On the occasion of International Breast Cancer Day, we interviewed Ana García, known as Ana García. Ana BBeauty . 34-year-old blogger, fashion and cosmetics lover. She defines herself as a real woman, a body positive advocate, who speaks openly about her experience with breast cancer.
As one of the #s you use on instagram nicely sums up, you are a #cancerdemamasurvivor, a fairly common disease, in fact, according to the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC), last year it was diagnosed as one of the most common diseases in Spain.The number of new cases in Spain was around 33,307. Specifically, how did you feel when you found out you had cancer?
At that moment what you feel is confusion and uncertainty. The doctors give you so much information and details of the tests you have to undergo and the treatments that are to come... It's like a jumble of things you know you'll have to do and when they give you the news you try to focus on that. To get it all right. While you're trying to take in all that information, all you can think about is: "get this out of my body".
I have to say, I took the news well. There are many types of breast cancer and my cancer was stage one. I was lucky because they caught it very early. Early detection is very important.
What did you know about breast cancer until then?
Well, what I knew about the disease was from my grandmother. She had one breast less and had a prosthesis all her life, she was operated on and given hormone treatment, she did not undergo radiotherapy or chemotherapy as I did. I only had that close reference and I had heard about cancer thanks to the activities organised by the (AECC) in Cortegana, Huelva, my village.
In the last 30 years, the number of people overcoming the disease has increased by 90%. Medicine is making more and more progress in reducing the side effects of treatments. In fact, we all think of hair loss and general discomfort, but each patient may react differently. In your case, were there any effects that you did not expect and that you would have liked to have explained to you?
You feel very lost when it comes to beauty and cosmetic treatments. I don't know which cream I should use, which cream will suit me best and will be good for my skin, especially after the radio. There is a big gap when it comes to beauty care. That's why I decided to make a video on my channel of Youtube on this topic. You have a lot of questions, for example: if you lose a nail, what to do; if your hair starts to fall out, how to take care of your scalp...
I think it would be very good to have a kind of oncological beauty guide.
For people who like to take care of themselves, there is no specific information and it would be very good if some entity or laboratory could do some research on this subject. In short, I think it would be very good to have a kind of oncological beauty guide.
What questions about cosmetics did you have?
When it came to cosmetics, I was worried about which ingredients could harm me without knowing it. I was also worried about the appearance of spots on my skin, especially during hormone treatment.
On the other hand, no one explains to you that your body changes and can affect your intimate relationships.
I started the radio before the chemo and that reduced my defences. As I was weaker, I got a big burn on my skin and I had a really bad time. It hurt a lot and I didn't even know how to dress and at that time I discovered a brand of underwear, anita.comwhich has a specific line for breast cancer patients.
On the other hand, no one explains to you that your body changes and can affect your intimate relationships. You may feel drier, and the fact that you have known about the intimate gel from Soivre Cosmetics and the vaginal oil helped me to feel good.
What was the most important thing for you during the process of fighting cancer?
There were many things, but above all I learned to normalise the disease. In addition, I have changed my way of life. I have always been very fast-paced. When something didn't depend on you and you lost control, it stressed me out, both at work and in social networks. I took too much responsibility for everything. Now I don't. Now I choose my leisure time, I'm more relaxed, I'm more spontaneous and I also dare to make last-minute plans, before I was more forward-thinking.
It has been very important for me to see myself reflected in other patients.
I would also like to add that it has been very important for me to see myself reflected in other patients and the support I have received from my environment. They have supported me in a positive way, they have never treated me with pity, they have always shown me that they were proud of me.
Did you discover something about yourself that surprised you?
Yes, I discovered that I was super strong and I thought I wasn't. I always complained about a lot of things. I have always complained about many things and when it comes to health I have been very whiny and it was the worst when I was ill. I have always been a terrible patient. I have not allowed myself to take care of myself as I deserved and when you have breast cancer it is time to pamper yourself. I realised that I could do it and that I had to do it.
Living with the disease is not easy, but for patients who have just been diagnosed, what advice would you give them, from your own experience?
I would tell them, always bearing in mind that each case is different, to try to be positive and not to rush into things and that each treatment has its own processes. And above all, to be very selfish. Yes, yes, selfish. That they take care of themselves as much as possible, that they focus on themselves. If they focus on others, it will be more difficult for them to focus on themselves. Pamper themselves.
Can you tell us any funny anecdotes during the recovery process?
When I came out of the operating theatre they took me to the waking room. And as soon as I opened my eyes, I touched my chest and said to myself: "this is out of my body now". I cried with emotion.
At that moment a nurse came and asked me: "Why are you crying?" and I answered that I was crying from happiness and when I dried my tears the boy said to me: "Oh, how beautiful you are! And I replied that I looked my worst and we both burst out laughing.
