Rewrite Your Rules, Redefine Your Style

Cancer. A dreaded six-letter word no one wants to hear, let alone experience. It is the unpredictability lingering within the walls of that word alone that makes us not only think…but question our choices in the way in which we are living our lives. Approximately 9.5% of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point during their lives (as per a study conducted in between 2015–2017). In 2020, an estimated 16,850 children and adolescents ages 0 to 19 will be diagnosed with cancer and 1,730 will die of the disease. Terrifying, isn’t it? Imagine the world suddenly stops moving and everything around you comes to a nerve-wrecking halt. Imagine your ears suddenly closing in and your vision getting blurry, when in a hypothetical point of view, you get diagnosed with this disease. A disease that crawls onto you like a shadow creeping up on you in the dark. 

Cancer treatments take time. They can go on for an extended period of time. Months and sometimes years. When it comes to wardrobe choices and personal style, there are hats, bandanas, and wigs available for purchase but people with cancer have their preferences as well. Especially from a fashion point of view. It’s about comfort and practicality, but it’s also about feeling like a part of the truth you still remain. So, the question is…How can you redefine your wardrobe and styling choices? 

Comfort Clothing: wearing clothing and accessories that aid in giving comfort, style, and functionality can make a huge difference for one’s emotional and mental well-being. The initial stages might seem a bit difficult to comprehend the idea of how a piece of clothing can cause a mass ripple effect of sorts. As per recent study, the impact of hospital gowns on patients’ emotional status is often overlooked, despite the image that clothing items in general can have an impact on identity and expression.  

Focus on shirts that enhance your silhouette. One can even merge this with some of your go-to hats that can still make their appearance more elegant and gentler. Even adding on a pair of leggings and elastic-waist shorts over for comfort around the abdominal region is also a good choice. 

Camisoles are flexible and add a great amount of comfort which makes it so much easier to put on as well as adding good support for the back. 

If you’re a patient undergoing an external beam radiotherapy, it is advised to wear clothes that provide comfort, support and are made of soft fabric such as cotton or bamboo. Choose clothes that are easy to wear and take-off. It is also advised to not wear jewellery, put on talcum powder, body lotion, or deodorant in or near your treatment area, to be on the safer side. One may find it more benefitting if they wear loose fitting clothes and avoid tight collars and ties if they’ve had radiotherapy on the neck. It is also advised to not wear shoulder or bra-straps as going without bras helps, which can be replaced with a simple, cute and elegant crop-top. 

People with cancer tend to lose weight rapidly. It can be pricey to keep on buying new bottoms each time the waist size drops. It is recommended to find trousers with drawstrings that can be tightened during the weight-loss period, or a comfortable belt that helps in balancing the size of the bottoms. If wearing a belt is too uncomfortable and restrictive, although a little old-fashioned, suspenders/braces can help take pressure off the waist.