feel overwhelmed and need a break. If your hamstrings are too tight, I love to put a bolster or pillow under to my bum to bring more ease into the pose, thus creating more benefit. Click here for a video. If you have high blood pressure, glaucoma or back and neck issues, proceed with caution and body awareness.

Mantra - I have found comfort and grounding in using mantras. A mantra is a syllable, word, or phrase that is repeated. Mantras can be spoken, chanted, whispered, or said silently in the mind. When I was in any high stress situation, especially ones where I needed to sit still, I would repeat mine over and over again and the repetition would calm me down. If you don’t have a mantra and you would like to use mine, it is: I am safe to be in my body. I am safe to be in my body. I am safe to be in my body. And, so it is. And, so I return.

Acupuncture - I swear by this practice. I am convinced that this is what carried me through while I was waiting on my initial scan results that would tell me if my cancer had metastasized. It has made a profound impact on my PTSD and anxiety. This is something I will continue to do weekly for the rest of my life. Do your research, read reviews and find a practitioner that you love and trust. If you happen to live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, go see Dr. Henry Li in Colleyville - he is a blessing.

House Of A La Ligne - This digital platform has it all. Yoga and Mediation. Mat Pilates - If you are doing flap reconstruction, their MAMA classes teach gentle pelvic work. HIIT and strength. And, what is known as The Block - this class is a way of accessing, releasing and shifting energy to rejuvenate mind, body, spirit and soul.  It is a combination of strength, power, connection and quiet. They offer a 7 day free trial.

Session pilates - High energy and high inspiration, Session Digital offers 10-40 minute mat and reformer-based Pilates sessions. Their music-driven workouts will have you checking out of your day and into your body. They offer a 7 day free trial. Want longer than 7? Use code DANIELLE50 to get 50% your first month plus your free 7 day trial, making it only $15 - yes!

Barre 3 - This digital platform reminds you to come as you are - no need to tidy up, force or fix anything. They’re streamable from any device and have hundreds of full-body workouts that combine strength conditioning, cardio and mindfulness that will leave you feeling balanced in body and empowered from within. They offer a 15 day free trial.

FIND COMFORT

U Shape Body Pillow - You can find these anywhere. This pillow gave me a feeling of safety. I often had trouble sleeping, especially after my double mastectomy, and this offered my body support so I could create comfortable positions.

Electric Bed - An investment, and worth it, especially after surgeries or during chemo when you just don’t have any energy. My friends and I have named it the Ultimate Netflix Bed.

Weighted blanket - For any anxious bodies, this is a must. It serves as an at-home therapy that can provide similar benefits to deep pressure therapy. These blankets have shown positive results for several conditions, including autism, ADHD, and anxiety. They can help calm a restless body, reduce feelings of anxiety, and improve sleep troubles. Just be sure to look up the appropriate blanket weight listed with your body weight.

CREATE JOY

Breast Cast - Don’t forget your joy. I bought a plaster breast cast kit on Ebay and created a keepsake of my boobs before my bilateral mastectomy. It was messy, hilarious and so much fun. Pro-tip: don’t attempt alone! My mother helped me and it is a memory we will cherish forever.

Wigs - I am the self-proclaimed Moira Rose (Schitt’s Creek) of my generation. Wigs helped bring the fun and creativity to losing my hair. I named each of my wigs and gave them each their own personality. On days when I was feeling down, I would put one on - whether dancing around my house or in public spaces.

Bell - Celebrate your wins, even the tiny ones. Who said that “ringing the bell” was only reserved for finishing chemo? My best friend found and bought me a bell on Amazon.

Handwritten Letters - One of the best ideas I ever had was asking my family, friends and community to write me handwritten letters. They were instant pick-me-ups and always gave me the encouragement I needed to keep going.

Notes from the Universe - I have been a subscriber for years. Every morning “A Note From The Universe” drops into my email inbox with warm words and inspiration. It’s free and given purely from a space of compassion for the world.

TO WEAR

An Easy To Clean Purse - During a pandemic and being immunocompromised, you will be taking extra precautions when you venture out. Over time, this can become exhausting. Having a small purse that is made out of material that won’t be harmed by a clorox wipe will help save time and ease frustration. I love my belt bag from lululemon, that also doubles as a cross body.

The Wrap Life Hair wraps Without hair, you will get cold easily. The Stretch Flow options doubled as a shawl for me, extremely versatile. Their website and social media channels have tutorial videos.

Seamless Tops - After my mastectomy, once my drains were removed, this is all I wanted to wear. They gave me a sense safety and feeling of being held. Ones that I love: Mary Young Wallace Crop, Free People Scoop Neck Top, Zara Limitless Contour Collection Crop Top.

Lululemon On The Fly Joggers - Out of all the joggers I have used these are my favorite. Both functional and comfortable, the waistband doesn’t dig and they’re easy to take on and off - you will know what a blessing this is when you have scan days or chemo days - rolling your IV pole around in the restroom while on pre-meds gets interesting.

All The Layers - Hospitals and treatment centers are cold. I found that wearing layering options helped keep me warm, or cool, while also giving me a sense of being held and safe - like a safety blanket. Lululemon is consistent with having great options that are also functional and high quality. Another favorite of theirs is the Vinyasa Scarf - a versatile option that can be worn many different ways. I always brought mine with me to chemo and wrapped it around me like an extra blanket, then threw it around my neck on the way out.

Beanies/Toques - Have at least a week’s worth on hand, especially if you need to do radiation therapy. And in a pandemic, you will always be doing laundry.

FOR CHEMO

Hair releasing ritual: Bless + Burn - I chose to buzz my hair off before it started falling out. For me, it was empowering knowing that I did it on my own terms. I took the hair, fired up my chiminea, told the cancer it was time to leave my body and threw my hair in. It was a cathartic experience.

Body Bio Elyte - Hydration is key during chemotherapy. I kept my electrolytes balanced and my body replenished with this product when I wasn’t able to go in and get fluids.

Ice socks and gloves - My chemo protocol consisted of one treatment that had the possibility of neuropathy. Putting ice on your hands and feet can decrease those chances. The center I was at offered ice blocks, but I chose to purchase my own ice socks and ice gloves that you stuck in the freezer at home. Then I brought my own little cooler chest with me to the cancer center.

Organic Ginger Chews and Ginger Tea - A gentle solution to an upset stomach that can be used in combination with your prescribed nausea meds.

BPA Free Large Reusable cup - Water. Water. Water. And when you think you’ve had enough, drink more. Having a large cup helped me keep track of how much water I was drinking throughout each day.

A washable throw blanket - If I could name a blanket the “chemo blanket” - this would be it and if you have one, it was likely a gift from someone else. So many people had this one, a sweet reminder that we were loved.

Big BAGGU washable large bag - A lifesaver. This is a huge bag that is easy to carry and isn’t overwhelming, even though it can carry a lot. I put everything in this, even my blanket, and it is super easy to wash!

A small washable bag - Pre-meds have a different effect on everyone, and if you are like me, you will likely be a bit out of it. Having a small bag for things like my hand sanitizer and snacks made all the difference.

Toilet safety rails - Smile, now, but there will be days when you feel very disoriented from chemo meds - or just don’t have the energy. This will also come in handy for when you have surgery.

FOR MASTECTOMY

Mastectomy Pillow - Having your breasts removed is a strange feeling that often leaves your chest feeling very sensitive and vulnerable. Having something to press against your chest while you are laying down helps. You can also place this under your seatbelt when you have to get out of the house.

Mastectomy Bra - Your breast surgeon will likely give you one at the hospital, but in the event that they do not, this one is almost identical to mine - it was my best friend. Be careful with the velcro as it can rub against your skin - while laying down, put a thin towel or a soft barrier between the velcro and you.

Shower Chair - You will likely be very occupied with trying not to disturb your drains. If your shower allows the space for it, purchasing a chair is a great option.

Shower holder for drains - Your breast surgeon will likely not supply you with this. This is must for when you are able to shower, as you will likely have your drains in for 1-2 weeks, if not longer.

Breast Releasing Ritual - Find a way to honor and say goodbye to your breasts. My girlfriends recorded a zoom call that included Bhakti Yoga, a guided meditation, journaling and them speaking and singing love into me. It is an experience that I will forever hold close.

Slip-On dresses or tops - I read where people suggested button down tops, but I was in forced temporary menopause and had random and intense hot flashes - the idea of being stuck in a long sleeve gave me anxiety, so I opted for comfortable cotton dresses and tanks that I could step into. Go for how the material feels over how it looks - again, your skin and breast area is going to be extremely sensitive to everything.

FOR RADIATION

Baggy sleeveless tops - Your skin is going to be sensitive. You will want something that doesn’t apply any pressure that also gives you room to keep layering creams on.

Creams - Aside from my prescription cream my Radiation Oncologist gave me, I also used 4 other creams. Miaderm up until the final two weeks of treatment, then I switched to Miaderm L that has lidocaine in it to help with itching and pain. Then I had two Calendula creams, Boiron and MyGirls.

Radiation Countdown - My childhood friend’s mother created a Radiation Ring Countdown for me. You know, like when you were younger, and you would glue strips of construction paper into circles, then loop those circles together, creating a long string? Then, as each day passed, you would rip off a circle and count down to the big day? I know, the sweetest. It gave me something to look forward to when the total treatment number felt too overwhelming.

Organic Calendula tea - If you are having radiation done on your collarbone and neck, you may experience a sore throat and this tea can help soothe it.