I was contacted by Jackie Clark from the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance asking me if she could write a guest post here at Pretty Random. Being someone whose life was changed forever by cancer, I agreed with no hesitation. My mother was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 1982, the same year that I was born. She made the difficult choice to forego cancer treatment in favour of giving me a chance at life. She underwent painful injections and treatments for the six month duration of her pregnancy and I was born thirteen weeks premature. Sadly, my mother passed in September 1983, but each day I wake up was a gift from her that she suffered greatly to give to me.

It’s safe to say that some form of cancer has touched all of our lives, and I think it’s wonderful how Jackie is doing her best to raise awareness for mesothelioma – this is not a form of cancer that we often hear about. I hope you enjoy her post.

Beautiful Cancer

By: Jackie Clark

Beauty is what is on the inside; even if some women think that this is just something less attractive women say to make themselves feel better. It is the truth. A beautiful woman with an ugly attitude or personality is automatically less attractive from the moment she speaks. A woman who is maybe not quite as perfect and beautiful on the outside but has a happy smile and a sparkling personality is going to be the most attractive woman in the room, no matter if the room is full of supermodels.

All cancer, including mesothelioma, is detrimental to your confidence, which can make you feel less attractive and gross. Fortunately, it’s all in your imagination. As long as your personality shines, the rest of you will follow. Now, undergoing treatment for cancer does take a physical toll on your body and your personality, which is why sometimes a new outfit or new makeup can make all the difference.

It is true that beauty comes from within; your confidence is what makes you attractive so keep this in mind – you are a survivor. You are fighting cancer and so far you are winning. If that doesn’t give you enough confidence to be the most beautiful woman on earth, it should. Now, it isn’t uncommon for cancer patients undergoing treatment to feel less than confident and less than gorgeous, but you can change that.

Surrounding yourself with beautiful things can help you feel more beautiful yourself. Next time you feel unattractive or ugly, put on a beautiful dress or your favorite pair of shoes. The power these inanimate objects have is amazing; putting on your favorite designer heels can make you feel instantly more glamorous, which will improve your mood and you will feel your confidence level rising quickly.

If you can’t go anywhere during your treatments but want to feel more confident and beautiful, put on some makeup. Even though you are naturally beautiful, it is no secret that putting on makeup will make you feel better about yourself so go right ahead. Playing up your best features will make you even more gorgeous so if you have lovely lips, try a deep red lip color. If long, lush lashes frame your big blue eyes, add a pop of color with mascara and a little shimmer at the corner of your eyes to make them appear bigger and bluer. Truth be told, makeup and clothes are not what make you beautiful. Your confidence and personality are the key to your beauty, but sometimes you need a little help to make yourself feel more beautiful, which is where shoes and clothes and makeup are beneficial.

Thank you Jackie for a wonderful post. It’s heartbreaking to think of the emotional and physical tolls that cancer treatments take on those going through that stressful ordeal. We beauty bloggers write about beauty because we feel that beautiful things enrich our lives and make us happier, and for a cancer patient that more than likely goes double.

If you’re reading this and are going through treatment, or you know someone who is, please don’t forget to remind them how amazing and beautiful they are every single day.

Jackie Clark joined the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance in 2009 as research assistant after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in fitness and nutrition. Jackie’s experience in technical and medical research has allowed her to assist in the development of medical content and outreach efforts, with specializations in alternative care, cancer support programs, and social media campaigns.

Read more: http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/jackie/bio.htm