Amoena4Life Magazine 2019 - Australia by Amoena

AMOENA4LIFE amoena.com.au

“YOGA CAN HELP WITH LYMPHOEDEMA” Managing the Side Effect So Many Women Face

PLASTICS IN THE OCEANS And What We Can Do To Help — A Practical Guide

AN AMBASSADOR FOR CONFIDENCE Meet Pop Star Rita Ora’s Inspiring Mum, Vera

NATURAL CALM & COMFORT 3 Easy Ways to Soothe Side Effects

FOCUS:

Compression is “Wrapped Up” with Breast Cancer

Issue 2019

EDITORIAL

THE BEST WAY TO FORGET

Dear Reader, We were founded on a vision to support women after a breast cancer diagnosis, and we have perfected many products for that purpose. Amoena remains committed to providing innovative solutions to support your confidence.

In line with this vision, we think it’s vital to learn and study what’s happening, not just in the breast cancer world, but in our society as a whole. In this issue, we explore a bit about both. Our features on lymphoedema and compression therapy give insight about a challenge many women must face, and most know very little about. We asked the experts: What is new in compression therapy? What can women expect? They have valuable answers and practical advice.

Wearing an Amoena Contact breast form on your body is the best way to forget you’re wearing it at all. Here’s why:

In our wider world, we cannot ignore recent news about the environment. Awareness is the first step in creating positive change; we help you with that in our informative article about plastics in our oceans.

• The weight of the form is distributed to your chest wall, so it actually feels lighter.

Most important, we think, are your stories of inspiration. We are collecting them at TheDayIWasTold.com.au, and hope you will share yours. One such story comes from physician, mother, activist and Amoena ambassador Vera Ora. She is vibrant and eager to spread her message of awareness.

• Comfort+ temperature-equalising technology absorbs your body heat so you stay cooler.

We welcome your feedback and hope you enjoy this issue.

• An attachable form is truly the closest thing to your natural breast. Ask your fit specialist about trying Contact.

Lene Ploug Bülow Chief Commercial Officer Managing Director

Learn more at amoena.com.au 2

Page 18 Natural Calm & Comfort

Page 13 Plastic in the Oceans

CONTENT S 04 DRAGON BOAT PADDLING

20 MEET VERA ORA:

AMBASSADOR FOR CONFIDENCE

Dragon Boating can help with your physical and emotional wellbeing following breast cancer.

Vera Ora is a doctor who became the patient when diagnosed with breast cancer. Read her story.

13 P LASTICS IN THE OCEANS Three quarters of the garbage in oceans is plastic, which endangers sea life. How can you help? Read our guide.

Focus: Lymphoedema and Compression

06 COMPRESSION IS “WRAPPED UP” WITH BREAST CANCER

14 “ WE CONSTANTLY CONTROL QUALITY“

Amoena takes responsibility for our products and processing, and how they affect our world. An interview with Senior VP Dirk Müller.

11 “ YOGA EXERCISES CAN HELP

16 B REAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

WITH LYMPHOEDEMA”

Christine Raab developed secondary lymphoedema in her right arm as a result of her breast cancer surgery. But yoga is helping.

Support Groups are valuable to your breast cancer treatment.

hat every woman should know W about breast surgery, lymphoedema and compression therapy.

N ATURAL CALM & COMFORT

There are natural ways to comfort and sooth your skin – and your soul – during cancer treatment. We explore the benefits of ginger, essential oils and energy movement..

AMOENA4LIFE amoena.com.au

“YOGA CAN HELP WITH LYMPHOEDEMA” Managing the Side Effect So Many Women Face

PLASTICS IN THE OCEANS And What We Can Do To Help — A Practical Guide

AN AMBASSADOR FOR CONFIDENCE Meet Pop Star Rita Ora’s Inspiring Mum, Vera

NATURAL CALM & COMFORT 3 Easy Ways to Soothe Side Effects

You can also read Amoena4Life in digital format at amoena.com.au — anytime, anywhere. At home or on the go, on your PC, tablet or smartphone.

FOCUS:

Compression is “Wrapped Up” with Breast Cancer

Issue 2019

TAKE US WITH YOU! amoena.com.au

WHAT IS DRAGON BOAT RACING? 4

Dragon boat racing is an aquatic sport in which a 12 metre long canoe-like boat, wide enough to sit 20 people (2 abreast) along with a sweep to steer the boat and a drummer. A festival race is typically a sprint event of several hundred metres, with 500 metres the most common, 200, 1000 and 2000 metre races are also standard distances. During races a dragon boat will feature the head and tail of a dragon, a mythological creature regarded by the Chinese as having dominion over the waters and exercising control over rainfall. Ameona is a proud sponsor of Dragons Abreast Australia. When we were asked to sponsor their recent Gala Dinner in celebration of their 20th Anniversary it seemed so appropriate. Like us they take care of breast cancer survivors after treatment.

the complications from lymphoedema. In addition to improving the physical health of survivors there is also the other benefits such as being part of a team and realising there is life after treatment. DAA members regain their sense of control, self-confidence and at the same time have FUN!

Dragons Abreast Australia started in 1998. This was after a Canadian physician, Professor Don McKenzie, began treatment for survivors by putting a small group in a dragon boat and asked them to paddle. The results were positive with an improvement to their health. This began a global movement with breast cancer teams worldwide and Australia being one of the first.

Dragons Abreast Australia was thrilled that Amoena Australia was a Platinum Sponsor of the Dragons Abreast Gala Dinner, and looks forward to furthering our relationship in the future. Kerry Nash, Sales and Marketing Manager says: “Thank you for bringing to our attention the importance of paddling… and the value, both physically and emotionally, that this sport has on women’s wellness.”

Once breast cancer surgery is over survivors are ‘on their own’ and often ask ‘what’s next?’ That is where Dragons Abreast Australia comes in. It has been proven in many medical studies that paddling can assist in the recovery process especially with

Pru Menzies (DAA Board Director) says: “Many of our members are customers of Amoena products and I think we have a great fit together! Both organisations exist to benefit breast cancer survivors and we value the outcome of women’s wellness from both physical and emotional recovery after treatment.” Dragons Abreast Australia Mission is to encourage wellness, fitness, fun and camaraderie to breast cancer survivors through the sport of dragon boating and promote breast cancer awareness throughout our community. Since 1998 we have helped thousands of survivors improve their health and well-being.

Photos: James Kearney

There are 32 dragons abreast groups throughout Australia. If you or someone you know would like to join in the fun, friendship and fitness please contact:

www.dragonsabreast.com.au Why not join us for a paddle and see what we do. PADDLES UP! 5

Focus: Compression and Lymphoedema

Compression and Breast Cancer Are Carefully Wrapped Up Together Most women know that breast cancer comes with a wide variety of side effects and follow-up therapies. Compression of the chest area is common post-surgical practice and sometimes years later, compression of the arm on the surgery side. Why? We’ve spoken to several health practitioners who help explain.

Kelly: “You should feel like you are getting support from the garment. But it should be comfortable while providing the support,” she advises. “The compression bra or vest should not hurt or pinch any area, or cause any irritation to the chest, axilla or spine.”

“When we think of compression garments, most of us picture our elder relatives who wore compression stockings or tights due to swelling in their legs,” says Sasha Roche Kelly, a registered general nurse and manual lymph drainage (MLD) therapist in Wexford in Ireland. “These garments were difficult to wear due to the rigidness of the material,” she says, but compression has come a long way in the past twenty years. Wherever you need compression therapy — arms, legs, chest or trunk — materials are now designed to be “easy to wear, easier to get on and off, and kinder to your skin.”

WHEN LYMPH NODES ARE REMOVED If your breast cancer involved your surrounding lymph nodes, it is likely that some or all of them were removed during your mastectomy. Sometimes lymph nodes are also affected by radiation therapy. These disruptions to the lymphatic system, while necessary to prevent the spread of cancerous cells, can cause lymph fluid to build up; the resultant swelling is known as lymphoedema, and it can happen soon after treatment or much later — even years later — usually in the arm on the affected side.

HOW ARE BREAST CANCER AND COMPRESSION LINKED? Immediately after breast surgery, doctors often recommend a compression garment for stability while the surgery site heals. Its purpose: Protecting the surgery site from infection;

Helping reduce post-surgical bruising, scarring and swelling;

Keeping implants or tissue-flap reconstruction in place;

Preventing the build-up of lymph fluid, which can lead to lymphoedema.

“Compression garments are one of the four cornerstones of the management of lymphoedema,” Kelly explains. The other three are skin care, manual lymph drainage, and movement.

STAGES OF LYMPHOEDEMA TREATMENT In the first stage of acute treatment for lymphoedema, compression bandages are wrapped around the affected limb by a qualified professional, and changed daily – this is called “intensive decongestion treatment,” and typically continues

From the name “compression garment,” it may seem like a post-surgical compression bra should feel very tight around the chest. Not necessarily, argues

Photo: WavebreakMediaMicro /Adobe Stock

wearing a lymphoedema sleeve: “Fashion colours. For the longest time, everything has been ‘medical beige,’ but now there are so many options that are fashionable,” she says. Having stylish options actually helps women stick to their maintenance program. “Patients really do have to wear it, to manage their lymphoedema. It’s the hardest obstacle for most women — they just don’t want to wear it.” But with more colours and styles to choose from, they feel more confident.

“ C ompression garments are one of the four cornerstones of the management of lymphoedema.” for 15 days, according to Jean-Claude Ferrandez, a masseur and kinesiotherapist in Avignon, France. “The bandages must be combined with certain exercises to ensure the maximum decongestion possible. Being active physically is particularly helpful during this phase,” he adds.

ADVICE FOR EVERY BREAST CANCER PATIENT Burkart advises that every woman who has breast surgery learn about lymphoedema and its prevention, and she recommends taking the following precautionary steps:

Manual lymph drainage, a type of massage, may accompany the bandaging therapy. MLD “should feel as if a butterfly is landing on your skin — it’s that gentle,” Kelly says. Too much pressure will not allow for the lymphatic vessels under the skin to do their circulatory work. In the second “maintenance” stage, bandages are often replaced by a compression sleeve, which stabilises the result of decongestion and prevents a recurrence of swelling. This is a sleeve that many women wear for the rest of their lives, particularly when traveling or exercising, to prevent lymph fluid build-up. “When the sleeve should be worn depends on the woman’s lifestyle,” Ferrandez notes.

FASHION AND FUNCTION Nancy Burkart, a certified fitter for lymphoedema products in the U.S., says there is good news about

1. Do measurements right away after diagnosis, to establish the baseline size of the wrist, the forearm, and the upper arm. Then pay attention and re-measure every so often. A physical therapist or lymphoedema specialist can do this every few months. “If you’re monitoring yourself, you’ll know whether there’s been a change that needs to be addressed,” Burkart says.

2. H ave an arm sleeve or glove fitted for preventive care, “because you never know when lymphoedema might develop.” Wear it when traveling, or whenever your doctor advises.

Being proactive about your care will give you peace of mind. Ferrandez emphasizes that “patients must learn to participate, themselves, in treating this circulatory defect. They [can also] learn to perform self-drainage or self-bandaging. Among the new decongestion techniques are self-bandaging devices that take less than two minutes,” he notes. While lymphoedema is a lifelong condition, early detection can help you manage it successfully, and you can certainly lead a full and active life post-diagnosis.

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Shop all lingerie at amoena.com.au

COMING SOON IN 2019! thedayiwastold.com.au

WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY EVERY STORY IS UNIQUE A breast cancer diagnosis turns your world upside down. And every day, women all over the world are going through exactly what you are experiencing. On TheDayIWasTold.com.au, you can hear other women’s stories about that life-changing day. Every story is unique, and we invite you to share your personal experiences as well. Sharing these stories is one of the most powerful ways that women can help each other.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE Being diagnosed with breast cancer can leave you filled with questions and concerns, but also feeling lonely. On The Day I Was Told, you don’t have to feel alone anymore. It is an online community platform where women help and support each other with informative articles, inspirational interviews and good advice. A place where women can feel informed and empowered, even when at their most fragile.

Visit thedayiwastold.com.au today to find the answers and support you need throughout your journey. The Day I Was Told is part of Amoena’s commitment to empowering and supporting women diagnosed with breast cancer to feel confident and to live an active life.

The aim of ”The Day I Was Told” is to support you through your journey

You can visit the website on mobile, tablet and laptop

”The Day I Was Told” is with you every step of the way

Amoena4Life 2019, amoena.com | Publisher: Amoena Medizin-Orthopädie-Technik GmbH, Kapellenweg 36, 83064 Raubling | Editor: Lena Ehmsen Lachenmeier | Contributors: Stella Hombach, Christina Relf, Lee Thrash | Art Director & Design: Sandy Braun | Photography: James Kearny, Timo Raab, Tobias Gratz, BVMed, Stocksy, Adobe Stock, Shutterstock | Print: G. Peschke Druckerei GmbH - Parsdorf b. München | Contact: info@amoena.com | All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of the contents in any manner is strictly prohibited without prior written permission from the publisher. This brochure is distributed to retailers and medical facilities. Amoena cannot be liable for pictorial or typographical errors. While every effort is taken to ensure the information contained in this magazine is accurate, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any use of or reliance on the accuracy of such information. Any information provided is not a substitute for professional care and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. If you have, or suspect you have a health problem, you should consult your doctor. No liability for unsolicited manuscripts.

Focus: Lymphoedema and Compression

“ Yoga exercises can help with lymphoedema” In 2014, at the age of 31, Christine Raab was diagnosed with breast cancer. During her breast-conserving operation, the surgeons also had to remove some of her lymph nodes. Consequences: the lymph was no longer flowing properly, and Raab developed secondary lymphoedema in her right arm. She explained to us how the swelling changed her daily routine and how yoga can stimulate lymphatic circulation.

Editor: When did you notice that there was something wrong with your arm? Christine Raab: After one of my last chemotherapy sessions. I sat in the car, looked at my arms and noticed that the right one was somewhat thicker than the left. I then went straight to my doctor. He diagnosed me with lymphoedema and sent me for lymphatic drainage.

Photo: Timo Raab

Manual lymphatic drainage is a special massage that uses gentle rotary movements to try and work the congested fluid out of the tissue and stimulate the lymphatic circulation. Correct. When the swelling slowly subsided thanks to the massages and a special wrapping technique, I was fitted with a compression arm bandage. I had to wear it every day for two and a half years. I could only take it off at night. Did you know before your operation that you might develop oedema due to the removal of the lymph nodes? No. During chemotherapy, I did see a woman wearing such a bandage on her arm, but I did not know why she was wearing it. To be honest, all I was thinking at the time was, “Thank goodness I don’t have that as well.”

Focus: Lymphoedema and Compression that the lymph cannot clog up in the first place. Moving the shoulders in a circular manner can also stimulate lymph flow in the arms – but that is not a specific yoga exercise.

WHAT IS LYMPHOEDEMA? Lymphoedema is caused when lymph vessels or nodes are damaged or surgically removed, and the lymph can no longer drain properly. In other words, it becomes congested in the tissue and in the spaces between the tissues, causing swelling. The first symptoms are a feeling of heaviness and tension in the affected parts, and the beginnings of swelling. Amongst women who have undergone breast surgery, secondary, or “acquired”, lymphoedema occurs most frequently in the underarm areas or the arms, and sometimes in the breasts or hands.

YOUR BODY WENT THROUGH A LOT DUE TO THE BREAST CANCER

What helped you deal with the oedema? My positive mindset – not just about my body, but also about the lymphoedema. Thinking, “Oh, why do I have this stupid lymphoedema and why do I have to exercise and wear compression bandages?” does not make the swelling any better. Instead, I try to remember that my body has gone through a lot because of the breast cancer and needs time to recover.

HEAT STIMULATES THE BLOOD FLOW AND THEREFORE AGGRAVATES LYMPHOEDEMA

Does the lymphoedema restrict you in your everyday life? To protect my right arm against excessive strain and heat, I actually had to relearn a lot of things, but I have got used to it now. For example, to relieve pressure on my arm I now always carry my handbag on the left-hand side – and the same goes for suitcases and heavy shopping bags. When I am frying something in a pan, I prefer to stir with my left hand, not my right. This ensures that no hot fat splashes onto the oedema – because heat and warmth stimulate the blood flow and therefore aggravate the lymphoedema.

Christine Raab, 35, works as a freelance make-up artist, specialising in natural cosmetics. After recovering from breast cancer, she completed her training to become a yoga teacher.

Photo: obs/medi GmbH & Co. KG/© BVMed

ABOUT CHRISTINE

After suffering from breast cancer, you trained to become a yoga teacher. In your blog, you mention that some yoga exercises are also good for the lymph. How does that work? Deliberate abdominal breathing somewhat stimulates the lymph flow – just like exercises whereby we alternatingly tense and relax our muscles. There are also lots of dynamic movements in yoga. In other words, we do not remain in one position, but we are always moving. This means

PL ASTICS IN THE OCE ANS AND WHAT WE C AN DO TO HELP It has been known for years that there is an awful lot of plastic waste floating around in our seas. Why is this so harmful and what can every single one of us do to stop it?

There are hardly any genuine efforts to clean our oceans – apart from individual projects by non-governmental

organisations

and

private

initiatives. It is therefore all the more important that we all think about our plastic consumption.

Experts estimate some 150 million tonnes of

WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT?

plastic waste are already floating around in the sea today, from rubbish bags and fishing

1. Saving plastic means the following:

nets to tiny microparticles that can barely be

Use cotton carrier bags instead of plastic

seen with the naked eye.

bags and buy unpackaged

Why is that a problem?

vegetables. The

The plastic particles

plastic waste that

not only contain

is still created

toxins, but also

belongs in

act like a sort

the yellow

of pollutant

recycling

magnet. In

bins.

other words, they collect pollutants which

2. Switch to natural fibres –

damage the flora and fauna

not just for your clothing, but

of the oceans. Many marine

also your bed linen and towels.

creatures also confuse plastic

During washing, textiles made from

with food – and once swallowed,

polyester, nylon and acrylic can

the plastic pieces can harm their

shed tiny plastic fibres, and these

stomachs and intestines.

cannot be filtered out of sewage

Photo: Martí Sans/Stocksy

treatment plants.

WHAT AMOENA IS DOING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

3. Avoid microplastics – by not using toothpaste,

Amoena recycles as much as possible. For example, all breast forms are coated with an elastic polyurethane film, and the film remnants left behind after production are completely recycled. The company’s recycling rate is currently at over 95 percent. Even during the initial development of new products, Amoena also thinks about non-plastic and non-synthetic packaging.

microplastics – because the minute plastic particles

exfoliation scrubs or cosmetics which contain are extremely difficult to filter out of wastewater. 4. Talk about “plastic in the sea”. The more people develop awareness of the problem and act responsibly, the sooner the pollution of the seas can begin to be reversed. We‘re eagerly doing our part by publishing this article!

“ We constantly control quality” Many companies have their goods manufactured abroad. Dirk Müller is responsible for the development and processing of textiles at Amoena. In this interview, he explains how Amoena ensures that the working conditions at foreign subsidiary companies meet the German standards and how the company is committed to sustainability.

DYEING WITH AS LITTLE WATER AS POSSIBLE

Editor: Do you manufacture the lingerie and swimming costumes yourselves at Amoena? Dirk Müller: We have our own production sites and longstanding partnerships with our suppliers, in both Central America and Asia.

How do you know that the companies you assign do not outsource the work to subcontractors? We pay regular visits and constantly check the quality of every single production run. If the work were outsourced, we would notice. We also carry out regular unannounced inspections. However, what is particularly important at Amoena is that we do everything we can to manufacture our goods as sustainably as possible.

Does Amoena purchase its materials from abroad because they are cheaper there? That was the reason historically, at least. In order to save costs, almost all larger textile and clothing companies began manufacturing their goods abroad in the 1980s. As a consequence, the domestic spinning factories and sewing rooms formed other subsidiaries in Asia. Markets such as China have now gained a qualitative advantage over us in terms of textile manufacturing. Most of the suppliers of the raw materials and the fibres, are now also in the Far East.

Do you have an example? The materials we use come mostly from suppliers who have their own water treatment facilities. This means that much less water is used than usual in the industry for the manufacturing and dyeing of the textiles. In order to comply with environmental standards, we also only order materials that are certified with the Oeko-Tex® Standard 100. This way, we ensure that the textiles do not contain any substances that are harmful to health.

EMPLOYEES’ RIGHTS ARE RESPECTED WHAT DOES “STANDARD 100 BY OEKO-TEX” MEAN?

Photo: Tobias Gratz

How do you ensure that the foreign partner companies manufacture responsibly and that the employees are treated well? All companies we work with, such as those in Costa Rica and Asia, are certified by the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI) and Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP). BSCI and WRAP are something of a gold standard in the textile industry.

The Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex certifies the safety of our textiles in terms of human health, such as clothing, bed linen and towels, as well as raw and intermediate textile products and accessories such as thread, fabric, buttons and labels. If a product has the certificate, that means it has been tested for pollutants and certain limits have not been exceeded. The certificate is issued by the International Association for Research and Testing in the Field of Textile and Leather Ecology (Oeko-Tex).

What does “gold standard” mean in this context? The certification is a type of code of conduct that guarantees that the working conditions meet the European standards, and that employees’ rights are respected. In a nutshell, the production conditions are safe, fire safety complies, child labour is prohibited, working weeks do not exceed forty hours, the employees have social insurance, there is a right to form trade unions and the minimum wage is paid.

A Breast Cancer Support Group Isn’t Necessarily What You’d Expect by Moira McEwan

with something that resembled the Nike tick. I was then told that it would not be known if there was an invasive cancer component till after the surgery and the final pathology was carried out.

It was October 2012, we had recently moved to a lovely coastal town to retire, to enjoy the quiet and the boating. I had a routine mammogram which had shown up something that needed investigation. Everything moved in slow motion. I went to the call-back centre and remember sitting in a waiting room reading the posters, seeing the one which touted, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, here I was, sitting with 15 other women, I counted them, and thought to myself, “odds are two of us are getting bad news today!”.

I found a fabulous surgeon, at a Hospital just an hour from where I live. I decided to have a right side mastectomy, for a number of reasons. One being, my mother had breast cancer, and I wasn’t willing to take a chance at a recurrence in that breast. Another reason was I am the primary carer for my husband who is a C5-6 quadriplegic, after a hang-gliding accident 41 years ago, and the concept of six weeks of radiotherapy, if I had opted for a lumpectomy, just wouldn’t have been easy to manage with the nearest facility three hours away.

I was right, it was me and the lady sitting beside me, all the others were allowed to leave, and we stayed, feeling awkward and nervous, dressed in our pretty robes waiting to find out what happens next. I had a vacuum assisted core biopsy, and after a long 11 day wait, which was due to the Tuesday clinic being cancelled for The Melbourne Cup holiday, I discovered I had DCIS grade 2 and 3 and they thought it was probably there, when I had the previous Mammogram in Melbourne, two years ago, but it wasn’t visible on the picture from the old analogue machine. The digital picture, shown next to the blurry analogue picture, was pristine and clear,

DID I MENTION WE DON’T SIT AROUND TALKING ABOUT BREAST CANCER? I was visited by our local McGrath Foundation Breast Care nurse, who offered a lot of information and she also passed on an invitation for me to attend the Christmas meeting of our local Breast Cancer support group, “The Pink Ladies of Paynesville”.

a speaker organised, which can be anything from a local photographer who takes exquisite photos of local plant life, insects and animals, or a solicitor updating us on important issues like power of attorney and wills, to even a local Police woman, or Ambulance officer. We also had a beauty day, with the product being supplied from the French cosmetic house Sothys, where I was able to use my previous background in the beauty industry, as I had done workshops for the different houses I’d worked for. We have also been fortunate to have Susan Cameron from Amoena attend some of our meetings to show the latest Amoena swimwear and garments and to inform us on breast forms and post-surgery bras.

I have to be honest, my first thought was that I was not going to make breast cancer a hobby, and I didn’t want to sit around talking about breast cancer. I considered it for a day, but I was new to this town, I thought the women would think I was a snob, if I didn’t go. I put on my big girl panties, took a plate of nibbles and turned up at the meeting. That was nearly six years ago, and when I relate this story to other newly diagnosed women, the vast majority of them tell me they all felt the same way. The idea of sitting around talking about breast cancer, just doesn’t appeal to them, so many have never ventured to a support group meeting, and many also tell me they were diagnosed a long time ago, but have never spoken to anyone outside their family about it. This group certainly doesn’t focus its attention on breast cancer that was just the catalyst that brought us together.

THIS GROUP CERTAINLY DOESN’T FOCUS ITS ATTENTION ON BREAST CANCER, THAT WAS JUST THE CATALYST THAT BROUGHT US TOGETHER.

Photo: Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

I was a week away from my surgery when I attended that first meeting, and I am so glad I did. It was a very small group back then, just about 8 women, who made me feel so welcome. I decided to continue to attend these monthly meetings, which were a great way to make friends and also a place where different speakers would attend, who brought all kinds of interesting subjects for us to learn about and discuss.

We began by taking a ‘gold’ coin donation to cover our costs for the tea and coffee, but we were approached by our local Paynesville Opp Shop who donated funds for us to be able to expand and to organise outings, which required hiring a bus. These funds also allow us to offer more support to our members during treatment by attending appointments with them, sending a gift or flowers to Hospital, or even a food package on their return. Along with raffles that we run for Mother’s Day and Christmas, and our donation from the Paynesville Opp Shop, we are able to do so much more with and for the group.

Within the first year, I was approached by the woman who had started the group, and had so graciously invited me to that Christmas meeting, asking if I would be willing to take over the running of the group, as she was going to be away for some time, and was facing some health issues. I was very flattered and interested to take it on. Our numbers had been growing and although we are in a small town, the residents are always involved in fund raisers, so I began speaking at fundraisers and morning teas, and kept finding more women, who had never attended a support group. With women being directed to us by our local McGrath Breast Care Nurse, and others by word of mouth, we now have around 38 members. We have a transient group, with many going North for winters and there is no pressure to attend, but we still have a core group of around 20 women who attend regularly.

Did I mention we don’t sit around talking about breast cancer? Well, that’s unless someone has a specific question, and I always say “We have hundreds of years of combined experience here, ask away!” It isn’t unusual to hear the thumpty-thump of breast forms on the table when someone asks about what we wear, or showing of scars to someone contemplating a mastectomy. I can’t recommend attending or even starting a support group highly enough, what’s the worst that can happen? You may not continue to go, but you may just find a great group of women, who “get it”, and who welcome you! Sure, it’s the club no one wants to ‘join’, but the upside is meeting and interacting with other women you may not have met otherwise, but you’ve been brought together by “the unlucky roll of the dice”.

The group meets at our local Community Centre on the first Friday of the month. We have coffee and catch up with each other, sometimes we have

NATURAL CALM AND COMFORT: 3 Easy Ways to Soothe Side Effects There are many natural ways to comfort your body during illness and cancer treatment. Some of them are so basic, we forget to use them — remedies like getting enough sleep, breathing deeply, and spending time outdoors. Nature provides us with other healing options, too. Here, we explore the potential benefits of ginger, essential oils and energy movement.

Resources: www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-961/ginger www.healthline.com

GINGER — EASE STOMACH DISCOMFORT

Flexibility and strength R educed stress and anxiety I mproved sleep patterns P ain relief from osteoarthritis

Many people swear by the belief – long practiced in Eastern medicine — that ginger can ease an upset stomach. Conclusive evidence by today’s clinical standards is difficult to find, but some research results do indicate that ginger, or Zingiber officinale, is more effective than placebo for reducing postoperative nausea.

AROMATHERAPY — FOR SLEEP, NAILS AND IMMUNITY “I wish I had known about essential oils when I was in treatment,” shares breast cancer survivor and wellness advocate Eden Lackey. “Thankfully, I found them post-treatment when I was taking debilitating medicines and dealing with side effects,” she says. Aromatherapy helped Lackey recover; now she is a representative for doTERRA, a global leader in producing essential oils.

WAYS TO USE GINGER M ake ginger tea. Boil 4 to 6 thin slices of washed, peeled, raw ginger in 2 cups (500 ml) of water, for 10 to 20 minutes. Add lime juice, honey or agave nectar to sweeten.

Essential oils are either inhaled or applied to the skin. Because they are highly concentrated, they are typically mixed and diluted with a carrier oil, like coconut or olive oil, or used in a diffuser.

G inger chews and supplements are easily found in most drugstores. Be sure to check with your doctor before adding any supplemental medicine to your daily routine; ginger is known to have some negative interactions with hypertension, diabetes and blood-clotting medicines.

SIDE EFFECTS SOLUTIONS “ Our proprietary blend for sleep includes lavender, marjoram, roman chamomile, ylang ylang, sandalwood and vanilla bean,” Lackey says. During her recovery, hot flushes and bone pain made sleep very difficult. This essential oil in a diffuser was a welcome relief.

C ook with ginger. Healthline.com says that ginger is “one of the very few ‘superfoods’ worthy of the term.” Add it to vegetable dishes, stir-fry, and soups for a fresh, spicy-and-sweet flavor.

C hemotherapy can weaken fingernails and toenails. Tea tree oil can be used on nails during treatment to help preserve them and assist in their growth and health.

Photos: Cherish Bryck; Pixel Stories; Nadine Greeff all from Stocksy

TAI CHI AND QIGONG — STRESS RELIEF In Chinese Taoist and some Buddhist philosophies, a natural “bioenergy” is thought to cause health and healing; disease occurs when it becomes blocked or weakened. Tai chi and qigong are martial arts based on manipulating this energy through gentle movement and intentional breath — a form of active meditation. They are called “natural” therapies for cancer’s side effects because they require neither medicine nor equipment and are available to everyone.

“Frankincense is the ‘king’ of all oils,” says Lackey. Try it for immune support or as antiinflammatory.

Editor’s note: Always do your research, and talk to your doctor before trying a new or alternative therapy. Even if it seems safe, your doctor should be aware of your intentions, especially if you are still in treatment.

ASK YOUR HEALTH PRACTITIONER Classes are often available in hospitals and cancer centers. Some possible benefits include: R educed heart rate and blood pressure I mproved posture Better balance

MEET VERA ORA:

How her diagnosis taught psychiatrist Vera Ora to focus on her emotional wellbeing

Doctor Becomes Patient

By Christina Relf

Vera Ora is a London GP who specialises in psychiatric health. A successful career woman, Vera is also in the public eye (with nearly 50,000 Instagram followers), famous in her own right and as the mother of superstar singer Rita Ora. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, aged just 39. In the mid-1990s Vera moved to the UK from Kosovo with her husband and young family - a significant turning point as she adjusted to a new way of life in a foreign country. With three small children to raise while trying to learn English so that she could qualify to practise as a GP in the UK, she believes now that the stress she was under at the time contributed to her diagnosis. “I had no lump and I didn’t feel ill,” she says, “but I did feel some kind of intuition about it. I went to my GP and asked for a mammogram, following which my fear turned to reality.”

LEARNING TO FEEL GOOD AGAIN AFTER MASTECTOMY

Vera’s was an aggressive form of breast cancer, and she was told she’d need a mastectomy, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. She did not find that being a doctor helped her cope with her illness any better: “I am grateful for the knowledge I had about breast cancer but this didn’t change how it felt for me,” she says. Rather than attend a support group, Vera preferred one-to-one psychological therapy: “Your emotional state is the key to your recovery,” she says. “I wasn’t ready to face other people and talk about my feelings and emotions, but the one-to-one therapy helped quite a bit. I think it is crucial to know your needs and seek the help that’s right for you.”

Feeling isolated and missing her family, Vera couldn’t wait to be discharged from hospital, but looking in the mirror was a step she didn’t feel ready to take for several weeks. “I felt my femininity had gone and didn’t feel like a woman. I had been pretty proud of my breasts before surgery, but it took me a while to start to feel comfortable and confident, and to be intimate with my partner again.” Like so many women, Vera was also not prepared

Being Brave As the Face of Amoena’s Melissa Odabash Collection 2019

for the side effects of chemotherapy. “The tiredness and the sickness are really crippling, but the most devastating thing for any woman is losing her hair. It’s what you wear every day. Thank God mine grew back after a few weeks, but it certainly did affect

Vera took on a new role as an Amoena ambassador and swimwear model for our Melissa Odabash Swimwear Collection for 2019.

me.” As a psychiatrist, she knew how important her mental health was in terms of her recovery, and she believes that studying to gain her GP qualifications in the UK gave her the focus she needed. “I had my

“

exams set up. Now I was committed passing them,

I’m not in the limelight myself, I’m a working medic,

and I was lucky that this took my mind off my illness

and my day to day job doesn’t involve having my hair

and gave me something to look forward to.”

and make up done. But I love this swimwear range by Melissa Odabash with Amoena for Future Dreams. I adore Melissa Odabash and I was so proud and

EMBRACE YOUR ‘NEW NORMAL’

„

pleased to be asked by Melissa and Future Dreams

because this cause is very close to my heart and very special to me. If I can help any woman who is going

through breast cancer treatment then I would feel that

Since her diagnosis, Vera understands about a ‘new

going through it myself would have a point to it.

normal.’ “Having breast cancer surgery and going

Vera Ora, age 53

through the treatment affected me as a woman, a mother and a wife, but I was determined to make

See the swimwear

positive changes. I’ve started to focus more on myself,

collection and Vera’s

to do the things I want to do. Passing my exams and

full interview at

getting a job with the NHS made me feel proud of

amoena.com.au

myself. I think breast cancer has made me a better doctor, too. I can relate to my patients, understand and empathise with other people much better now.” As well as eating well and taking time to exercise, relax, and enjoy family moments, Vera’s key body-confidence boosting tip is to “be happy. And remember you can reach out and get the support you need. But for women who are newly diagnosed, I’d say don’t rush into treatment decisions. Get all the information and support you need – there’s plenty out there, you just have to be aware and be proactive with it.”

WATER WORKS Fitness classes in the pool are nothing new; even your grandmother may have enjoyed water aerobics in the 1950s, when the trend began. But there are many more options today — dive in to see what’s new:

FLOATING FITNESS Fitness mats are floating up in aquatic centers lately — they are designed to float on the surface, challenging you to use core strength to stay balanced on top. Much like the principles of stand-up paddleboarding, floating fitness classes offer a full-body workout with a soft landing if you fall off! How it works: In a typical class, an instructor leads the class through different modalities including yoga, Pilates, and other moves to get your blood pumping.

AQUA ZUMBA® Across Europe, Aqua Zumba has quickly become a popular workout for women and men who want to maintain cardiovascular fitness but take it easy on their knees and ankles. Classes “blend the Zumba philosophy with water resistance, for one pool party you shouldn’t miss,” according to the Zumba website. What is the philosophy? “Exercise in disguise.”

AQUA CYCLING

How it works: Zumba’s signature world music sets the rhythm whilst the natural resistance of the water challenges you to “level-up” your workout.

How it works: While it is obviously challenging to pedal underwater, the buoyancy lessens the impact on your joints; meanwhile, your body temperature is regulated easily with a splash!

Always consult your doctor before beginning any fitness program.

Photo: kristall/Adobe Stock

If your pool or spa is equipped with underwater stationary bikes, you are in for quite a ride. Much like spinning classes, aqua cycling pairs coordinated speeds and routines with the low-impact of water resistance for an excellent workout of both the heart and the muscles.

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SWIM IN STYLE — the Amoena 2019 Swimwear Collection is featured online at amoena.com.au

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PERSE VER ANCE .

It only takes a little physical activity to do a world of good for your health. Moderate exercise, 10 to 15 minutes at a time, every day if you can. Shop active wear on amoena.com.au Melange Sports Top S, M, L, XL Melange Sports Capri S, M, L, XL

For more information, visit: Amoena Australia Pty Ltd. 107 Fergie Street Fitzroy North Vic 3068 amoena.com.au au.info@amoena.com