Cancer occurs when abnormal cells (or, cancer cells) grow rapidly, forming a tumor. Generally, wherever this tumor resides is what will be the “type” of cancer we’re diagnosed with. According to the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer accounts for more deaths amongst women than any other form of female reproductive cancer and a woman’s chance of developing cancer on her ovaries within her lifetime is roughly 1 in 78.

Luckily, the American Cancer Society has noted that the rate of ovarian cancer cases has been declining over the last 20 years. However, they still estimate that there could be as many as 21,750 cases of ovarian cancer in the United States in 2020.

According to the CDC, all females are at risk for developing ovarian cancer, however, they say that it generally affects older women, meaning our risk goes up as we age. According to the CDC’s statistics from their 2018 fact sheet, roughly 90 percent of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are over 40 and most cases are found in women over 60.

Risk factors for developing ovarian cancer include:

· Being 60 or older

· A family history of ovarian cancer

· Having already had colorectal cancer or cancer in our uterus or breasts

· Never giving birth or having had trouble getting pregnant

· Having endometriosis

· Having a Jewish background

If we are at high risk for developing ovarian cancer, then it is a good idea to discuss regular screenings (such as blood tests, pelvic exams, and possibly, a biopsy) with our doctor to find any possible tumors in the early stages. Dealing with an ovarian cancer diagnosis is never easy, but with resources like HealthSoul, it can be much easier.

But, what about losing our looks to ovarian cancer treatment?

For many people (particularly women, perhaps), their hair brings them a sense of pride and is their outward symbol of health and attractiveness. Therefore, when we’re diagnosed with cancer, hair loss takes a devastating toll on our daily lives.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the chances of hair loss when going through chemotherapy is “very real”. While we’re all aware of the things we can do to look better when we lose the hair on our heads (extensions, wigs, wraps, etc.), a lot of us are at a bit of a loss for what to do about losing another “beauty staple” – our eyelashes.

The Mayo Clinic notes how certain chemotherapy drugs are more likely than others to cause hair loss and it is also noted that there is a possibility of losing all the hair on our bodies (including our eyelashes). Makeup can aid the appearance of most of the hair loss that affects how we perceive our looks. For example, we can fill in our eyebrows with a pencil and embrace not having to shave anymore (that’s one bonus). But, how do we handle balding eyelids?

So, what do we do if we lose our lashes due to treatment?

A study reported on by the Daily Mail in 2017 found that both men and women rate a person’s eyes as the most important facial feature when it comes to attractiveness. This is most likely why it can be devastating to lose our lushes lashes to cancer. This is probably why most of us have already tried false lashes and then struggled with the hassle of that awful glue (am I right?). Luckily, now we can skip the cheap glue and apply magnetic lashes with relative ease. Bonus? The magnetic lashes are reusable for up to 30 uses!

Many women having to go through chemotherapy worry that using mascara to make their natural eyelashes look fuller during treatments will make them fall out faster (with good reason – it probably will speed this process up a bit). So, magnetic lashes could truly be the way to feel as normal and as beautiful as possible during treatment.

To apply magnetic eyelashes, we simply apply our regular cosmetics to our face, apply the magnetic eyeliner to form a magnetic strip (let dry completely), trim the outer corners of the new lash to fit our eyes, and then apply them. It’s as easy as that! Work it, girl!