Sometimes out of the blue life bites you on the ass.
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer on December 1st 2016 I never thought in a million years it would happen to me.
But it did, and it happens to more people than I care to think about.
A life threatening illness makes you think about your mortality, what you have to lose and the thought that you may be leaving behind people that you love and that love you. It’s scary shit.
I guess you have two options.
I chose to fight and get on with life, just in case I didn’t have long left. Yes of course I had my down days, but thankfully they were few and far between. As well as my incredible family and friends, it was my work and our amazing customers that literally kept me sane.
They would laugh at me when I was high on steroids and talking nineteen to the dozen and sympathise with my bald head, telling me how lovely I looked and how I had a nice shaped head. These conversations and kind comments, kept me going, made me laugh and more importantly helped me to get through each day.
You guys know who you are and I am eternally grateful for the kindness and compassion you showed me.
We have a photography studio.., so it kind of made sense to document the hair loss process, even though I’ll be honest I wasn’t exactly excited about having them done and I haven’t actually felt ready to share these photos until now.
These are some of the photos, skin head......., I tried to take control by having my hair cut short early on, thank you to my lovely friend Helen Williams for helping me with this.
When the time came and my hair started to fall our it was time to brave the shave!
Thank you to Lee at Bavetta Jones Barbers in Stockwood, for shaving a weeping, wailing woman's head in the calmest, nicest possible way he could.
Now looking back it’s like it happened to someone else.
One thing I will say is be careful what you wish for. I hoped and prayed my hair would come back curly “oh wouldn’t it be lovely to have curly hair’” “I’ve always wanted curly hair you can do so much with it” “curly hair is just lovely”
Well I got my wish.., I now have curly hair…, and I can’t do a thing with it lol!! Of course I’m grateful to have hair again but I’m kind of wishing I prayed for straight hair now.
Breast cancer can happen to anyone, any age, either sex. It doesn’t discriminate.
It is more important now than ever before to regularly check yourself, breast cancer is everywhere and no one seems to know what causes it, believe me I wish I did.
There is a link below to the Macmillan website that has loads of information and shows you how to check and when to check.
Do it, check now and then next month and every month, check again.
If I hadn’t checked when I did, I am absolute certain this would be a very different blog.
New project for 2018
Women that are affected by breast cancer can suffer severe emotional and confidence issues, especially after active treatment has finished.
So here’s where I come in.
I want to offer my time free of charge to provide make-over photography sessions for at least 2 women per month who have suffered or who are suffering from breast cancer.
The session would normally cost £99 but I am going to waive the fee and all prints and products will be half price.
I want to empower these women, to prove to them they are still beautiful, that they can get their life back, not to be who they once were because that woman is gone, but to be better, stronger and more confident.
In addition to this we will donate 5% from every sale to Breast Cancer Care.
We all know life is short, our legacy is what we leave behind, our children, our families and memories. I can help give you those memories for your family and children, memories that cannot be erased, memories that will last their lifetime and beyond.
If you have had, or you know someone that has suffered from breast cancer and would like a make-over shoot, contact us on eyeconic@live.co.uk outlining your story and we will be in touch.
Thank you for reading, we would like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a wonderfully happy and healthy 2018.
Sarah
Eyeconic Photography
01275 837575
Photo credit: Tim Lidbury
Make up: Teresa James