The M Store Cape Town - Mastectomy Products

29/03/2021

News anchor Robin Roberts beat breast cancer in 2007. She was diagnosed after detecting a lump during a self examination.

24/03/2021

Vulnerability - Halfway done by Adera Kachienga

I am halfway done with my chemotherapy treatment but I feel like I have just started.

Nothing can truly prepare you for the exhaustion fatigue, both mentally and physically, that come along with chemotherapy.

My body is weak and tired. My mind overwhelmed with the overthinking of everything going on around me.

I am vulnerable enough to say that I am exhausted and it is bloody difficult for me.

Being vulnerable is my first step to bravery.

My mind, body, soul and spirit are exhausted. The collective, is exhausted, and with that is the realisation that it's necessary to take time to rest, recover and reset.

22/03/2021

Julia Louis-Dreyfus was diagnosed with Stage 2 Breast Cancer in 2017.

17/03/2021

I am grateful for my second chance at this beautiful unpredictable thing called life by Adera Kachienga

Being diagnosed with breast cancer came with the realisation that at some point you have to let go of what you thought should happen and live in what is happening.

I continue to take things day by day and as I recover both mentally and physically, I have decided to let go and be the most authentic version of myself

I am going into my 3rd chemo treatment. What started out as suffering, pain and discomfort changed me to gain strength, hope and excitement for the future. I am beyond grateful.

16/03/2021

“I suggest a good hearty breakfast before chemo. It helps the body to deal with the strong medicine. Also, it can be a long day, and you might not feel like eating afterwards”

from Male Breast Cancer Survivor, Steve Kelly

Want to send us a tip? Leave a comment or Email social@themstore.co.za

11/03/2021

Is there a life after Cancer? By Adera Kachienga

A lot of people think that once you have finished your treatment plan, everything just goes away and goes back to normal. But... It doesn't.

Like all of us that’s been diagnosed, I go to bed and wake-up everyday thinking about cancer. I continuously worry about a reoccurrence. I admit I am getting better at it but it's going to take me some time.

I sincerely wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy but Cancer has taught me so much. It's taught me friends, family and partners come and go. My fellow survivors are a part of my new family. It’s so important to get that kind of support.

I was searching for the old me but the new me is the best version of me. So out with the old and cheers and happiness to the new Adera 🥂

08/03/2021

In 2011, Entertainment News Reporter, Giuliana Rancic, was diagnosed with Breast Cancer at the age of 36.
At the time she felt her “life was over”. That was far from the truth.

03/03/2021

PTSD - Emotional and Physical Triggers of Breast Cancer by Adera Kachienga

I ask myself everyday how am I supposed to overcome the unending unwavering waves of grief when everytime I look into the mirror my body is the trigger?

When I look in the mirror before I shower or when am changing, I see a collection of scars. Scars that constantly remind what I had to forgo/lose in order to survive.

My breast area has become a shrine of both my enduring pain and survival.

26/02/2021

This week Adera Kachienga is telling us: “It's ok to feel”

It's ok to feel and acknowledge the exhaustion, anger, scanxiety, frustration, pain, fear and all the other feelings that come with a breast cancer diagnosis.

Being diagnosed with breast cancer has taught me how to exist in the 'duality and complexities of emotions'

What you are feeling today is okay and valid. That’s what truly matters.

24/02/2021

Guilt, Resentment and a tiny little bit of jealousy by Babette Labuschagne

When speaking about emotions during diagnosis and treatment most people would think... shock, sadness, denial, fear and grief. Bravery, strength, determination might be some of the happier emotions.

Along with all those that would seem normal, come guilt and resentment. Maybe even jealousy. Why?

I have felt a lot of guilt, especially at the beginning.
I’ve felt guilty that I am only stage 1 when there are stage 4 warriors sitting next to me in chemo. I’ve felt guilt because I am stronger than the 70 year old in the corner. I’ve felt guilt because my side effects weren’t as bad. I’ve felt guilt because I get to live after this when someone else has died.

In the same breath I’ve felt resentment and jealousy when I hear of someone that only needed surgery and didn’t have to experience chemo. I’ve felt hurt when I hear that someone had better treatment options than I had. I have a friend that deleted social media because while you were exercising and posting your fit strong body, she was sitting on the shower floor.

“Why did I have to get chemo and you don’t?”

“Why did I have to lose my hair and you don’t?”

“Why do I have to remove my breasts and you don’t?”

Ultimately it just boils down to “Why did this happen to me?”

It actually doesn’t even have anything to do with you.

I do realise it’s totally unreasonable but let me tell you, it’s human nature. It’s normal to feel all of these. It’s ok to feel a little sorry for ourselves at times. It’s unfair. It’s ok to think it’s unfair. Experiencing frustration and disappointment is a normal part of life.

In a heart beat I would’ve changed places with someone who only needed surgery, but it’s important to know that there is someone else who would’ve preferred your experience too.

22/02/2021

Cynthia Nixon’s doctor said that he wouldn’t have thought anything about the cancer on her mammogram because it was so small, except it wasn’t there on any of her previous mammograms. She started getting mammograms at the age of 35 because her mother was diagnosed twice.

19/02/2021

Breast Cancer Doesn’t Care That I’m Young by Adera Kachienga

Being diagnosed with breast cancer so young was a real shock in itself. “Why me? What have I done to deserve this?” As most women diagnosed in their 20's and 30s, I was in complete and utter shock and disbelief.

Cancer does not discriminate. All of the health care professionals who examined my lump on my left breast verified that I was lucky to have found it as early as I did.
As a young woman, my breast tissue is dense, which means it wouldn’t have been easy to locate and distinguish.

Nothing at that moment allayed or put my fears at bay, because all of a sudden, I was faced/confronted with the reality that my future isn’t a guarantee. I held the belief that to live a life, a long and fulfilled one, you have a certain number of years to live.
You go to school, start a career, create goals, set expectations, fall in love....

When you get diagnosed with a life-threatening illness such as cancer, you’re forced to face the devastating and grime reality that you may not have as much time as you thought. All of your plans and priorities change and you realize that in actual fact breast cancer does not care that I am young.

So from today, I am doing what I want. I am living my life to the fullest. We only get one, and we don’t know when it’ll end.

18/02/2021

With Valentine’s Day the weekend, I’ve decided to share my fear of having a relationship after cancer, by Babette Labuschagne

I’ve been labelled high risk dating material...

I have a total of 10 scars from my neck down to under my breasts...

I am advised not to carry a baby...

I have felt how it is to lose all femininity.

It’s scary to face reality and realise that having had breast cancer might be too much for some people to handle. I’ve seen breast cancer ruin relationships. It’s a sad truth that many women face.
But I’ve also seen relationships thrive. I’ve seen husbands loving their wives and fighting with them every step of the way.

It’s important to realise that although breast cancer changed me, I am still the same. We are all still lovable, maybe a little bit kinder, more compassionate with a stronger urge to live.

Someone else might have had a messy childhood or might have been in a horrific accident. People are scarred.

We all come with different experiences and stories. Having had breast cancer is only one chapter. It’s not the whole book.

11/02/2021

Our Beautiful Brand Ambassador Adera Kachienga is struggling with some Chemotherapy Side Effects.
Which side effects did you experience and how did you manage these discomforts?

Read her experience below.

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Chemo and I - The Love & Hate Relationship by Adera Kachienga

The necessary devil that is Chemo... without it I feel that I might be at deaths door.

While very effective against fast growing cancer cells, chemotherapy also effects healthy cells, and it’s that damage that can cause side effects.

I am writing this, as I lie in my bed with a black tongue, black nail beds and an unwavering face rash. Extremely dry skin and scalp...
Enduring side effects because chemotherapy is saving my life.

I am facing the reality of my upcoming 3rd out of 6cycle rounds of chemo. Coming up in the next 3 weeks.

It feels like I am floating, going ahead with the current, the weightless trauma of chemo drugs, blood test, IV drugs and unsolicited naps that eventually wash me downstream... and then wash me up again.

Chemo: The necessary evil I have accepted. I have accepted that I need this, to live a full life.

11/01/2021

12/11/2020

Why it’s not a b**b job... by Babette Labuschagne

As breast cancer patients, one of the most hated comments we get, is “At least you’re getting a free b**b job”

We don’t like it, because it’s not. Not at all.

You might mean this in a nice way or you might confuse breast augmentation with breast reconstruction.

What is breast augmentation?

Breast augmentation is the “b**b job”. It is used to increase the size of your breasts if you are unhappy with the size or want a more voluptuous look.

What is breast reconstruction?

Breast reconstruction is the reconstruction of the breasts when you had a surgery to remove them. This is related to cancer patients or women with a high risk to get breast cancer.

Breast reconstruction can take months, recovery time is longer and the psychological effects of losing a breast can be significant because we associate our breasts with femininity, sexiness, attractiveness etc.

Breast removal surgery can vary from a lumpectomy where they only take a piece of the breast where the cancer is, or the removal of one breast or both. This is called a mastectomy. Some woman can keep their skin and ni***es while others have to remove them.

You get different types of reconstruction and surgery. Some use their own body tissue while others use implants. Some women prefer to go aesthetically flat.

I can only speak about my own experience.

I was terrified. I mourned my breasts for months. I felt insecure. I’ve felt regret, anger, sadness... I’ve wondered how I am going to feel in my new body, and then the surgery came...

I was nervous, sad but also excited.

The night before I made a plaster cast of my breasts...

I did not lose my breasts that day. I gave them away. I gave them so that I will be able to receive. To get to live. To get a better chance on survival. I did not lose my breasts. I gained life.

I chose to do a delayed-immediate reconstruction. Tissue expanders were placed under my muscles when I got a skin (including ni**le) sparing bilateral (both) mastectomy. Over the next couple of months we are going to stretch my muscle and skin by filling the expanders with saline. We will then replace the expanders with implants. After a couple of more months we will do fat grafting. This means that they will do a bit of liposuction and then place the fat in my breasts to smooth out lines for a more natural look. (As a kid I remember how I told my mom I would love to take the fat from my stomach and move it to my b**bs. I guess dreams do come true...) Apparently Medical aid pays for up to three fat grafts. So all in all, this will be 5 surgeries, if they don’t need to do a revision surgery.

When I woke up I didn’t have breasts. I knew I wasn’t going to have them, but nothing can prepare you from looking down and seeing nothing but scars and loose skin.

I cried the whole first week of recovery. I couldn’t move, and my chest felt heavy and it burnt like hell.

Slowly but surely it started getting better. I was looking forward to my first fill.

I was trying to reduce some of the swelling under my arms. I placed a warm bag on the side of my breast... I burnt myself. “How on earth?” “Didn’t you feel the bag was too hot?”

Well No... I didn’t. You know why?

Because I didn’t have a b**b job, I had reconstruction and some of my nerves are damaged. I don’t have feeling in parts of my breasts.
I dont know if it will recover... some people do some people don’t.

I had to postpone my fill.

My experience with reconstruction only started now... and I am sure I will encounter more obstacles in the road ahead.

But I do know this...

It’s not just a “b**b job”. Please stop saying that.

04/11/2020

The first thought I had when I heard the word Chemo was that my hair was going to fall out by Babette Labuschagne

I had long flowy beautiful dark hair. I loved my hair. I linked my hair to my femininity and sexuality.

I’ve had comments from people “It’s your hair that makes you sexy”

Luckily?...last year a friend of mine was curling my hair, we were both absent-minded and we burnt it. I had to cut it into a Bob.

And then... chemo.

They say some people are lucky enough to keep their hair... but every doctor I asked confirmed that my hair will fall out.

So I cut it two days after my diagnosis. Pixie style.
I went for my port, more tests and fertility treatment.

The day before chemo I cut it even shorter.

14 days after my first chemo, my hair started falling out. It wasn’t in clumps like I thought it would be. It was tiny fine hairs that fell out.

It felt like I was controlling it.

We made a video of me grabbing the trimmer and cutting it into a number 2.

Then my scalp started burning... I went to Dischem, bought a men’s razor or two, three blade... and some shaving gel (aloe)... I shaved it all off.

Bald. I was bald. But it wasn’t as bad as I expected.

It was in the middle of winter. When I touched my head it felt like little ice blocks. My friend’s mother in law knitted me some beanies.

And that’s what I wore. That... and I have 5 wigs.

My favorite wig is a grey purple over the top, very long and fabulous piece I got at Mike & Liz Hairpieces in JHB. If you have the chance why not, right? I’ve always loved wigs.

I wasn’t ashamed of my baldness.
The funny thing is that sometimes I felt judged by other fighters because I didn’t wear my baldness loud and proud all the time...

“Oh, she’s a “wig girl”...”
Why can’t I be both?

There were times I didn’t mind going to the shops without it... sometimes I didn’t want to be stared at.

When kids stare, I was told to tell them “It’s because I didn’t eat my vegetables” I loved that.

I still had my eyebrows and lashes.

Then I started Taxol.

I’ve never had problems with my eyebrows. I had beautiful long ashes.
My favorite make up item was mascara.

After my first taxol it was as if my eyebrows just broke off... gone.

My lashes became patchy and then... gone.

But my hair started growing back. Grey...

This was the worst part for me. Through all the chemo, the fertility treatments, the bald head. The worst was looking at myself in the mirror without hair, lashes and eyebrows.

I didn’t recognize myself at all. I still struggle with that.

Hair, eyebrows and lashes. The most “superficial” thing of this experience became utterly terrifying. It’s not superficial. It forms part of our identity.

It’s how we portray ourselves.

I had to realize that hair is not what makes us women. Being a woman is something in your soul. Being a woman is how you communicate and ultimately how you love and accept love.

Even though your hair is a part of you. It doesn’t define you.

But it still sucks...

30/10/2020

Confession!!!

I didn’t believe you when you told me I was strong... by Babette Labuschagne

Me? I cried every night... was close to giving up... told some close friends I might not do this again if it returns... felt sorry for myself...

Strong?
I felt weak. Vulnerable. Mortal.

It made me feel like I had an obligation to be strong... when I wasn’t.

I didn’t believe you. And just said thank you.

But I do now. I believe you now.

Looking back at the events of the past 6 months. I’ve come to realize that I was strong even in my vulnerable moments. In my weak moments I was stronger than ever because I didn’t give up even though it felt like I wanted to.

Strong doesn’t mean a smile, a silly joke and rubbing off the fact that you have cancer and just going on with life. That’s not being strong! That’s not being brave...

Being strong is the smile after the cry, the silly joke after you picked yourself up... the going on with your life after you had realized you might die... that’s being strong. That’s being brave.

So Today I want to say thank you, for believing I was strong when I didn’t believe it myself.

I wish I could name every single one of you but my list will be endless.

I do however want to highlight a few people without whom I wouldn’t have been strong...

My family
My friends
Who will each receive individual messages.

My team of doctors and nurses. And all of their assistants. You saved my life.

Specialist Breast Surgeon: Dr Lucienne van Schalkwyk
and Catherine

Curo Oncology
Dr Rouchelle Marais
Dr Amy Nel
Sr Melanie Hare
And team.

Plastic Surgeon:
Dr Dirk Maree
and Anita

The support from the breast cancer community:

The M Store for sharing my passion and giving me a platform to help other women like me. For Giving me the confidence to use my voice and trusting my story.

Breast Cancer Support Pretoria
We Love B***s
Filotimo Cancer Project and all the cancer champs (the most dangerous club in the world and my breasties)
For believing in me, and showering me with love and support.

It really takes a whole damn army to beat cancer.

But we did it! Thank you!