My Cancer Essentials — from discovery to recovery and beyond
THE idea for the store was sparked during a conversation about an ugly nightgown. Cherane Heron didn’t know what to take to the hospital for cancer treatment and a friend had brought a bag of essentials, to include an unattractive button-down “nightie” that she cringed at the thought of wearing. After going through the journey — from diagnosis to chemo and surgery — Heron realised there were things that could have made her journey easier, and so My Cancer Essentials was born.
“When I was going through it I didn’t have the drain pouch holder to put my drains in so it was taped up on my body, and it was very, very uncomfortable for me. Driving to my appointments, I didn’t have [the right] clothes to wear [so] I had a friend make some button-front dresses for me. Going to the doctor I needed the seatbelt [breast and chest buddy seatbelt cushion] to protect me; the pillows were very uncomfortable… just not knowing how to transport myself back and forth. And now after all of this, after going through the journey, I started researching and realised these products could have helped me, and the thought came to me that this was an opportunity,” Heron told All Woman.
She said her research led her to a range of products for cancer care, and products to make you comfortable — from drain pouch holders to comfortable chemo wear, cap wigs, breast and chest buddy seatbelt cushions, vitamin-infused clean make-up, journals, cards, colouring books, light prostheses, mastectomy bras, recovery tops, recovery wear, shower shirts, and even hygiene products and jewellery for men, women and children — all available at the Village Plaza, St Andrew, store.
The colours chosen for the décor represent, also, the various cancers — brain, breast, colon, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, skin, childhood cancer, as well as leukaemia, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
The first of its kind locally, the store’s doors opened in April this year under the tagline, “From discovery to recovery and beyond”, and Heron, a property manager, said the response from the public has been encouraging. Offering the softer side to cancer care, those recently diagnosed, in recovery, and their friends and family, can stock up on essentials to make the journey more comfortable so that they can go through the cancer walk with style and dignity.
An oncology-trained aesthetician is on call for facials, massages and other services and the ambience effuses soft, cosy, welcoming and comforting — unlike the sterile, uncomfortable atmosphere that usually revolves around the topic of cancer.
Having now finished treatment, Heron, who found her lump and sprinted into treatment in March 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic, said her store caters to every type of cancer patient.
“The store is specially designed for someone who is going through this illness so when you walk in — from the fragrance in the store to the lighting, to the products, to our chill spot — once you come here it’s a different experience,” she said.
