Amoena Life Autumn/Winter 2015 AU by Amoena

LIFE

Feeling good, looking great.

Autumn 2015

www.amoena.com.au

Transforming Her Life Positivity and a heart for others in Real Life

Secrets of the Spa Practical tips to get the wellness treatments you crave!

Better Bones, Better Living Lifestyle decisions now can make you or break you

Find Your Inner Fashionista! ConďŹ dence shines in our Before and Afters

notice

new

things

A fresh ho how-to to for living lii ing more mindfully mindf lly every e ery day

Know someone who needs caring support? SHARING IS CARING! Now you can send a FRIEND the AMOENA LIFE LOOK INSIDE for our Friend Subscription Card

PLUS: HEALTH | BEAUTY | PORTRAITS | AND MUCH MORE

>>> SECTION HEADER

Editor ffro m t he

We treasure the invitation into your life.

W doesn’t love a birthday Who party? My granddaughter Lucy p certainly does and it is not a c birthday party without balloons. This year we celebrate Amoena’s 40th birthday and yes we did have balloons at our recent sales meeting. Amoena have come a long way in the p past 40 years from very humble beginnings in the kitchen of Cornelius Rechenberg to a worldwide business in over 70 countries.

Features 4

Cover Story Notice New Things A fresh how-to for living more mindfully every day

Shanghai BCN Forum Janine Porter-Steele, BCN

We are very proud to be recognised as the world’s leading brand of breast forms, but we strive to go even further, as we prepare to celebrate our 40th anniversary. Our long-standing mission of being a companion to every woman who has had breast cancer surgery is being realised, and these latest fashions give ideal solutions for her to feel conﬁdent in whatever she’s wearing.”

For 40 years, we have dedicated our resources and 100% of our efforts to advance the sciences of comfort and to apply the art of fashionable design to create meaningful, intimate moments. This is why in sharing our 40th year we are committing, more than ever, to reaching more women than ever before.

Happy 40th Birthday Amoena!

NEW

Kerry Paul Editor P.S. Please share your feedback in our Reader Survey (page 34), and share our magazine with your friends by giving a subscription!

To find Amoena near you, visit our store locator at www.amoena.com.au/stores or call 1800 773 285

www.amoena.com.au

As we celebrate 40 years, we dedicate our wishes …To the you that goes forward into each day …To the woman who looks into the mirror each night …To the you with dreams for what’s ahead. What makes us Amoena is not a history, but a devotion to being for you, like no other.

AMOENA FASHION

Publisher Amoena Australia Pty Ltd Editor Kerry Paul Contributors Dianne Armitage, Janine Porter-Steele BCN, Barbara Williams, Julie Auton, Beth Leibson, Ginger Johnson, Marilyn Wattman-Feldman Art Director Shan Willoughby Design Sekayi Stephens; Dianne Lyndon Red Pepper Design Photography Dorothea Craven, iStockPhoto, Shutterstock, Veer, Dollar Photo Club Contact Amoena Life, Level 1 235 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, 1800 773 285

Beauty Secrets of the Spa Practical tips to get the wellness treatments you crave

Mind & Body Your Living Canvas Body Painting is personal art with a message

Report Better Bones Promote Better Living Decisions now can make you or break you

Fashion 14

Finding Your Inner Fashionista Again Amoena Fashion for every moment, modelled by our survivor Ambassadors

Regulars 30

Feelin’ Kinda Funny Mindless on Purpose What 20 years of go-go-go living has taught me

Makeovers PAGE 14

Real Life Transforming Her Life Positivity and a heart for others

I’m thrilled that this issue is helping kickoff our 40th anniversary year. What our writers and contributors have put together illustrates very accurately what our message above states: that we want to be with you. When you yearn to live mindfully (page 4), when you feel a little bold (page 26), when you want to pamper yourself (fashion makeovers, page 14 and spa info, page 23), and when you’re taking care of your health for the future (page 28).

Giving Back Barbara Williams

We recognise there is a profound signiﬁcance to 40 years as more than 95% of all breast cancer diagnoses occur after age 40. We want to be there with you. For you, like no other.

Survivor Portrait Fearless, Fabulous Melanie Young Internet radio lets her be her own voice for welnesss’ sake

LIFE

Feeling good, looking great.

Autumn 2015

www.amoena.com.au

Transforming Her Life Positivity and a heart for others in Real Life

Secrets of the Spa Practical tips to get the wellness treatments you crave!

Better Bones, Better Living Lifestyle decisions now can make you or break you

Find Your Inner Fashionista! Conﬁdence shines in our Before and Afters

notice

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O the cover On Our cover model, O Anne-Mary, age 58, A is a breast cancer survivor.

things

A fresh how-to how to for living more mindfully y every day

The entire contents of this publication is copyrighted by Amoena Australia Pty Ltd 2015. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of the contents in any manner is strictly prohibited without prior written permission from the publisher. Amoena Life magazine is published twice a year and is available by request. Amoena Life magazine is distributed to subscribers.

Know someone who needs caring support?

Photographer: Dorothea Craven Ph

SHARING IS CARING! Now you can send a FRIEND the AMOENA LIFE LOOK INSIDE for our Friend Subscription Card

PLUS: HEALTH | BEAUTY | PORTRAITS | AND MUCH MORE

>>> COVER STORY

notice

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worries about what she might have done to cause or deserve the cancer (chances are, nothing) and whether it might recur. Sometimes it isn’t very obvious when we’re living mindlessly, says Laura Porter, Ph.D., clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences/Medical Psychology at Duke University Medical Centre. “We’ve all had the experience of driving somewhere in your car, somewhere you go all the time, and when you get there, you have no recollection of how you got there.” We are so caught up in our thoughts — our plans, self-criticism, imagined conversations — that we miss much of what is going on around us, she explains. Practicing mindfulness can train your brain to stop ruminating and focus on the moment. In the way that someone who hits the gym regularly is better able to spring across the street if the need arises, practicing mindfulness allows you to tap into those mental muscles when stress, anxiety or depression hit.

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A fresh how-to for living more mindfully every day BY BETH LEIBSON

4 | Amoena Life

Beth Leibson lives and writes in New York City. She is author of I’m Too Young to Have Breast Cancer (2004) and The Cancer Survivor Handbook (2014).

People who are trying to alleviate stress — and who isn’t, these days? — often turn to practicing mindfulness, also known as living in the moment. Mindfulness, the current buzzword in self-help literature and positive psychology, can certainly help with anxiety and stress, but its merits aren’t limited to stress relief alone. “Mindfulness is basically about being aware of what’s happening in one’s present experience, with acceptance,” says Ronald Siegel, Psy.D., Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School and author of The Mindfulness Solution: Everyday Practices for Everyday Problems. “It’s really an attitude toward experience.”

That recipe sounds pretty simple: pay attention to your own life. It isn’t until you sit down and try to practice mindfulness, though, that you see how difficult it can be. In fact, says Siegel, when we try, we realise that we’re living in “a narrative thought stream about some imaginary past that we call memories or some imaginary future.” We’re so caught up thinking about our past and future that we rarely stop to taste our food, smell the spring morning air, or even truly listen to our friends in conversation. “It turns out that almost everything that distresses us has to do with these thoughts about the past and the future,” Siegel explains. This is particularly true for a cancer patient or survivor who

Why Bother? By focusing on the here-and-now, we eliminate these fears and concerns for the past and future. We see that our experience changes moment to moment; something that is disturbing at ten o’clock may not be as much of a concern at ten minutes past. In this way, we become less tense — and we’re better able to surf the waves of pleasure and pain. “By expanding your mindfulness, says Porter, “you notice and appreciate things — especially what is functioning well and feels good.” You learn to be kinder to yourself, to forgive yourself even in the midst Amoena Life | 5

>>> COVER STORY

of difficult emotions, agrees Diana Winston, Director of Mindfulness Education at UCLA’s Mindfulness Awareness Research Centre (MARC) and co-author of Fully Present: The Science, Art, and Practice of Mindfulness. “People who practice mindfulness over time show others more kindness,” she adds. “They wish others well and wish themselves well.” Think about the toll stress takes on our bodies. While we’re rarely being threatened by the proverbial saber-tooth tiger, our bodies experience that same “fight or flight” response that speeds up our heartbeats and breathing and then lands in our shoulders or in the pits of our stomachs. Even though we’re not worried about preserving life and limb, and are probably only thinking about whether we are happy or sad, angry or relieved, or successful in whatever we’re doing, these stresses are physical. Mindfulness has an opposite bodily effect, explains Winston. It reduces inflammation, which is connected to the rise of cancers, and can even affect the brain itself. That’s not to suggest that mindfulness can prevent cancer, but it certainly can help cope with the pain. “It teaches you to just be present with the pain, to soften around it, to learn to tolerate it,” says Winston.

Mindfulness Through Meditation… Often, when people think about mindfulness, about learning to live in the moment, they think about meditation. Meditation often stems from religious traditions, explains Siegel. “A movement toward ‘connection with others and less preoccupation with me’ is an important feature of most of the world’s religious traditions.” While meditation appears in most religions from Jewish to Christian to Muslim to Hindu, the Buddhist approach has probably been developed the most. Whatever your religious background, though, one way to successfully cultivate mindfulness in your life is by starting small, practicing for ﬁve minutes a day, then gradually increasing the time to twenty minutes a day. Winston, who guides the Mindfulness Awareness Practice (MAP) at UCLA, says, “People 6 | Amoena Life

Amoena turns 40! How have we become a companion to you over the last 40 years? Look for our balloon throughout the magazine to ﬁnd out.

report beneﬁts within a few weeks” of training in this way.

…And Through Noticing New Things Ellen Langer, Ph.D., mindfulness expert, experimental social psychologist and Psychology Professor at Harvard University, proposes a more direct route to mindfulness: Notice new things. “When you notice new things,” says Langer, “you come to see that information is context dependent. In other words, things look different from different perspectives. The more you

our minds even though it’s actually changing. So what we want to do is acknowledge the changes — and look for the changes.” For instance, rather than operating on autopilot when you go grocery shopping, look around the store. The products might be slightly different than last week. Or they might be organised in another way than they were. There might be different staff members and even the people shopping alongside you are probably not the same neighbors you saw there the previous week. Try these tips (adapted from lifehacker.com and zenhabits.net):

remission’ with those who considered their cancer ‘cured.’ “If you have a cold and then you get rid of the cold, you don’t say your cold is in remission,” she explains. You say it is cured. “And if you get another cold, it is seen as a brand new cold.” It is possible, Langer suggests, to view cancer survivorship in the same way. “If the cancer goes away and an oncologist tells you that your cancer is in remission then, based on the work we’ve done, people feel as though the cancer is always lurking and can come out at any time,” she notes. And this stress, if we give in to it, can have a negative effect.

happier and healthier on all the measures that we took,” says Langer.

‘How To’ Guide So, what can we do to bring a more mindful approach to our lives? The ﬁrst step, says Langer, is to actively engage the world around you. “Whether it will remove the cancer or not is an empirical question.” Just focus on what is going on — the everchanging sights, sounds, smells in your environment. The second step is to recognise that that the medical data that led

“Mindfulness is being aware of what’s happening in one’s present experience, with acceptance.” notice about things that you thought you knew, the more you become aware of everything that you didn’t notice,” Langer adds. And that newness becomes the rule rather than the exception, which, in turn, leads us to be in the present — to be mindful. “Forty years or so of research shows that the very simple process of noticing new things is literally and ﬁguratively enlivening,” says Langer. “We give people instructions to notice new things — and they live longer and their health improves.”

Reconstructing Reality The catch is that this process requires shifting the way you look at the world — in essence, continually looking at the world through new eyes. “Nothing is permanent, everything is changing and everything looks different from different perspectives,” says Langer. “We tend to hold it still with

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Wash breakfast dishes using your senses. Enjoy the warm water on your hands; appreciate the meal you’ve just tasted. Set an hourly timer on your phone or computer as a reminder to come back to present. Allow your thoughts to pass gently, as leaves falling, without judgment.

And you can return to these simple tools whenever necessary, adds Winston. “You can really be mindful when you’re walking down the street, when you’re eating, or even when you’re about to go into a meeting and are feeling really stressed.” It can help you feel more relaxed and be more effective at the dais.

Remission versus Cure Langer did a fascinating study with breast cancer survivors. She compared people who saw their cancer as ‘in

This approach separates the mind from the body. “People get so scared when they get a diagnosis of cancer that many give up,” says Langer. Giving up is never helpful in ﬁghting adversity. “When you get this dread diagnosis, the mind is overwhelmed with stress, with the fear of negative things and a lot of giving up.” And that isn’t exactly good for you. “We don’t know how much of what happens when one is dealing with cancer is a function of the cancer or a function of the giving up.” Instead of surrendering to the diagnosis, Langer advocates mind-body unity. “If the mind is in a healthy place, the body is going to be healthier,” says Langer. In her study, the group of women who considered their cancer ‘cured’ reported better general health, more energy, less pain, and less depression than the ones who thought it was ‘in remission’ and still lurking in their bodies. “Eighteen months later, the women who saw their breast cancer as ‘cured’ were

to the diagnosis and prognosis are based on probabilities, statistics that aggregate many people’s experiences. “Probabilities mean that, for some people some of the time, this is what they can expect,” says Langer. There’s no way to know exactly what will happen in your case. “If you give up based on probabilities, you could be causing yourself harm,” says Langer. “None of us knows how long we’re going to live. The important thing is to make each moment matter,” says Langer. And if every moment in your life matters — then your life itself matters. Mindfulness, says Langer, isn’t about speciﬁc exercise regimens — though some yoga programs do promote mindfulness — or about particular diets or medical protocols. It is about acceptance, opening our minds, focusing on the present moment, and gaining control over our lives. And it is about enhancing our joy and appreciation. |

Guide Yourself to Mindfulness There are downloadable meditations available online at: mindfulness-solution.com and marc.ucla.edu.

Food First If you’re considering trying out mindfulness, mealtime might be a good place to begin. It is a discreet period of time — no 24/7 commitment — and happens every day. But — how do you actually do mindful eating? Remembering to be mindful is often the biggest challenge, says Megrette Fletcher, M.Ed., R.D., CDE, dietician and cofounder of the Centre for Mindful Eating. So she recommends turning your attention to your food, which is a new behavior, after you do an existing behavior. “One of the things I know I always do when I eat is I sit down,” says Fletcher. “Sitting down cues me to observe my food, to notice the colours, to take a deep breath, to turn my attention to the meal, to recognise that now I have the opportunity to taste something, to really taste it.” Fletcher encourages her clients to notice what they are eating and how it makes them feel. According to the Centre for Mindful Eating’s website, the basic steps are: ➤ ➤ ➤

➤ ➤ ➤ ➤

Make the commitment. Make a simple food choice. Think about feeling grateful for the food and the person who created it (even if that person is you). Offer your full attention. Notice as the ﬂavours come and go. Notice any thoughts, feelings, or cravings you might have. Taste the food directly.

Mindful eating can set the stage for a larger mindfulness practice. It can also lead to better nutrition and habits. For more information, go to the Centre’s website, www.thecenterformindfuleating.org

Amoena Life | 7

>>> PORTRAIT

Shanghai BCN Forum BY JANINE PORTER-STEELE, BCN

On 26 September Shanghai hosted an international Nurses conference where I was invited by the organising committee through Amoena to speak about the role of Specialist Breast Care Nurses in Australia (SBNS). Amoena had also organised hospital site visits where this topic would also be presented to nurses unable to attend the conference. This was an amazing opportunity to share our experiences in Australia with the nurses in China and build relationships for future networking. I am the Manager of the Wesley Hospital Kim Walters Choices Program (Choices) in Brisbane Australia and Clinical Manager of The Women’s Wellness After Cancer Programs at Queensland University of Technology. I have been a Specialist Breast Care Nurse since 1999 after undertaking extra studies through Latrobe University. I see the role of the SBN as one of emotional, physical and clinical support from the time of diagnosis, right through the treatment trajectory and beyond, and not just support for the woman or man diagnosed with breast cancer but also for their families. The origins of Breast Care Nursing began in the early 1980s in the United Kingdom, the role did not really become established in Australia until the late 1990s and to start with was quite fragmented. Reports and recommendations by the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (now Cancer Australia) began to deﬁne and clarify the elements and signiﬁcance of this role and reported that the SBN be seen as requiring an advanced level of competence in those areas of practice 8 | Amoena Life

speciﬁc to meeting the health needs of women with breast cancer, such as patient education and management of the many issues associated with cancer and its treatment Key elements of this role and practice are: • Supportive care • Collaborative care • Coordinated care • Information provision and education • Clinical leadership These core domains of practice acknowledge the SBNs focal point in the interdisciplinary team of surgeons, oncologists, radiation oncologists and other allied health professionals involved in the care of women diagnosed with breast cancer. They also support the strong evidence to show that the psychological well-being of women with breast cancer can be improved by adequate information provision, reducing depression and anxiety, increasing understanding of breast cancer and improving recall of information and perceptions of women with breast cancer.

In China, approximately 189,000 women are diagnosed with cancer each year, this number given the population is lower than expected, (1 in 40 Chinese women in their lifetime compared to 1 in 8 Australian women) and may be due to cultural issues, lack of information and awareness in the population, and ability to attend screening programs. The number however is expected to rise in urban China as screening technology and awareness increase in hospital settings. Alongside the rise in numbers has been the recognition by the Chinese nursing community that women could be better supported and outcomes improved by an integrated model of care incorporating breast care nursing, and this was the focus for one aspect of the Shanghai International Nursing Conference. When I arrived in Shanghai late evening I was met by a nurse, and medical student from one of the major hospitals in Shanghai, the Rujiin University Hospital. I was overwhelmed by their wonderful hospitality and their excitement of the up coming conference being hosted in their city - and they were keen to show off their new breast cancer care centre. Luckily for me they spoke very good English and were so very welcoming and I was very quickly carried away by their enthusiasm and forgot my ﬂight fatigue. At the hotel we joined the wonderful Amoena team Roxanne Parker General Manager Asia and Australasia, and Wenjun Wang, Managing Director China. Also part of the “team” were Sarah a very experienced breast care nurse from Singapore and Chris who was the Singaporean Amonea representative. I was to learn so much from all of them and forge what will be I am sure lasting

“The themes clearly on collaborative working in interdisciplinary teams and evolving the role and status of nurses.” friendships. Both Sarah and I were to present our different experiences at the hospitals and the conference. However before we could do that we had to meet with interpreters and go through our presentations, not the challenge I thought it would be as they were medical students from Rujin Hospital and were also very enthusiastic and interested in the SBN role and spoke really good English. On the ﬁrst day a visit was arranged to Rujin Hospital to present to the nurses and then visit the breast cancer centre. Once again we were warmly welcomed and our presentations appeared to be well received. The atmosphere at the breast cancer centre was amazing. It is very new and beautifully designed and is a “one stop shop” where the women had their mammograms and other diagnostic imaging, surgery and treatment, all on the same ﬂoor. Thought had been put into information and resource provision and a room had been set up for the women to watch videos, DVDs relating to diagnosis and treatment, organise wigs and turbans or simply get together and

chat. The nurses seemed very focused on support provision and despite the reason for the women being in the centre there was a general relaxed feeling and air of positivity. I felt we had as much to learn from this health team as they might learn from us. We were also very spoilt, given gifts and taken to a lunch where we had traditional and very beautiful Chinese food and got to meet some of the volunteers and other medical professionals at the hospital. The following day we visited the Shanghai Cancer Hospital, a different but none-the-less rewarding visit. We were met this time by the nurse in charge, Rachel, who too was delighted to show us around and very keen for any resources we could provide for her to improve her patients’ experiences. Rachel had been a visitor to Brisbane a few years ago when she attended the Reach to Recovery Conference and had implemented some signiﬁcant concepts as a result. In comparison to Rujin this centre was not as beautifully designed or as resource rich but was made up for by the willingness of the nurses to actively support and educate their patients. They were very keen to understand and incorporate the extended nursing role of the SBN. We had a good discussion about how to create and develop support networks and integrate care for women through a variety of mediums. Interestingly, the women in both centres come into hospital a few days before surgery to prepare and stay a minimum of 7 days after surgery. (Very different from Australia and Singapore where length of stay is generally much shorter and usually women come in on the day Amoena Life | 9

>>> PORTRAIT

of surgery). In many ways this provides the ideal opportunity for education and support by the nurses and also for peer support between the women themselves. In the second hospital, peer support did not seem as apparent as there was no room set aside for the women to just get together and talk. There was also a lack of temporary soft prosthesis, drain bags and pillows. The women carried their drain bags in plastic shopping bags. Sarah was quick to suggest that the nurses could encourage the women to get together and have a sewing bee, thereby producing those items and creating a peer support network. Another noticeable element was the women wear hospital pyjamas throughout their hospital stay, which for some reason was quite confronting, very different again to Australian hospitals where patients are quick to escape from their “glamorous hospital gowns” An afternoon off saw us visting some of the Shanghai Highlights, our lovely hosts Anna and Lauren, nurses from Rujin, kindly gave up their afternoon and evening to take us around. In particular we visited the pearl tower, which was absolutely amazing and from which we could see just about all of Shanghai. Another fabulous dinner and thank goodness at last I managed to get the hang of chopsticks, so there was less food on the table cloth and more inside me!!! 10 | Amoena Life

The next few days Sarah and I did our presentations at the conference. This conference bought together people from all over the region and internationally, the themes clearly on collaborative working in interdisciplinary teams and evolving the role and status of nurses. There were over 1000 delegates and the atmosphere was one of excitement and enthusiasm, language barriers did not seem to be an issue. Certainly our presentations had all been interpreted and shown in powerpoint as Chinese and English. It was a very valuable experience to be a part of and great to be able to share knowledge and research.

Our last day became a big shop fest, Sarah and Chris had discovered some markets the day before and came back laden with scarfs, bags and shoes and were keen to shop some more. Roxanne and I needed no persuading and some ﬁve hours later, there was room in the taxi for our shopping but not for us. Sarah is the best haggler I have ever met! Back at the hotel we pulled out all our purchases and re inspected them, between us I think we had accumulated enough for a small shop. My half empty suitcase was going to be bursting full, thank goodness I took the big case! I am not sure why I really needed ﬁve handbags tho…. Wenjun arrived to take us out for our last night, luckily we didn’t have to go to far as we were all pretty tired. A lovely last evening, lots achieved, lots of fun, and friendships and relationships created. Roxanne and Wenjun were brilliant hosts and so accommodating. Thanks to them for this incredible opportunity, making the visit possible and creating the beginnings of working relationships and networks with an amazing group of nurses, special thanks to Anna and Lauren, who were so generous of their time and made it so easy for us to travel around, do and see things and talk at the various presentations and conference. This was certainly one of those trips that was “all good” and an experience not to be forgotten. |

This year we are proud to celebrate our 40th anniversary in caring for women. What a fantastic achievement! Founder Cornelius Rechenberg borrowed tools from his mother’s kitchen while experimenting to develop Amoena’s first innovative breast form manufacturing processes. From these humble beginnings to the innovative global company we are today.

Ronny Lemmens Managing Director, CEO, Amoena Global “This year has profound significance for our brand,” says Ronny Lemmens, CEO. “We feel enormous pride in being recognised as the world’s leading brand of breast forms, but we strive to go even further, as we prepare to celebrate our 40th anniversary. Our long-standing mission of being a companion to every woman who has had breast cancer surgery is being realised, and these latest fashions give specific, ideal solutions for her desire to feel confident in whatever she’s wearing.” This season’s portfolio, seen as a whole, works cohesively and tells a story, he explains. “It’s about boldness and bravery, with the use of colour and pattern; it’s about celebrating inner strength and confidence. It’s about going forward together in style.”

Handcrafted with Love Gifts made by hand are always the best kind. Amoena breast forms are not manufactured along conveyor belts. Every stage of creation, from pouring the silicone, to scissor-trimming the edges, to placing the form into the cradle, is done by caring hands. Watch our video to see this caring in action. While the heart of Amoena has remained constant over the last 40 years, the look has certainly evolved from “then” to “now!” It’s fun to glance back at our history but Amoena is constantly looking forward, now more than ever, to being a companion to you for years to come. For you, like no other. Visit http://www.amoena.com.au/About-Amoena/History to learn more.

Amoena Life | 11

Introducing Anne-Mary is wearing an Amoena Natura Cosmetic breast form with an adhesive nipple.

Natura Cosmetic A new class of light breast forms

Available at your local retailer!

inspired by Mother Nature

A realness like no other

To ﬁnd a retailer near you, visit our store locator at www.amoena.com.au/stores or call 1800 773 285

To Be Your Best Self,

GO NATURAL Very few things stir human emotions like the beauty of nature. A shaded bubbling stream, a mountain landscape, the roar of the ocean—these move our hearts because we are undeniably connected to them as part of nature ourselves. It’s no surprise, then, that the natural and environmental news movement has made signiﬁcant progress over the last several decades. Particularly in the modern age, environmentalists have reminded us of the role we all play in nature—and the detrimental role that our unnatural practices might play in the continuation of human diseases, like cancer. We, humans, are taking notice. The retail value of the ‘organic market’ in Australia was estimated to be at least $1 billion in 2010 with annual growth projections ranging from 10% to 25% for the years ahead. Word is out, and people are beginning to make lasting changes. Protect yourself Whether it’s diet or chemical concerns, protecting ourselves from the unknown and unnatural is more important than ever. For many women, one easy “doorway” to a more natural lifestyle is their cosmetics and personal products collection. Manufacturers have created safer alternatives to oldstyle shampoos, soaps, makeup, hair products, and moisturisers — now women have options that don’t contain plant oestrogens, for example, which might feed hormone-based cancers. It’s not Natura implausible that the products we use directly on our skin are absorbed into our cells. Cosmetic: more life-like m Closer to nature, closer to your body. It does make sense.. both on the inside and the outside, Feel good about yourself with wit a realness Natural living means feeling better, too. After cancer treatment,, like lik no other. one of the most important measures of your health is whether or not you feel like yourself again. Everything has changed, of course, but “getting to a new normal” is often a woman’s number one wish. When she can do that in the most natural way, the emotional and physical beneﬁts multiply. Products like the Amoena Natura Cosmetic breast form can help in that quest. The new form combines several silicone e technologies for the most “real” look and feel available: • A very thin layer of standard silicone on the front that looks so real, even in the sheerest bras, it’s nearly invisible, and very difficult to tell it apart from a natural breast. • The combination of InTouch soft silicone and the natural front layer makes the form move and feel like a natural breast. • Amoena’s exclusive temperature-equalising technology, Comfort+, pulls heat away from the body and stores it in the form, keeping you cooler behind the form. Combining science’s wisdom with your own good feeling, then, helps you be your best, most comfortable self. Mother Nature would be proud, indeed.

www.amoena.com.au

Here’s what women are saying about the new Natura Cosmetic

“I’ve worn breast forms for over 25 years and I can honestly say that the Natura Cosmetic is the first breast form I’ve worn that truly feels like me. At first glance, I could see how natural lookiwng the form was compared to my current form. The first day I wore it, I didn’t want to take it off—I couldn’t believe I found a breast form that felt so natural, soft and comfortable. When I wear my Natura Cosmetic breast form, I forget it’s there!” —Mary, Age 55 Amoena Life | 13

>>> FASHION

Finding n i a g A r u Yo a t s i n o i h as you men, just like o w l a re — ls mode g Our Amoena ence in clothin d ﬁ n o c w e n r e — discov

INNER

Feel confident underneath ! Animal prints fall into the “basic colours” category. This one is a classic neutral, but still a bit of fun and pattern. The bra straightened Nicole’s posture, gave her a lift and a feminine touch with its soft lace. Lucy wire-free bra (sizes 10-18 A,B,C,D) and brief (sizes 8 to 20).

BEFORE Let’s be real for a minute. Sometimes, when you look in the mirror, the image staring back isn’t what you expected. The dress doesn’t hang the way it used to. The sweater set looks different than you remember. The top is too low cut. The elastic on the arms feels uncomfortable. Maybe, you think, it was a laundry error. Rest assured, you’re not alone: women everywhere can relate. Cancer treatment adds another level of challenge, and whether it’s due to weight loss or gain, the removal of one or both breasts, lymphoedema, scars, or simply a loss of self esteem, ﬁnding a way to feel good about your appearance is a pivotal point in your overall recovery. Amoena is here to help. Our survivor models, chosen during a recent Amoena competition held in France, may have different body “issues,” but their common desire is this: To ﬁnd the fashionista within!

Meet Our Model : Nicole, age 52, is a daycare teacher and o multi-sport athlete wh ct nta Co na oe Am wears ms for t as bre a tur or Na

Mission : To honour

her inner fashionista le while being comfortab r oo ﬂ the on sit to enough s! kid the h wit e ytim for pla

Fashionista Tip!

Mission Accomplished! Nicole found her inner fashionista in this top and pants from the Amoena Leisure collection. Comfortable, stylish and ready to play! Harmony High Neck Top (sizes XS to 2XL). When she’s walking her dogs, training for the next biathlon, or playing tennis, Amoena Active ﬁts perfectly. This long tank gives extra coverage over hips and tummy.

Behind the Scenes...

14 | Amoena Life

BOLD IN BLUE: Experiment with colour underneath to give your mood a little va-voom! Annette underwire bra (sizes 12-26 B,C,D; 14-24 DD; 14-22 E; 14-18 F) and brief (sizes 10 to 22).

Amoena Life | 15

>>> FASHION

Feel confident underneath!

Think Positive: A reason to go shopping!

BEFORE

While many women are able to jump right back into their pre-treatment wardrobe without any alterations, there are probably just as many who ﬁnd their altered bodies need a new fashion plan. Have some fun with this wardrobe overhaul. Start with the tried-and-true fashion advice: if you haven’t worn it in more than a year, or you know you don’t feel good in it, donate it. You’ll feel better for more than one reason. Move on. You’ve probably got a “signature style” already — use it, build on it — then give yourself permission to shake it up a bit. One suggestion from You Can Do It: The Merit Badge Handbook for Grown-Up Girls, is to venture out with a fashion-forward friend, and let her suggest new things.

For a night out, Carole wants to feel anything but “mom.” With Amoena Seduction, her body conﬁdence starts on the inside and shows on the outside! Amelie wire-free bra (sizes 10-18 A,B,C,D) and brief (sizes 8 to 20).

Meet Our Model :

Carole, 37, maintained her fashion-savvy while pressing “pause” on her career, to focus on family after her breast surgery

Mission:

To honour her inner fashionista while writing and running a household!

Mission Accomplished! Fashionista Tip!

A night in can be just as delectable as a night out. Carole enjoys cooking, so she can savour gourmet life without leaving home. Afterwards, a cosy moment in a supportive, ﬂirty Amoena Romance Dots Nightdress (S to XL) — with the right amount of coverage and a pocket for a leisure form — is just the thing.

Amoena Valletta gives a pop of bold colour and can be the basis of so many great-looking outﬁts, we lose count! On the go with the kids, or even playing tennis or badminton. Look for it this season in Orchid and Jade (sizes 10-22).

Behind the Scenes...

16 | Amoena Life

Stylists and makeup and hair, oh my! Carole said it was a grand experience being pampered and styled all day. This Rebecca underwire set in cherry (12-26 B,C,D; 14-24 DD) highlights the tones in her brunette hair and gorgeous skin.

Amoena Life | 17

>>> FASHION

Handcrafted with love. Gifts made by hand are the best kind. Amoena breast forms aren’t crafted on conveyor belts. Every stage, from pouring the silicone, to scissortrimming the edges, to placing the form into the cradle, is done by caring hands. Watch our video to see this caring in action: www.amoena.com.au/natura-cosmetic

Quick-fix fashion solutions Breast cancer survivors should rest assured there are solutions to their body-image and style challenges. Women of every size, shape and nationality — surgery or not — worry about their various figure flaws. Many times, retail boutique employees (and certified fit specialists) are trained to work with customers in identifying the right styles that hide any flaw; however, shoppers need to be willing to share their concerns in order to get help.

●

Here are a few quick ﬁxes: ● Stay modern and current. When you have an updated look, you’re more free to feel comfortable with your body as it is. No need to spend a lot of money; one or two great in-style pieces, like a jacket, boots or a trendy scarf, can update an entire wardrobe of jeans and t-shirts.

●

Keep surgical scars from stealing your style zen. Our fashion experts suggest necklines that are not plunging but still attractive such as v-neck or boat-neck tops, for chest area scars, and flow-y, semi-transparent sleeves instead of sleeveless. Mix and match to suit your body type. Suits and sets are nice, but if you stick with separates, you can choose different sizes, matching a fabulous top in one size with a fun skirt in another size if needed. (Forgive the cliché, but) Size matters. One thing women sometimes overlook as an option: Selecting the appropriate size. This often means going up one size than you’re used to, so the garment fits with the proper shape. And there’s no need to sacrifice comfort for a tight fit; feel better, look better.

BEFORE

Feel confident underneath! Working as a managerial assistant at a hospital, Corinne dresses professionally for the 9 to 5 hours. A bright personality underneath doesn’t hurt anything, though! Karla wire-free bra (sizes 10-20 A,B; 12-20 C,D) and brief (sizes 8 to 18).

Fashionista Tip!

Mission Accomplished! Fashion perfection for workouts? Right here. The Amoena Tank Top (XS to 2XL), with its high neckline and built-in bra with COOLMAX® pockets, ﬂatters right in the zone with diagonal colour blocks. Coordinating Capri pants (XS to 2XL) are so trendy!

With a Contact adhesive breast form, workouts are no problem — Corinne wears hers to yoga, while Nordic walking, and even in Zumba classes. The Power wire-free sports bra (medium support, sizes 10-20 AA,A,B,C,D,DD) keeps everything in place, but allows body movement and caters to her comfort with adjustable elastic straps.

Meet Our Modn el :

Corinne, 41, a woma t! She who lives to the fulles workloves to shop, travel, rses. out, bake, and ride ho

Mission : To acceanssd

her inner fashionista ime! rock her workout reg Get a closer look at the fashions featured in this issue! Go to www.amoena.com.au/new-styles

Behind the Scenes...

18 | Amoena Life

Every girl needs a great hairstylist. Blowing out her bangs and pushing them back brightened Corinne’s whole look. Amoena’s in-studio style team only used natural hairsprays and products, promise. Corinne said this Jane Padded wire-free bra (10-20 AA,A,B,C,D) felt like satin sheets — and it ﬁts beautifully!

Amoena Life | 19

>>> PORTRAIT

Giving Back Many of our health facilities would not be able to manage without a dedicated group of volunteers who go in and do many jobs from helping with flowers, directing visitors, delivering mail to patients, or helping in the neonatal units as substitute grandparents. Another group of volunteers are those ladies who have had breast cancer. They go in and work in the Cancer therapy units, listening, helping with meals and just being a friend who understands. One of these volunteers is Barbara Williams. Barb was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999 and since then has been an inspiration to many women. Her aim is to always find a positive. On Barb’s retirement she moved to Bowral in the Southern Highlands. She said she was going to slow down – I don’t think she knows how to do that. Barb helps out at the local hospital. Not only does Barb manage all this she also volunteers for us at Amoena as a fitting model when we do our training schools. Barb is a kind, generous, selfless person who is committed to helping others. She is giving back to the community. Here is her story. 20 | Amoena Life

My journey with breast cancer began 15 yrs ago – the diagnosis was not good – grade 3 with 24 positive nodes. It was a horrible shock all I could think about was my daughter getting married in 10 months time and I wanted to be part of the day. All through chemo I kept my positive outlook focusing on her wedding – 1 hand sewed over 15 thousand seed pearls over her dress and veil. I ﬁnished my radiation just prior to the wedding. On the morning of the wedding my daughter said “don’t wear the wig Mum you are on the road to recovery now.” What a fantastic day was had by all except my eldest son was unable to ﬂy home from New York as it was September 11. My middle son handled the day so well speaking on behalf of both brothers. My next goal was to see my daughter have a baby – how lucky am I she now has three beautiful children – I have 8 grandchildren who mean the world to me and I believe I am blessed to be here and watch them grow. In early days after my recovery I was aware of the need for women to be able to come together as a group to discuss issues they were experiencing, so I started the Camden survivors of breast cancer. The group is still going strong and assists families within the Macarthur area. After a while I thought we need to do something more than discussing our journeys we need to be out there showing people we have survived and can be active after breast cancer.

“I always leave the centre thinking to myself I hope I have made peoples treatment a little easier by being there to serve their meals but also to have BARBARA WILLIAMS a happy chat to those who want to talk.” I found out about Dragons Abreast Australia. For those who don’t know, it was founded in Darwin for women after breast cancer who wanted to become actively involved in paddling. A dragon boat has 20 paddlers per boat a sweep at the back and a drummer at the front. I was so excited to tell the girls about my find – the looks on their faces was enough! They came up with every possible excuse – I can’t swim – I have never been involved in sporting activities. My response was “don’t worry girls I will be there to save you from drowning if the boat goes over.” After much persuasion we went to a regatta to watch. There was a great group of fit male paddlers from the Olympic regatta centre at Penrith – not afraid of asking I went up and said did they need new members (not telling them we were a bunch of breast cancer survivors - youngest 33 oldest 68 and none of us had ever paddled). So started a new era in our lives we were like a bunch of teenagers getting ready for our first date. Every Sunday, rain hail or shine, in our bright pink gear off to Penrith we went, paddling for 2-3 hours under the instruction of the guys who looked after us so well and called us their pink ladies – we would stop on our way home for an ice cream and much laughter about the fun we had. The old boat was leaving us bruised on the hips and I often thought if the boat does go over how am I going to save all my breast mates from drowning. I worked for a family business in Camden who listened every Monday morning about the happenings of the weekend with much laughter – I showed my bruises one day and they asked how much a new boat from China was. $20k was my answer. Within 3 days some of the transport companies within the Macarthur area had all thrown into the bucket and we got a new pink boat which I called “Spirit of Friendship”. We needed a trailer to tow the boat so the husbands all got together and built us the most fantastic trailer with all parts being donated. It was a special

time for the husbands who had time together to discuss their feelings with one another about their wives’ journey. Family members always thanked me for what I had done for their wives, mums, nannies and friends – always based on putting life back into place and how good it was to hear the laughter from us all. We went to so many regattas around Australia. I told the girls I wouldn’t give up till I had won 14 medals – it was important to me to give my kids and grandchildren the medals I had won as an inspiration to them on a positive outlook on life and always try and turn a negative into a positive result. My very best friend Rita and I went to Vancouver and paddled in the world breast cancer dragon boat championships “what a great experience”. We stayed in a B&B in Vancouver with a woman who had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a special time for her having 2 mad Aussies staying with her at a time of need. We would catch the tram down to Vancouver Harbour early morning in our paddling gear – the looks we got the ﬁrst morning was unbelievable. No one wanted to look at us (I thought after with our paddles on our backs they probably thought we had guns and with what we were wearing we were cuckoos). The next morning on the tram one fellow asked me if we had won a race yesterday – my comment is always the same – I don’t need to win – I have won the biggest race of my life. We became the morning & afternoon entertainment on the trams for 6 days – they even would sing out as we got off the tram, “Aussie Aussie Aussie oy oy oy”. The commentator at the event had trouble pronouncing the Aussie team name. He pronounced it very slowly the ﬁrst time “here come the mad Aussie girls”. Rita and I came home with a silver medal both for ourselves but also for our country and breast mates. Our last paddle was off to Kunnunara in NT. We paddled the Ord River 59km in a day for breast cancer awareness – a big challenge but we did it. We still all meet regularly and

reminisce on what a fantastic time we had after our breast cancer journeys. The fun and camaraderie we had during our times together both support group and dragon boating was such a special time in all of our lives and showed others we could live an active sporting life with so much fun and laughter but always be there to support one another when needed. I call so many of the girls my Breast Mates. I would like to share this little poem with you all that I wrote: PINK pink is the colour of many a thing a bright cheerful colour that we are all in many an item or object is pink so I sat down and had a good think pink is a sunset ready to rise pink are the ﬂowers grown in the sun pink is my face when I’ve gone up a size pink is the lips of all of us here pink is a colour even worn by the blokes but....pink is our ribbon our breast symbol of hope P I N K

is for the power of positive thinking is for individuals facing a tough ride is for never giving up the ﬁght is for the kindness during this plight

When times can get tough and all we can hope is if we get a second chance we come back as a bloke. To all travelling the cancer journey, I offer positive energy and hope. To all the angels in the sky, happy memories, you will be fondly remembered today and always with much love. One of the reasons I decided to become a volunteer in the cancer centre and the wig library is I often have reﬂected on my journey and realise today what an enormous difference has occurred within the treatment centres over the past 15 years. Some of the girls still love to hear my story of survival and I seem to be able to get a laugh out of some with the funny stories that I remember so vividly of my journey when we would turn a negative into a positive. | Amoena Life | 21

>>> REAL LIFE

BEAUTY <<<

TRANSFORMING her

life “Life is constantly changing, moving forward,” says Ginger Johnson, a breast cancer survivor who has turned her own difficult experience into a positive force for herself and for those around her. “It’s going forward that gives life depth and gives you the skills you need for your own life and to help others.” Ginger was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 31. She was teaching ﬁtness classes and had never been in better shape, physically. She and her husband had just bought a home twenty minutes outside of Salt Lake City, they had two young children and Ginger was pregnant with a third. Everything seemed to be perfectly placed. But she had this nagging feeling that “this is too easy,” she remembers. When she was about two months pregnant, a reddish-brown mark appeared on Ginger’s areola. It grew quickly. Three months later, on Halloween, which she calls “the scariest day of the year,” Ginger was diagnosed with breast cancer. After considering all her choices, Ginger decided to undergo a 22 | Amoena Life

Rather, Ginger turned to God for advice about how to improve the situation for herself and others. After her ﬁrst chemotherapy treatment, Ginger had an idea to try “chemo bingo” in the chemo suite. She spent hours putting together a bingo set, but when she returned for her second treatment, she changed her mind. “No bingo today,” she decided.

Infusion of happiness Instead, Ginger tried to figure out how to do something nice for her fellow Positivity and a heart for others chemo patients. She solicited donations changed Ginger Johnson from local businesses. And then, at her third treatment, Ginger went into the chemo suite, got hooked up to the mastectomy during the pregnancy; she infusion, then stood up and addressed preferred this option to terminating the the other fifteen or so patients there pregnancy or waiting four or five more with her. She said she was proud of months to take action. And, thank them for fighting the disease, and she goodness, she gave birth to a healthy sang a song. Then she walked around baby boy right on schedule. the room, dragging her infusion pole, Once he arrived, the medical and handed out prizes to each patient, fun began. At a week and a half saying “Happy Chemo.” postpartum, Ginger got her tubes tied Ginger had completely changed the and her chemotherapy port installed. atmosphere in the suite. The patients About a month after that, she started talked to each other, laughed, and chemotherapy. shared their stories. “It touched my heart It wasn’t just the physical to see it,” Ginger says. People difficulties that were a started to call her the Happy challenge for Ginger. “I Chemo girl. also felt mommy guilt,” Ginger has built she remembers, “because impressively on that initial I couldn’t do the things success. After she finished I wanted to do for my her treatment, she started baby,” such as nursing. “I HappyChemo.com, an think I didn’t bond with my underP PRES PR PRESSURE ESSU SUR R RE online network of freebies youngest son until he was and discounts for cancer nine or ten months old.” patients and survivors; In a matter of months, she has become president Ginger went from the fitness of Get Screened Utah, a world — where her sense grassroots movement to increase health of herself was connected to her body screenings in her state; and is publisher image, strength, beauty, and her being and editor of Utah Cancer Connections upbeat and energetic — to the world of magazine. cancer treatment — where “everyone Cancer helped Ginger see where was sick, no one was happy. It was she wanted her life to go. That’s not to a struggle to go from feeling strong say that she’s glad she had the disease. and powerful to feeling weak and “Cancer’s not the gift,” asserts Ginger. powerless.” The question is what you do with your A spiritual person, she turned to experiences. “You can choose to build God. “I never asked ‘why me,’” she yourself up or you can choose to be says. “I know the answer to that. It’s bitter,” she says. “It’s the opportunity to because I’m human. No one is exempt transform that’s the blessing.” | from bad things.” Feeling good, looking great.

www.amoena.com.au

LIFE Spring 2014

From Diagnosis to Strapless Wedding Dress A Cinderella story in Real Life

BEHIND THE SCENES

Our survivor Ambassadors are picture-perfect!

Grace Dealing with stress is a personal pursuit

SOMETHING

SPECIAL

Secretsof the S

P A

Practical tips to help you stay mindful of your body while getting the wellness treatment you crave During and after breast cancer treatment, you deserve to be pampered, to relax and to trust that your treatment is going to beneﬁt you. Going to a spa or clinic for a facial, manicure, pedicure or massage is a treat, but what kinds of things might be different for you now? Consider these challenges:

Lymphoedema

Skin Issues

Nail Issues

Lymph nodes removed during surgery can leave you with a lifetime risk of lymphoedema. Each individual is different and lymphoedema may not occur immediately — it can occur years later. Even a mosquito bite can trigger lymphoedema, so the pressure of some massage techniques or the possibility of a nick or cut with nail clippers can present a risk.

All cancer treatments can affect the skin to some degree — some issues like dryness, itching or rashes arise in local areas, and other skin issues may affect the whole body. Side effects can be short term or long term. Spa professionals trained in skincare can help support your skin during treatment, even including reconstruction of brows, lashes and other skin imperfections with corrective makeup. Most importantly, it’s about taking care of you, so your outward appearance is a healthy one.

Hand and foot-related issues can occur during treatment. Hand-foot syndrome and peripheral neuropathy do require necessary modifications to any spa treatment. There are added risks of infections if hands and feet are exposed to unsanitary equipment. Ideally, the implements used on you should be “one use only,” and disposed of after use.

Immune System Cancer and its treatment can weaken the body’s immune system by affecting the blood cells that protect against disease and germs. When white blood cell counts are low, infection is a much higher risk, therefore spa treatments such as hair removal, chemical peels, microdermabrasion and extractions are to be avoided. When platelet counts are low there’s a higher risk for bruising/ bleeding; therefore, the therapist needs to adjust her pressure at all times or avoid working on the area. Energy healing is an alternative during time of low platelet count.

Skin Care Products Spa professionals trained in skincare know which products are safe for use, especially after getting necessary information from you. They know to keep product choices simple. This applies to the number of products you use, and the number of ingredients in a product. The focus should be on soothing, hydrating and protecting the skin rather than stressing the body further with numerous additional chemicals.

Psychological Spa professionals trained in Oncology Esthetics are aware of the emotional effects of cancer diagnosis and treatment. These professionals are trained to be supportive during their time with you. They know how to be mindful by paying attention in the present moment with an open and accepting attitude. Empathy from a trained spa professional can change the perception of everything — and her knowledge can make your spa experience a safe, rewarding one. |

PLUS: HEALTH | BEAUTY | PORTRAITS | AND MUCH MORE

Pampered with Confidence Seeking out a certiﬁed spa professional who has had training about cancer, side effects from treatment, and any possible side effects is important. The focus of these spa professionals is to provide you, the client, with a beneﬁcial and safe treatment when you visit a spa or clinic. They will

need to ask questions, and to keep accurate records. To help them, please arrive early to give them time for the necessary paperwork, and bring a list of all medications or supplements you may be taking, including the purpose of each. Author Mórag Currin suggests, “If no certiﬁed spa professionals are available in your area, please contact

the experts at info@oncologyesthetics. com. Our volunteer group of spa professionals will offer a free consultation at your convenience. You’ll then be able to give the list of modifications to any untrained spa professional, plus you will have the confidence to request these modifications and control the outcome for any spa treatment that you have.”

Mórag Currin pioneered the only Oncology Esthetics® certiﬁcation for spa professionals and has set the standard in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. She is the author of Oncology Esthetics: A Practitioner’s Guide (Allured Books, 2009) and Health Challenged Skin: The Estheticians’ Desk Reference (Allured Books, 2012). Learn more at www.oncologyesthetics.com.

Amoena Life | 23

>>> NEWS & REVIEWS

Thanks, Mum! Founder Cornelius Rechenberg borrowed tools from his mother’s kitchen while experimenting to develop Amoena’s ﬁrst breast form manufacturing processes. Visit www.amoena.com.au/About-Amoena/History to learn more.

30 beneﬁts of

Qi Gong 1.

Loosens Muscles

Builds Power

Strengthens Organs

Slows Respiration

Strengthens Nerves

Builds Bone Density

Prevents Joint Injury

Strengthens Ligaments

Destroys Free Radicals

10. Increases Injury Recovery 11. Decreases Stress 12. Balances Emotions 13. Improves Circulation 14. Prevents Muscular Spasm 15. Reduces Pain

Qi Gong & Tai Chi in Practice FROM MARILYN WATTMAN-FELDMAN

As a follow-up to the Tai Chi article in our last issue, you might also consider Qi Gong. Here an avid practitioner explains how it works for her:

It was months before I realised the benefits of the weekly Tai Chi class I took from 2008 until 2013. Then, I started Qi Gong in the summer of 2014. Translated, Qi Gong means “cultivating energy” using the Chinese word Qi meaning “life force or vital energy” and Gong which means “accomplishment or skill cultivated through steady practice.” Tai Chi or Qi Gong can be classified as martial, medical or spiritual. I attended Tai Chi classes at a local senior centre where we learned traditional moves along with an emphasis on balance that included ballet. The instructor’s intent was for the participants to gain a better sense of balance and hopefully, be less likely to suffer from an injury due to a fall. As someone who fell twice and broke both femurs, (2005 and 2008) I was an excellent candidate for these classes. Not only did I need to develop better balance, but I also wanted to overcome my fear of falling. In addition, the breathing techniques have proven beneficial for my asthma. In Qi Gong, our instructor places a great deal of emphasis on building better and stronger respiratory function via the power of the breathing techniques we practice. Qi Gong can be done either sitting or standing, so it’s accessible to everyone. The slow, rhythmic movements make it much easier for anyone who has physical limitations. While there are sessions where technique is practiced and rewarded, I personally enjoy classes where I can do the movements “to the best of my ability” and still get the benefits.

16. Lowers Heart Rate 17. Normalises Heart Rate 18. Lowers Blood Pressure 19. Improves Asthma 20. Relieves Bronchitis

Bookshelf

21. Builds Immune System

It’s Your Life – Choose Well

22. Relieves Migranes

By Kathleen Keller Passanisi

23. Decreases Stroke Risk

If the pressures of the 21st century make you perpetually tired, emotionally bereft, or just generally “okay” (but not “great”), you’ll be happy to know that there is a way forward. Author Kathleen Keller Passanisi makes her living as a therapeutic humorist, speaker and writer. In her 2003 book, she gathered up years of her wisdom — we’d call it an inspirational reference tool for living better. She asks readers to “think a little more carefully about how well you are taking care of yourself,” so that instead of rushing to get a new pill and hoping it works, you can take some control by making better choices. Friendly and upbeat, it’s medicine more mindfully. Or, better yet, it’s mindfulness without need of the medicine. (Movere Publishing, 2003).

24. Improves Skin Elasticity 25. Improves Posture 26. Improves Flexibility 27. Increases Balance 28. Improves Memory 29. Aides in Digestion 30. Improves Kidney Function

24 | Amoena Life

For Your

Zen Cancer Wisdom: Tips for Making Each Day Better By Daju Suzanne Friedman From the Foreward: “Zen is the Japanese word for insight, awareness, and meditative mind. Zen is practiced to resolve the great confusion about life and death.” The perfect guide, then, when one is diagnosed with cancer. Each chapter begins with a story from Zen teaching, and helps patients navigate the days of actual treatment of cancer — but the lessons apply beyond that period. Meditation, mantras, nutrition, acupuncture, and even qi gong are some of the modalities offered for contemplation. (Wisdom Publications, 2014). Both books available from Amazon.com Amoena Life | 25

>>> MIND & BODY

Your softer side: An engineering focus launched Amoena, developing better silicone breast forms. Over time, intuition and experience told us you wanted better lingerie, too. So, in 1992: Welcome, fashion designers! For a collection of fashion and beauty tips we’ve shared over the years, visit www.amoena.com.au/top-tips

Body

Painting Ephemeral art with a lasting message Body painting — a ritual of social and spiritual life — has been practiced in many cultures for ages. In the 1960s it re-emerged as a provocative means of self-expression. Now an art form of its own, body painting can also send a message.

Since the dawn of time, body painting has been used to symbolise important moments in people’s lives. The painted body can represent origin, status, power and experience, and can even function as an identity card, as among the Maori for example. In India, North Africa, Oceania and among some indigenous peoples of South America, body painting ritualises events like marriage, death and coming of age. Contemporary body painting has mostly detached itself from these ritual meanings, and what is an ephemeral art form can now be immortalised by photography.

Neither naked nor clothed Unlike indigenous body art or today’s very popular tattoos, contemporary body painting isn’t permanent. Artists use special pigments, safe for skin, in the same way as makeup. The body — a living surface — allows a vibrancy no other canvas can offer. The boundaries between the body viewed naked and clothed, between art and life, are dissolved. Body painting can be both beautiful and an expression of rebellion, strength and independence. Within the breast cancer community, body painting allows women who’ve undergone a mastectomy to deliver a message while freeing themselves from their own conﬂicts and taboos.

A tool of reconstruction The psychological impact of breast cancer is doubly unique. First there’s the image of cancer as the dreaded disease. Then there’s the symbolism of the breast — femininity, sexuality, and motherhood — all intimately related to a woman’s self-image. Breast cancer also affects her family and the way people regard her, especially if she doesn’t opt for reconstruction. With body painting, “body identity” becomes “body communication” in a creative way that links the painter and the model. And if body art was originally a ritualistic way to stand apart from others, models who’ve had mastectomies are

sharing, and highlighting our sameness by exposing bodies that are no longer symmetrical but still human like everyone else’s. Painting the body was probably humanity’s ﬁrst ornamental gesture. Today, the dramatic nature of the painted body presents to us a woman who can be regarded, despite her differences, as a work of art.

Bénédicte’s Story: “A fascinating form of expression” Bénédicte had never imagined living with one breast. In the 11 years since her operation she has rediscovered her body — a different one, but hers nonetheless. She understands that femininity, deep within every woman, goes well beyond the breast. Her journey was far from easy. The operation brought on a hurricane of fear, anguish and outrage. But time allowed her to mobilise the energy necessary to overcome her shame, accept her difference, and deal with the reactions of others. A meeting with the European breast cancer advocacy group Europa Donna gave her the chance to use a new tool: body painting. Her decision was spontaneous. She volunteered to model for Maud, an artist who had come to present her project. “Body painting is something magical for me, a living work of art. The body becomes a canvas,” Maud expressed. Having already participated in Le Corps Amazone (The Amazon Body), a documentary on body art by German ﬁlm director/cinematographer Anja Unger, and having posed for pictures for Art Meyers, a California-based photographer, the decision wasn’t hard for Bénédicte. She volunteered for the artistic encounter so she could be actively involved in creating happiness — showing that she can be a woman, beautiful and ﬂirtatious, even without undergoing reconstruction. Body painting gave Bénédicte a different perspective, one that let her see her body as a work of art — plus, the opportunity to reassure other women who are facing a mastectomy. Her artistic collaboration sends a message — that there is beauty to be discovered in our difference. |

The Breast Cancer Awareness Body Painting Project Michael Colanero, founder of The Breast Cancer Awareness Body Painting Project (BCABPP), thinks body painting is gaining appreciation in the art world, and this is a good thing. “It’s deﬁnitely coming forward as an art form,” he says, noting that more and more clubs in south Florida — well-known for vibrant nightlife — are showcasing painted models/dancers for product promotions or events.

26 | Amoena Life

Colanero, a digital artist and photographer, noticed a few years ago that when these events were for breast cancer awareness, the models weren’t actually survivors. So he encouraged a woman he knew to have her postmastectomy body painted, and the idea inspired BCABPP. Now in its ﬁfth year, the project has welcomed 27 brave survivors to model for Colanero. His goal is a book

of 50 survivors, plus exhibits of the ﬁnished photos in galleries around the U.S. Deeply moved when she saw BCABPP’s photos online, Jamie Inman, 63, a double mastectomy survivor with reconstruction, says, “I knew it would be a powerful way to tell my unique story,” and Colanero agreed. His process is to talk with the survivor about his or her cancer story and personality, then to create a concept. Once it’s ﬁnalised digitally, he brings in a female artist to do the painting.

Jamie recalls the experience with great affection: “All of us summoned courage to expose our bodies in this manner, but we gained so much in return. After months of watching our bodies be smashed, cut, poked, burned, and re-examined, to trust our bodies to the compassionate artistry of the team felt powerful and lovely.” While it might not be for everyone, for Jamie it was “redemptive.” BCABPP is still looking for participants; to learn more, visit www.facebook.com/BCABPP.

Amoena Life | 27

>>> REPORT

Caring through sharing: Amoena, available in more than 70 countries worldwide, donates more than $26,000 every year and our people spend at least 45 collective hours each month in service to breast cancer charities all over the globe.

To understand why bone health matters, one must know how bones work.

Better

BONES Promote Better

Living Lifestyle decisions now can make you or break you

he signs are all too familiar: elderly women hunched over as they hobble down the street. Middle-aged friends suffering fractures from a fall. People curbing activities due to back pain. Chances are they have osteoporosis, a bone deterioration disease impacting around 75 million people in Europe, USA and Japan. Osteoporosis is the leading cause of fractures and carries significant consequences, including chronic pain, disability and even an increased risk of death. Oestrogen loss during menopause exacerbates bone decline, putting older females at higher risk. Cancer survivors who have undergone chemotherapy and must restrict oestrogen intake are also susceptible. Remarkably, people have the power to avoid or minimise the disease. “Previously, it was thought that bone loss was a normal part of aging and osteoporosis or osteopenia — conditions in which there is an imbalance in the building and resorption of bone — was inevitable,” says Sara Baker PT, MS, OCS, president and founder of Inspire Health and a STOTT Pilates® certified instructor. “That’s no longer the consensus; bone loss is now believed to be a systemic skeletal disease that’s preventable.” According to Baker, nutrition, activity level, lifestyle choices, hereditary factors, hormonal levels, early onset of menopause, the amount of sun exposure and how many children a woman bears can all contribute to bone density loss. “While women may have no control over some factors, many are modifiable and related to lifestyle choices,” Baker stresses. Making healthy decisions to avoid bone decline is critical. Consider this fact: one in three women over the age of 50 will

28 | Amoena Life

experience a fracture related to low bone density, according to Baker. “This is a staggering percentage of our population, and the result of a fracture later in life can be devastating,” she says. “Fractures can result in pain, loss of strength, postural changes, loss of mobility, hospitalisation and institutionalisation. The postural changes in the spine and pelvis can also create other health concerns, such as decreased lung capacity, decreased blood ﬂow to organs and a greater risk of falls. “Additionally, an increased kyphosis (excessive rounding of the upper back) is a predictor of mortality,” Baker explains. “So bone loss essentially becomes a matter of life or death.” Postural changes due to bone loss can be compounded with shifts in posture following mastectomies and reconstruction surgeries — another reason breast cancer survivors need to pay attention to bone health. Joyce King, FNP, CNN, Ph.D., associate professor at Emory University School of Nursing in Atlanta, concurs. “Fifty percent of older women who experience a hip fracture eventually can’t live by themselves; it’s the major cause of older women becoming dependent. Fractures can lead to immobility, and being immobile for a period of time carries an increased risk of pneumonia and death. “In fact, when you look at annual incidents of fractures due to osteoporosis, it far exceeds heart attacks and breast and other gynecological cancers,” King points out. “This is not to minimise other health concerns, but it’s the No. 1 problem for older women — even over heart disease and cancer.”

Bone Basics The skeletal system is dynamic — continually going through changes. Bone density is made up of minerals, primarily calcium. Females build bone density in adolescence, acquiring 90 percent by age 20 and reaching peak density by age 35. Loss occurs because bones contain cells (osteoclasts) that resorb “worn out” and damaged calcium out of the bone while other cells (osteoblasts) fortify bones with fresh supplies of calcium to keep them strong and healthy. “Many people do not realise bone is a living, specialised kind of tissue that is constantly being broken down, resorbed and created all at the same time,” Baker says. “It’s estimated that every three months our bone has been completely ‘recycled.’” Oestrogen stimulates osteoblasts, the bone-building cells, so when a woman loses oestrogen, osteoclasts become dominant and osteoblasts can’t keep up with reinforcing the bone. Chemotherapy further contributes to bone loss since it shuts down oestrogen-producing ovaries.

Taking the Test The best measure of a person’s bone health is a bone density test. The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommends that all women should start scans at age 65; those at risk should begin by age 60. Some physicians request testing at earlier ages for breast cancer patients. FRAX (http://www.shef.ac.uk/FRAX/) is another useful tool to gauge bone volume. Developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), this computer program helps predict the risk of fracture. taking into account age, gender and other osteoporosis factors.

Healthy Choices Reap Rewards The good news is women are not powerless in combatting this disease. Healthy behaviors, such as regular, weight-bearing exercise, a nutritious, calcium-rich diet and

Eat Sweat &Be Merry The following tips can start you on your way to hearty bones:

not smoking all contribute to strong bones. (See sidebar for details on diet and exercise.) While positive practices can offset osteoporosis, women at higher risk may need additional help through medications. Products that are used to treat the disease include: Bisphosphonates (such as FOSOMAX®) block osteoclasts from resorbing calcium ● Selective oestrogen receptor modulators (such as EVISTA®) act like oestrogen on bones ● Calcitonin is a natural hormone that helps prevent resorption and mostly used to treat osteoporotic pain ● A newer injectable drug, Forteo®, is a manmade parathyroid hormone that builds bone density ●

Coping with Loss Taking preemptive steps early is the best way to foster robust bones, but what if osteoporosis has already progressed? Since weakened bones increase the chance of falling and fractures, maintaining good balance is key. Choose exercises that build balance and muscles and improve posture, such as Tai Chi, Pilates and yoga. If suffering pain from osteoporosis, King suggests ways women can cope, such as medicine, acupuncture, physical therapy and applying a heating pad and then icing the area. “Once you lose bone density, you can only minimally build it back up,” King notes. “Fractures can heal, but they can still have compression and cause changes in posture due to fractured vertebrae. “The key is building and maintaining peak bone mass and preventing loss through diet and exercise,” she adds. “It’s also essential to get bone density scans, so if your healthcare provider starts seeing a decline, they can stop it with medication.” Osteoporosis doesn’t have to be an inevitable part of aging. Diet, exercise, a bone density test and medicine, if needed, can help a woman stay healthy and functioning for the entire span of her life. |

1 Take 1200 mg of calcium daily. 2 Eat enough dark, leafy greens, dairy products, and nuts and seeds. 3 Since calcium in food is not always absorbed, supplements like calcium citrate can help.

4 Take 1,000 units of Vitamin D, which many women are deﬁcient in. 5 Exercise helps prevent bone loss and can be part of a treatment plan. 6 After reconstructive surgeries, engage a physical therapist to help determine which muscles to work or stretch and how, especially for the upper body.

7 Avoid smoking and alcoholic beverages (more than 1 per day); these leach minerals out of bones in higher quantities.

Julie Auton is the former editor of Competitive Edge Magazine, has directed editorial services for Coca-Cola USA and the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games. She lives and writes in Atlanta, GA.

Amoena Life | 29

>>> FEELIN’ KINDA FUNNY

PORTRAIT <<< Touchstones every hour. Today, Amoena is with you from wake up to workout, from leisure to business-casual, in the pool and on the trail. With you, all day long. For you, like no other.

MINDLESS ON

Purpose What 20 years of go-go-go living has taught me

Author, health coach and radio talk-show host Melanie Young can walk breezily into any room to lead with authority. A successful career in PR and her entrepreneur’s drive guarantee it. But she’ll do it on her own terms these days: with genuine warmth and grace, clearly focused on her audience’s well-being. And don’t expect her to be wearing stilettos. She gave up things like truly uncomfortable shoes when her health dictated that she eliminate sources of what she calls “toxic stress” from her life. Co-owner of a highly regarded marketing events ﬁrm serving the wine

Fearless,

ince breast cancer has been a reality for me three times, I’d be nuts if I didn’t try to ﬁgure out what triggers my body to harbour such an unhealthy visitor. I’ve spent nearly 20 years taking a closer look at my lifestyle in order to hold on to the positive and let go of the negative. So what wisdom do I have to offer? I’d love to say I am now a maven of the mantra. But if I’m being truthful, it’s much closer to the nincompoop of Nirvana. I was born before the term “hyperactive” had become part of our popular jargon, but I’m pretty sure anyone who has encountered me would attest to the fact that I often seem to be going a thousand miles an hour. Unfortunately, this sort of high speed “travel” tends to take a toll on our bodies over time. As a child, I was called precocious (probably known to some as obnoxious). I was the kid that endlessly asked, “Why?” When some poor, unsuspecting adult responded, “Because,” it became my job to then ask, “Why because?” On the school bus, I sang endless rounds of 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall (remember, you can take one down and pass it around)… and when I wasn’t screeching that beloved song, I was probably delighting the driver with Found a Peanut! As a teenager, I think I nearly broke the land speed record for incessantly talking on the phone. I feel blessed that we didn’t text in those days because I am sure I would have worn my ﬁngers to the nubs! My point? I have been mind and body on the go, always. It wasn’t until I reached adulthood that I began to envy the people who are able to simply slow down and take it easy.

When my kids were young, I attempted yoga classes and had some success, but the demands of motherhood and a job made it difficult for me to find the necessary time, so eventually that pursuit just sort of fell by the wayside. At various times over the years I’ve tried meditation, Pilates, yoga, walking, jogging, Tai Chi and reflexology. You name the -ology and I’ve probably got a t-shirt for it! Each one provided me with huge benefits — and yet each time I would quit, blaming it on my work schedule, or lack of money, or whatever excuse I could conjure to get off the hook and back to tasks. Well, a third diagnosis has been a hook I simply can’t wiggle off of. I’m determined that regardless of my life circumstances, I am going to be serious about taking “me” time each and every day. Quiet time. Reflective time. Time spent contemplating possibility — not responsibility. Because at the crux of all this, I’ve been speeding along the highway of life thinking it was my job to take care of everyone’s needs but my own. Don’t get me wrong: I have enjoyed nearly every moment I’ve been given, and for the few that have been unpleasant, I’ve learned to appreciate the gift adversity often gives us. It’s just that I want to slow down now, so I don’t miss the things that are truly important. So this Type-A, rah, rah, rah woman is ready to hand off her pompoms (I wish I’d done this a long time ago, because I might still have my ta-tas if I had)! It’s taken me a long time to realise that in order to be mindful, sometimes you have to be mindless. Now that’s profound! |

Dianne (Browne) Armitage was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. The eldest of six children, her early aspiration was to write the great American novel. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996, 2005, and again in 2013, she believes humor has helped her deal with her diagnosis and just might be therapeutic to others as well. In addition to her work with Amoena, Dianne has written for Dr. Susan Love’s website and is a frequent contributor to several other health-related sites.

30 | Amoena Life

Talk about a consummate professional.

and preventive ovarian removal since she was BRCA2 positive), she also made some signiﬁcant life decisions. “During this same time, my father died. Everything was difficult, emotionally and physically. I decided I would begin to fully take care of myself, and knew I’d never go back to my previous lifestyle — but I didn’t want to give it up completely, either. I had to strike a balance.” Writing was therapeutic for her: “I’ve always been a writer, as a form of self-expression,” she says. It had been part of her job, too. “I wrote all the time for other people, clients — but realised I no longer wanted to be someone else’s mouthpiece. I wanted to be my own voice.” Which led to the publication of her ﬁrst book, Getting Tune In!

Fabulous

Melanie Young

Internet radio lets her be her own voice for wellness’ sake

and food industries, living in New York City with her husband and business partner, she loved the glamorous life, but blames it, to a certain extent, for her unexpected breast cancer diagnosis. “In 2009, I was …hobnobbing with famous chefs, drinking world-class wines and traveling the globe,” she recalls. It was high stakes and fastpaced. During what should have been a fabulous business trip to Italy, she discovered a lump and was soon diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer — tumors in both breasts. Quite a wake-up call. While Melanie continued to work full-time through her treatments and surgeries (she had a double mastectomy, reconstruction,

myself anymore, either, since I’d made these decisions about keeping stress out of my life.” With a little networking, she developed her own show where she interviews inspirational women and experts in health and beauty. “We’re talking about this book, bringing in top-notch guests, and producing the content we want to share with others,” she says, “and it’s getting great response.” (See the sidebar for details.) One fantastic thing about internet radio is that it can be done anywhere. Melanie and her husband, in fact, gave up their NYC apartment and moved to the country where their lives can be more balanced. “I changed my diet, learned to change my habits. I’m still a work in progress myself — always will be,”

Listen to Melanie’s weekly radio show, Fearless, Fabulous You! Monday evenings, 9pm ET/6pm PT on W4WN: the Women-4Women Network: http://w4wn.com/radio-shows/fearlessfabulous-you/ and iHeartRadio, a free mobile app, or online at www.iHeart.com/show/209-Fearless-Fabulous-You Read Up! Be inspired by Melanie’s award-winning book: Getting Things Off My Chest: A Survivor’s Guide to Staying Fearless & Fabulous in the Face of Breast Cancer (Cedar Fort Inc.,2013) Read her latest work: Fearless, Fabulous You! Lessons on Living Life on Your Terms (Cedar Fort Inc., 2014) Read Melanie’s blog, Getting Things Off My Chest, at www. melanieyoung.com

Things Off My Chest, and her wellknown blog of the same name. She’s now engaging audiences as a professional speaker and trained as a certiﬁed health coach. And career connections have recently launched the next adventure for Melanie: internet radio. “My husband had been guest hosting on another radio show about food and wine,” she shares. “I guesthosted with him once when the co-host was away, and we both thought, ‘Hey, this is almost easy for us, and we’re enjoying it!’” Melanie, who had just ﬁnished her second book, Fearless, Fabulous You, saw it was a perfect opportunity: “I didn’t have a budget for PR, but knew I didn’t want to do it

she confides. Playing with her dog, and frequent walks in the woods near home help her stay stress-free and mindful; she also loves relaxing luxuries like having a facial when she’s in the city, and of course, drinking fine wines in moderation. Her main goal now, and the goal of her radio show, is to help people rediscover joy and purpose. “I actually believe you have to put yourself first,” she explains. “You can’t sacrifice yourself for your business, your family, or your whatever else; you’re irreplaceable. I think most survivors know this, but they don’t always do anything about it.” Thankfully, Melanie Young intends to continue speaking this message — and living it. | Amoena Life | 31

>>> NUTRITION

Pear and Blueberry Green Smoothie ING

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pped 1 pea r, cho berries ½ cu p Blue ina ch of b a b y s p s) A ha ndfu l r ch ia seed (o s d e e s x n fla etc) 1 ta b lespoo /a lm onds, s w e h s a c uts (or 3 Bra z il n t water) try coconu r (o r te a w 1 cu p

M E TH O

Blend w ell togeth er – a dd love it re ice if yo a lly ch il le u d – a nd The nuts e n jo y ! g ive it a lovely cr cons iste ea my ncy a nd of cou rs g o o d n ut e a dd rients as well. If y m int g ro o u h a ve w ing, a f e w leave in g ive a s b lended g reat fre sh taste.

Free Gift from Amoena

In my little Brisbane suburb is the delightful Billykart Kitchen, a Café owned and run by the equally delightful Chef Ben O’Donoghue and his wife Dee. Ben’s Mum Sue visits regularly from her home in Perth, and I met up with her on her last visit. Sue arrived in Australia from the UK in 1975. It was in 2004 that an ultrasound showed breast cancer was present. Following surgery and radiotherapy, Sue has bounced back and keeps herself well with sensible eating and various types of exercise such as swimming, walking and bike riding. She always wears a sleeve when flying. While Sue and I were chatting, Dee and Ben were making a few taste-test versions of Green Smoothies. What’s a Green Smoothie, you ask? It’s a fruit smoothie, with raw leafy greens blended through it, so it tastes like fruit, but sneaks in the added goodness of those greens your Mum told you were so good for you. Of course your Mum was right! Blending the ingredients helps to break down the cell walls, making them much easier to digest and for your body to put to good use. Here’s just one version of many you can try. I usually use what’s plentiful and in season, but you can also cut up seasonal fruit and store in the freezer for later use.

Glenda Harris

Amoena Territory Executive Qld and Northern Rivers NSW 32 | Amoena Life

Receive this beach bag when you purchase an Amoena Breast Form and one Amoena Bra* To ﬁnd a retailer near you, visit our store locator at www.amoena.com.au/storelocator or Freecall 1800 773 285. *Offer valid 15th March to 15th April 2015 while stocks last at participating stores. Excludes Leisure Bra.

Sue, Ben a nd m e!

www.amoena.com.au

>>> SURVEY

Help Us Get to Know You Better We’re ever grateful for your friendship

It’s a special year for Amoena, as you’ve read throughout the pages of this issue. The best way we know to celebrate it is to tend our relationships mindfully, and that includes our relationship with YOU. Would you please take a moment to share your wishes and thoughts? This will also help us plan the magazine with articles you are guaranteed to want to read! Take our survey online: Go to www.amoena.com.au/survey. Or complete this page and mail it to us. Send it to us, postmarked by July 1, 2015, at: Amoena Life Survey Reply Paid 119, Fitzroy VIC 3065 1. Are you a member of Club Amoena? ❍ Yes ❍ No If yes, what do you expect to receive from Club Amoena? Please be specific. _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ 2. What would you like to see MORE of, from Amoena, both online and in print? ❑ Nutrition/recipes ❑ Fashion pages ❑ Survivor profiles ❑ Essays by fellow survivors ❑ In-depth news articles ❑ Other ___________________ 3. We’d really like to know you better. Tell us some things you like to do in your spare time (ex., dining out, gardening, surfing, theater, knitting, book club…) _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ 4. What or who inspires you the most and why? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

My birthdate: Month __________________ Day ______________________ 7. Would you consider attending an Amoena-sponsored “Meet-Up” in your local area? ❍ Yes ❍ No If yes, how far from home would you consider driving to attend? ❑ 30 minutes ❑ 10 minutes ❑ 20 minutes ❑ 40 minutes or more

34 | Amoena Life

Pass on your Amoena Life and see what happens As children, the lesson of sharing can mean taking turns, or dividing something in half so that everyone gets an equal portion. …Sometimes tough to learn, but it makes everybody happier. When we’re teens and young adults, sharing a soda and a bag of popcorn might mean you’re beginning to feel intimately connected with someone. What luck — what fun! In the Internet Age, sharing means something new, and the idea of sharing our random thoughts, our favourite articles and videos, our family photos, and what we ate for lunch is ubiquitous. Some good has come from this. When kind gestures are shared and talked about — the “pay it forward” concept, of doing something nice, just because — it begets more goodness and kindness. We’re asking you to consider sharing our magazine with people you care about. It can be a recently diagnosed friend, a longtime breast cancer “sister” fighting the fight with you, your treatment centre’s waiting room (do ask first), or your support group. Or cut out the card and send it to Amoena Australia Pty Ltd Reply Paid 119 Fitzroy Vic 3065 and we will send your friend a copy of the Amoena Life Magazine. We’d like to reach as many women as possible, and share our companionship with them, too!

Our “just for you” Amoena Community of breast cancer survivors who focus on good health and overall wellness. Club Amoena Members will receive regular newsletters and information on what’s new in Amoena via email. Visit www.amoena.com.au to sign up on-line with your email address.

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