Breast cancer is not something that happens to you, but to other people.
At least that was more or less what Tanya Louise was thinking as she didn’t have big breasts. So it just didn’t concern her. Until she found a lump.
Tanya didn’t just have to face breast cancer once, but twice.
She survived it. Twice.
Along the way she had to undergo excruciating treatment that made her hair fall out, she had a double mastectomy and reconstruction, her skin became dry, and she gained weight. At some point she stopped feeling like herself.
Yet, she didn’t lose hope. Her spirit wasn’t crushed.
Perhaps because a nurse told her up front when she mentioned a bad story about breast cancer, “That’s her story. Not yours.”
You have to stay positive. And if Tanya Louise can do so, then we can, too. Most of us have something to be grateful for, even if we’re undergoing a challenge (or ten) at present.
We’ve interviewed Tanya to learn from her journey and inspire other Queens to go on, even when the going gets tough—there’s gold when you overcome the challenges you face.
Facing breast cancer and chemo, not to mention surgery, twice and on top of it having to go through a divorce must have been a grueling journey, and yet Tanya made it through and is with us here today!
Most people are aware that people undergoing chemotherapy lose their hair. Perhaps, what they don’t realize is that it’s not just the hair on their head, but all hair, including their eyelashes and eyebrows. And it doesn’t stop there.
Women who undergo chemo face lots of other challenges, too.
As Tanya Louise says, “I lost my hair and my confidence. Not to mention the drying and aging effect the chemotherapy had on my skin. [..] I felt ill, old, bald, bloated from steroids, and unattractive.”
On top of it, her husband decided to leave her.
And then the cancer came back some time later.
Imagine waking up and feeling older than your years—your skin and body has aged from chemo and other treatments—yet you need to stay positive and continue to face the battle to win the war.
It’s Chemo Warriors like Tanya Louise that inspire the rest of us to go on, no matter what challenges we’re facing.
For most people, having to have a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery would be hard.
Tanya Louise faced this, as well as needing more surgery due to the cancer coming back and the breasts ending up lopsided and needing reconstruction.
Yet, this isn’t what got to her the most. “Losing my hair was terrible for me. I've always had long hair—ever since I was a child. I felt I'd lost my femininity and identity. I [also] hate the weight gain from medication. When I look in the mirror it's not me I see anymore.”
This is one of the reasons why at Prime Prometics we are so passionate about offering products that promote hair growth and are gentle on the skin and hair follicles. The last thing your body needs after undergoing chemo is harsh chemicals.
Survivors and Queens who face life head on every day are what inspires us and why we make the products we do. In turn, we hope our products inspire you.
Tanya has slowly started to come back to herself and is embracing her beauty again—finding her femininity and herself.
She’s been using Prime Prometics’ products for a little while now and, if you ask us, she’s looking beautiful.
“[I like] that [Prime Prometics]” is aimed at and cares about cancer survivors. [The products have been] researched. I feel like [you] know which areas to target.”
Tanya has been trying different Prime products and found her two favorites!
“I have been using the Cleanser, PrimeLash Serum, Mascara, Eyeliner, and PrimeWand Pigment. [...] My favorite two products, which I use daily, are the eyeliner and pigment wand. The eyeliner is easy to apply and glides on, making it easy to create a winged effect. It is also lasting. The pigment, again, is easy to use and handy to use as eye color, blush or lipstick. It has a soft glowy effect and feels moisturizing, particularly when used as a lipstick.”
Gentle, every day cleanser that deeply hydrates.
Helps stimulate better eyelash growth with four types of peptides.
Serum-base mascara to support sparse, thinning lashes, keeping them supple & glossy.
Add back the blooming glow of radiant health. Your flush of happiness, even when you’re down.
Gentle, every day cleanser that deeply hydrates.
Helps stimulate better eyelash growth with four types of peptides.
Serum-base mascara to support sparse, thinning lashes, keeping them supple & glossy.
Add back the blooming glow of radiant health. Your flush of happiness, even when you’re down.
One of the reasons we make our makeup so smooth is because as we age, or if we undergo chemo, our skin loses some of its elasticity and wrinkles are formed.
When applying makeup, you shouldn’t “get stuck.” It should be easy to apply make-up no matter your skin type. Make-up is there to make you feel good, not to make you frustrated!
And the moisturizing effect? It’s a given, isn’t it? Whatever you put on your skin should help moisturize it, not dehydrate it! Sadly, not all make-up brands agree.
We are inspired by the Silver Queens and Chemo Warriors who form part of our community.
The products are made for them and that’s why we are so happy when we get feedback like this from someone like Tanya Louise. If someone as amazing as her likes our products, then we’ve gotten something right!
Beyond whatever we've all been through, we are women. And we deserve to feel like women, too. That’s why we love what we do with Prime.
We all face challenges, and we only become stronger if we learn from those who have walked before us. This is what Tanya Louise has to say to other women facing cancer.
“Try [to] stay positive.We all hear the bad news stories, but as a nurse said to me when I was first diagnosed, “That's not your story—that's hers.” Everybody is different. Talk to people. I would especially recommend visiting Maggie's if your hospital has one.”
Those are words spoken by a true Queen. If Tanya Louise can stay positive, so can you. She’s beaten cancer twice and is now a radiant beacon of hope for others.
We are grateful for Tanya sharing her story and her reminder for us all to embrace the positive. It’s stories like this that make us all go on, believe, and conquer!
For all general inquiries, please contact us at info@primeprometics.com
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