amoena life spring 2013
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ÂTRANSCRIPT
NO ROOMFOR VANITYOur real life portrait is a model survivor
How Fit Are Your Neurons?
Stay at the top of your game
Next of KinComfort+ and
the Astronauts
LIFESpring 2013www.amoena.com.au
Feeling good, looking great.
PLUS: HEALTH | BEAUTY | PORTRAITS | AND MUCH MORE
EMBRACEevery curve
Features6 Cover Story Mind, Body, Spirit Taking control
through exercise
10 Beauty and Nutrition The Art of Healthy Eating
Colourful new ways to improve your diet
18 Real Life No Room for Vanity Our Real Life
portrait is a model survivor
20 Feature Next of Kin: Comfort+ and the
Astronauts
23 New Breast Forms Three new Amoena Light Weight Breast Forms: All with the InTouch Experience
24 Mind and Body How Fit are Your Neurons?
Stay at the top of your game with brain exercises
Fashion4 Get this Glow! Swimwear: 2013 Collection
12 Fashion New Amoena styles for Home, Active, Everyday, and Seduction
Regulars26 Portrait Moira‘s Story
28 Portrait Kae‘s Journey: Running the London Marathon
31 Your FREE Gift with Purchase
There is something very special
about Spring. I fi nd myself more
aware of my surroundings. Not just
the beautiful blooms, perfumes
and colours (although totally awe
inspiring) but everything around me.
Whilst living in the Blue Mountains
in NSW the changing seasons
were unmistakable with distinct
environmental changes, and Spring
brought magnifi cent blossoms,
new foliage and bird song. Now I
live in the city, Spring awareness
remains all around me, although
on a diff erent scale. For me
there is an added dimension.
The calmness in the city with the
distant sound of the early morning
tram is remarkably comforting. While
I walk to work and pass the early
morning joggers I savour the aroma
of the freshly brewed coff ee and
baked bread as cafe owners attend
to side walk tables. The crispness
in the air is refreshing and not
chilling as Spring brings with it the
anticipation of a warm day. Spring for
me initiates a heightened awareness
of both nature and all things urban.
I never intentionally lose touch with
my surroundings, however with the
demands of every day—the moments,
the daily curveballs that we navigate—
sometimes become obstacles to
really living. Spring gives me a
reminder: Each moment is precious.
We’re glad you’re saving a moment
to read this issue. We had such great
response to our article about healthy
living in our last edition that we felt
we should explore the topic further.
“Body, Mind, Spirit” on page 6 reveals
new fi ndings about exercise, both for
prevention of and recovery from breast
cancer. Particularly intriguing is the
recommendation not to wait until after
treatment before beginning to exercise.
As they say, your mileage may vary!
You’ll also love meeting the amazing
women in these pages. “No Room for
Vanity”, on page 18, is a familiar face.
Amoena model Michele Torres’ story
only hints at the level of passion
and spirit with which she lives her
moments—but it’s a great hint.
Moira’s story on page 26 is deeply
motivating and Kae’s journey on page
28 is inspirational. So, what are you
doing today? What moments will you
live in? I hope you’ll embrace them.
We would love to hear from you.
RoxanneRoxanne Parker Editor
Editor f rom the
The entire contents of this publication is copyrighted by Amoena Australia Pty Ltd 2013. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of the contents in any manner is strictly prohibited without prior written permission from the publisher. Amoena Life magazine is published twice a year and is available by request. Amoena Life magazine is distributed to subscribers.
On the coverOur cover model, Renee, age 60 is a breast cancer survivor. Hair and make-up John Elliott, photographer Dorothea Craven.
OO60Hph
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NO ROOMFOR VANITYOur real life portrait is a model survivor
How Fit Are Your Neurons?
Stay at the top of your game
Next of KinComfort+ and
the Astronauts
LIFESpring 2013www.amoena.com.au
Feeling good, looking great.
PLUS: HEALTH | BEAUTY | PORTRAITS | AND MUCH MORE
EMBRACEevery curve
18 6
20
Publisher Amoena Australia Pty Ltd
Editor Roxanne Parker
Contributors Christina Relf, Dianne Armitage, Beth Leibson, Teresa Werth
Art Director Shan Willoughby
Design Stephanie Conboy, Live Oak Design; Dianne Lyndon, Red Pepper Design
Photography Dorothea Craven, iStockPhoto, Shutterstock, Veer, Amoena GmbH
Contact Amoena Life, Level 1 235 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, 1800 773 285
PAGE 12
NEW
AMOENA
FASHIONS
©
2013
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Life is beautiful in an
Amoena Valletta.
Ultra comfort with a built-in pocketed shelf bra, the Valletta camisole is the perfect companion on life’s journey.
Available in sizes 10-26
To find a retailer near you, visit www.amoena.com.au
or call 1800 773 285
www.amoena.com.au
Worn by Michele, 51
survivor model
This time of year,
nothing sounds
more inviting than
the warm glow of
the sun. We made it
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Amoena Life | 5
To view the complete 2013
Amoena swimwear collection,
visit www.amoena.com.au
Click on the Store Locator
to fi nd an Amoena retailer near
you or call 1800 773 285.
A few more of this season’s exciting styles.
Dive in…
T
Amo
v
C
to fi n
Arabian Sea
Tankini, 10-20
Atlantic Ocean
Surplice Tank, 12-24
Arabian Sea
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Indian Ocean
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4 | Amoena Life
Arabian Sea
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Swimdress, 12-24
>>> COVER STORY
6 | Amoena Life
IT’S SAFE TO SAY THAT SOCIETY HAS ACCEPTED THE BODY-MIND-SPIRIT CONNECTION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF STRESS AND ILLNESS. RESEARCH IS FIRMLY BEHIND THE IDEA THAT ONE OF THE KEYS TO ALL THREE IS TO TAKE CARE OF THE FIRST: THE BODY. SCIENTISTS ARE NOW TRYING TO DETERMINE SPECIFIC WAYS THAT EXERCISE IMPROVES THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CANCER — BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER DIAGNOSIS.
By Beth Leibson
Amoena survivor models are living life
to the fullest!
Early fi rst menses, late menopause,
breast density, age at fi rst childbirth,
family history of the disease. There are
so many risk factors for breast cancer
that are completely out of our control.
It feels like there’s nothing much that
women can do to avoid initial diagnosis
or recurrence of the disease.
But that’s not quite the case. “There
are things we can do each and every
day to reduce the risk of breast cancer,
to improve chances of not dying from
breast cancer, and to decrease the risk
of recurrence,” says Colleen Doyle, MS,
RD, Director of Nutrition and Physical
Activity at the American Cancer Society.
Ironically, it turns out that one of the
best things women can do to preserve
their health goes against the wisdom of
decades. For years, oncologists,
surgeons, and other healthcare
professionals have told women during
and after cancer treatment to take
it easy, rest, relax. Focus on getting
well and catch up on your reading.
But it turns out that one of the best
ways to focus on getting well is to get
up off that sofa and engage in regular
physical activity.
LET’S GET PHYSICAL & STATISTICALPeople who exercise are less likely to
get breast cancer than those who are
less physically active, says Jennifer
Ligibel, MD, medical oncologist at
Boston’s Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
Specifi cally, women who are physically
active on a regular basis are between
25 and 30 percent less likely to be
diagnosed with breast cancer, according
to Ligibel.
A study at the German Cancer
Research Center (Deutsches
Krebsforschungazentrum) in Heidelberg,
led by Drs. Karen Steindorf and Jenny
Chang-Claude, found that there are
some things women can do to lower
their risk of breast cancer. Specifi cally, the
researchers found that 19.4 percent of
invasive postmenopausal breast cancers
are attributed to hormone replacement
therapy and 12.8 percent to a lack of
physical activity. Combined, these two
factors explain nearly a third of breast
cancer cases, say the investigators.
“That means that two factors which
each woman has in her own hands are
responsible for a similar number of post-
menopausal breast cancer cases as the
non-modifi able factors,” notes Steindorf.
Another study, published in 2007 by
Dr. Leslie Bernstein of the University
of Southern California, found that
women who exercised strenuously for
fi ve hours a week lowered their risk of
invasive breast cancer, particularly of
Oestrogen receptor-negative invasive
breast cancer, when compared with
women who were less active.
The challenge with these studies (and
most others that have been completed
to date) is that they are observational;
none are randomised, observes Ligibel.
As a result, it is possible that women
who are already doing better—the ones
who are in better health, who are eating
better, and who are more conscientious
about taking their medicines—may be
the ones reporting their results to the
researchers. “We cannot prove a causal
relationship based on these studies,”
says Ligibel, though there is clearly a
relationship between physical activity
and improved rates of survivorship.
But the accumulated data are
meaningful. In fact, Doyle notes that
the American Cancer Society has been
publishing articles about the importance
of physical activity since the year 2000.
“But now the data are strong enough to
call our recommendations ‘Guidelines,’”
Doyle adds, which is a big step.
Of course, exercise is not completely
protective, Ligibel notes. “Marathon
runners get breast cancer, too,” she says.
But it can make a big diff erence—and
it is one of the few concrete steps that
women can take to improve their health.
Exercise is good for overall health,
notes Doyle. It can improve cardiovascular
fi tness, muscle strength, bone health
and body composition and can also
play a role in weight loss, which has
its own benefi ts. Regular physical
activity can also improve the quality
of life, by decreasing levels of stress,
anxiety and depression and improving
self-esteem, Doyle adds. “It may seem
counter-intuitive,” says Doyle, “but
exercise can also lessen fatigue.”
“Regular physical activity is good
for everyone,” says Ligibel. “But there is
good evidence that exercise is especially
helpful for cancer survivors, especially
breast, colon, and prostate cancer.”
WHEN TO START AND WHAT TO DO“Today is the best time to start to
exercise. There is no point at which
exercise cannot help prevent breast
cancer from starting in the fi rst place
or from recurring,” says Ligibel.
Exercise before treatment begins,
during treatment, and after treatment are
all linked to a decrease in recurrence.
In general, moderate exercise
translates into a twenty-minute mile,
says Ligibel, though the precise
defi nition may vary from study to study.
“These women are not marathoners,”
she adds. “They spend three hours a
week doing moderate walking.” That’s
encouraging; exercise can help your
life and prolong your life, but it needn’t
completely take over your life.
Moderate physical activities,
according to the American Cancer
Society, are ones that you can perform
while talking, but not while singing.
They include a range of sports
and daily activities, such as:
• ice and roller skating• horseback riding• yoga• downhill skiing• golf• volleyball• baseball• badminton• brisk walking• mowing the lawn• raking and trimming shrubs• doing housework
Amoena Life | 7
“It doesn’t matter
what you do, you just
need to get your heart
rate up, sweat, and
do at least ten to fifteen
minutes of physical
activity at a time.” — Jennifer Ligibel, MD
>>> COVER STORY
8 | Amoena Life
Of course, there are many more
examples. Both aerobic and strength/
resistance training are important,
according to the American Cancer
Society guidelines. Most people who
exercise focus on aerobic training and
as a result, points out Ligibel, most
studies likewise look primarily at
aerobic exercise.
Resistance training, though,
can be particularly helpful in improving
bone health and density, muscle
strength and fl exibility. Studies show
that weight training can decrease
the incidence and severity of
lymphoedema, notes Doyle. Indeed,
the American Cancer Society’s Nutrition
and Physical Activity Guidelines
for Cancer Survivors (2012) states
that moderate resistance training
during and after treatment can help
survivors maintain lean muscle mass
while avoiding excess body fat.
“Historically, women have been told
to not do upper body weight training for
fear of getting or worsening
lymphoedema,” says Doyle. But that is
not the case. “Women do not have to
be afraid of weight training.” In fact,
according to the American Cancer
Society, a number of studies have
shown that this sort of physical activity
is not only safe, but can actually
reduce the incidence and severity of
lymphoedema. The American Cancer
Society recommends progressive
resistance training, working with a
trained exercise therapist and using
appropriate compression garments.
“It’s interesting,” says Ligibel, “that
while more exercise is not bad, you
get more bang for your buck with
consistent, moderate physical activity.”
While it rarely hurts to exercise more,
says the medical oncologist and
researcher, it is more helpful to perform
consistent and moderate exercise—
perhaps taking a good, brisk walk
every day—than to run a marathon
and then take a month off to rest.
“It doesn’t matter what you do,” says
Ligibel. “You just need to get your
heart rate up, sweat, and do at least
ten to fi fteen minutes of physical
activity at a time.”
MAINTAINING THE IDEAL WEIGHTObesity is also a concern. According to
the American Cancer Society, there is a
strong connection between being
overweight or obese and an increased
risk of many types of cancers,
including breast cancer among
postmenopausal women.
While it is best to achieve your
optimal weight, the American Cancer
Society says that it is helpful to simply
avoid weight gain during treatment.
And intentional weight loss following
treatment may be associated with
health benefi ts, even if you don’t reach
your ideal weight, notes the organisation
in its Guidelines. Even losing just 5 or
10 percent of your weight can play
a big role in avoiding recurrence.
Healthcare professionals determine
a healthy weight for an individual by
using the body mass index (BMI), which
determines the ideal weight based on
the person’s height. To check your own
status, you can use the BMI calculator
developed by the U.S Department of
Health and Human Services’ National
Institutes of Health; you can access
it at: http://nhlbisupport.com/bmi/
LAB LESSONS: HOW IT WORKSNow that researchers have determined
that exercise can help prevent cancer,
the question arises: how does this work?
One researcher, Lee Jones, Ph.D.,
Associate Professor at the Duke
University Medical Center in Durham, NC,
notes that most of the studies—the
ones we’ve been talking about and
others—are observational for a simple
reason: It’s hard to conduct a controlled
experiment with humans. We’re kind of
diffi cult to control.
Jones, who has three appointments:
Associate Professor of Radiation
Oncology, Associate Professor of
Pathology, and Associate Professor in
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, is
conducting studies on mice to explore
the relationship between exercise and
tumour size. While the results are still
preliminary, he has found that tumours
grow 30 percent more slowly in female
mice on an exercise routine than those
that are sedentary. The exercise was
all aerobic, not resistance-focused.
AMERICAN CANCERSOCIETY RECOMMENDATIONS
The American Cancer Society
recommends that everyone adopt a
physically active lifestyle. Specifically,
the society’s Nutrition and Physical
Activity Guidelines for Cancer
Prevention suggests that:
1Adults should engage in at
least 150 minutes of moderate-
intensity or 75 minutes of
vigorous-intensity activity
each week—or an equivalent
combination, preferably spread
throughout the week.
2Children and adolescents
should engage in at least one
hour of moderate or vigorous
intensive activity each day, with
vigorous intensity activity at
least three days a week.
3Everyone should limit
sedentary behavior, such as
sitting, lying down, watching
television and other screen-based
entertainment.
Amoena Life | 9
Jones is also fi nding that when female
mice exercise while in treatment,
particularly during chemotherapy, the
treatment is more eff ective. “When mice
exercise, it improves the delivery of
chemotherapy to the tumours,” Jones
explains. It does not, fortunately, aff ect
the spread of chemo cocktails to healthy
tissue; somehow the chemicals know
just where to go.
“My personal bias, with the limited
data,” says Jones, “is for women
diagnosed to exercise as soon as
possible. Pre-surgery, during therapy,
the whole time. We know how bad
doing nothing is. Exercising as soon
as possible is the way to go.”
But no research method is perfect.
The diffi culty with studies in rats, says
Ligibel, is that mice and people are
diff erent. People are more complex, she
explains; we have more control over
what and when we eat, for instance,
than mice in a cage. As a result, it is
diffi cult to generalise from studies in
rats to behaviour in human beings.
As a result, researchers have been
trying to fi gure out what causes these
improved outcomes in humans. “When
people start to exercise,” says Ligibel,
“the hormone levels that are linked
to breast cancer change in a positive
direction.” Specifi cally, insulin and
Oestrogen levels decrease while levels
of other hormones that are better when
higher tend to increase.
Ligibel and colleagues at the Dana
Farber Cancer Institute have shed some
light on this phenomenon. Researchers
measured insulin and blood glucose
levels in 101 women, along with their
weight, body composition and
circumference of waist and hips. Half
of the women performed a 16-week
regimen of cardiovascular and strength
training while the other half were left
to their own devices. At the end of the
experiment, the women who exercised
had lowered their insulin measurements
by an amount that approached
statistical signifi cance. In addition, the
women who were more active reduced
their hip circumference.
“Our fi ndings suggest that the
eff ects of exercise on breast cancer
prognosis may be mediated, at least
in part, through changes in insulin
levels and/or changes in fat mass or
deposition,” says Ligibel, who headed
up the study. Additional studies are
looking at changes at a cellular level,
trying to determine how patients can
decrease the rate of growth of cancer
tumors. The results are still preliminary,
though we will hopefully know more soon.
Another area that researchers
are looking into is trying to determine
the volume and type of exercise that
is most eff ective in fi ghting cancer.
“We want to be able to personalise
exercise, just as we personalise
chemotherapy” for the individual
patient. In the meantime, Jones suggests
women follow the American Cancer
Society’s general recommendations
on physical activity (see sidebar).
CAVEAT EXERCISER While exercise is important in decreasing
cancer risk, you don’t want to run
outside and start immediately with a
ten-mile jog. Keep in mind any special
considerations.
“Someone who’s not active at all
should probably start with ten minutes
of physical activity a few days a week,”
says Ligibel. “It is important to set
realistic goals and to work hard at
meeting them.”
Doyle recommends taking into
account how active you were before
the cancer diagnosis as well as the
type of cancer and treatment received.
She recommends that you delay
activity if you are anaemic; wait
until your iron levels rise. If you’re in
radiation treatment, avoid chlorine as
it might aggravate already sensitive
skin. If you have a catheter or port,
avoid resistance training in that part
of the body (say, the upper body).
And if you are experiencing extreme
fatigue, don’t push yourself.
Patients should also be careful
about where they exercise. Someone
in chemotherapy who has a low white
cell count should avoid public gyms
and public pools. And someone who
has had a bone marrow transplant
should probably stay away from public
places for about a year, says Doyle.
In addition, for people who are older
who have bone disease or signifi cant
impairments such as arthritis or
neuropathy, it is important to focus
on balance. You don’t want to fall. The
American Cancer Society recommends,
in these cases, that patients stick with
a stationary reclining bicycle, for example,
rather than walking on a treadmill.
Ultimately it boils down to this: If you
are in treatment, do what you can do
now and try to do more when you can
do more. Just keep moving. As Doyle
explains, the goal is to avoid inactivity.
“Exercise has benefi ts all through
treatment and afterwards. It’s an
investment in a woman’s health and
hopefully will prove to lower her risk
of dying from breast cancer.” |
Beth Leibson lives and writes in New York City. She is author of I’m Too Young to Have Breast Cancer (Lifeline Press, 2004).
Amoena Life | 11
COLOURFUL
>>> BEAUTY & NUTRITION
10 | Amoena Life
ADDING TO YOUR WEALTH OF HEALTHEating properly means sticking to a varied and balanced
diet—anything in moderation but with an emphasis on healthy
foods (fruits and vegetables, starches, fi sh, etc.) and limiting your
consumption of sweetened products like candy and sugary
drinks, salty snacks and fatty foods (prepared meats, butter,
cream, etc.). This dietary balance doesn’t have to be strictly
applied to every meal or even to every day, but it should work
out over each week. There’s no such thing as a forbidden
food or a miracle food, and a few light meals will make up for
the occasional feast. The lipids, proteins and carbohydrates in
our food are what provides our fuel. Combined with plenty of
vitamins, minerals and micronutrients, these food calories will
be full of nutritional value. So add to your store of health every
day by favouring quality foods rich in cell-nourishing nutrition.
THINK SEASONAL AND REGIONALChoose locally grown and seasonal fruits and vegetables.
This is good for the planet, your plate and your local economy.
Locally grown fruits and vegetables draw vitamins and minerals
from the soil and soak up the sun and so provide you with
lots of energy. And they deliver their nutrients to you with-
out being degraded by travel and long storage times.
Colourful new ways to improve your diet
Forget all the usual business about diet or calories—instead we’re going to be
talking about the art of smart and healthy eating. Take some practical advice,
a little theory, add a heaping measure of user-friendliness and you have all the
ingredients for a nutritional must-read.
THE ART OF
HEALTHY EATING
GET YOUR FULL
QUOTA OF ANTIOXIDANTS:use this colour guide
to choose a minimum
of 5 differently
coloured fruits and
vegetables a day.
COMPOUNDS
OF SULPHUR
& SELENIUM:
GarlicOnionsApples Celery
BETA-
CAROTENE,
QUERCETIN:
PumpkinsCarrotsSweet potatoesApricotsBananasPapayasMangosYellow peppersYellow toma-toes
CHLOROPHYLL
GREEN CAN
HIDE THE
PRESENCE
OF YELLOW
COMPOUNDS
LIKE BETA-
CAROTENE,
LUTEINE, ETC.
SpinachBroccoliBrussels sproutsKale
POLYPHENOLS:
EggplantBlack currantsRaspberriesBlackberriesPrunesRaisins
LYCOPENE &
POLYPHENOLS:
BeetsRed cabbageRed onionsRed radishesTomatoesCherries Strawberries Red apples
HELLO FROM SUNNY QUEENSLAND!
I LOVE BEING AN AMOENA
REPRESENTATIVE, BUT I ALSO
LOVE CREATING (AND OF COURSE
EATING!) HEALTHY FOOD.
We all want to look and feel our best, and healthy
eating is a key ingredient, but with so much confl icting
information it has become very confusing for us.
Women who have experienced a breast cancer
diagnosis are especially sensitive to the need to look
after their health, but what is the right thing to do?
I particularly like author Michael Pollan’s take on this subject:
“Eat food. Mostly plants. Not too much”. Boring? Plain?
Never! Try this Beetroot and Carrot Salad. It’s bursting
with lovely, fresh fl avours and vibrant colour. Loaded
with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and good fats.
BEETROOT AND CARROT SALAD
2 medium beetroot, peeled and grated
2 medium carrots, peeled and grated
1 apple, grated
2 oranges, peeled and chopped
1 bunch each coriander (cilantro), mint and chives, chopped
A handful of dried Cranberries
1 teaspoon crushed cumin seeds
2 tablespoons fl axseed or olive oil
Mix together and top with cashews, pecans or walnuts
A delicious light meal on its own or
a brilliant side dish. Enjoy!
Glenda Harris
WHAT’S AN ANTIOXIDANT?• Oxygen (the word is within antioxidant) is vital for life and for
the production of energy in our cells.
• By-products of this energy production are toxic derivatives
of oxygen (free radicals). These have to be neutralised by
antioxidants which act like fi refi ghters to prevent harmful
degradation of the cells themselves.
• The antioxidants in our food come mostly from plants: fruits,
vegetables, spices, green tea and fi rst cold-pressed oils.
• Diff erent colours of fruit, vegetable or spice indicate a
diff erent type of antioxidant.
• White, yellow, green, purple and red are the fi ve main colours.
• Use the produce of the season and of your area to put
some colour on your plate.
• Then add spices for even greater health benefi ts and to
protect the cells in your body.
TURMERIC, THE GOLDEN SPICE Brilliant orange turmeric tops the list of good-for-you spices
thanks to the antioxidant curcumin it contains. A teaspoon
daily with a dash of pepper, added to soups, salad dressings
or the main course, makes a wonderful addition to your
body’s store of antioxidants.
>>> FASHION
12 | Amoena Life Amoena Life | 13
Matte Shiny Pyjama Set
S - XXL
Lace Nightdress
S - XL
DOWNTIME
Comfort day or night, Amoena’s
Leisure Form is like a BFF for those
lazy days. The washable cover keeps
the form clean and fresh. Tuck it into
the pocket of a nightgown for extra
comfort while you sleep.
WE WILL ALLOW OURSELVES A RESTFUL NIGHT, AND WAKE UP TO RISE AND SHINE.
RESTFUL PILLOW MIST
Who knew you could make
a pillow more relaxing? Try a
pillow mist and anxieties will
vanish like a dream.Photo credit: © Marks and Spencer
TODAY EMBRACE CURVE
we will
every
Jennifer Sports Bra10-22 AA,A,B,C,D,DD
PantsXS-XXL
Short Sleeve TopXS-XL
PantsXS-XXL
>>> ACTIVEWEAR
Racer Back TopXS-XXL
PantsXS-XXL
KEEP TRACKCounting laps or tracking
calories? Experts say to write
it down. Try an app like the
Workout Journal for your
smart devices.
DO-GOOD WATEREvery bottle helps fund global eff orts
to feed the hungry, save the earth,
house the homeless and more. Find
out more at www.project7.comPhoto credit: © Project 7, Inc. 2008
BE
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VIV
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BE
AT
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AS
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UR
VIV
OR
MO
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L
LOVE
CURVEWE SEE IN THE LOCKER-ROOM MIRROR.
WE
WIL
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every
>>> FASHION
14 | Amoena Life Amoena Life | 15
Renee, breast cancer survivor
Lara Dots Soft Cup10-20 AA,A,B,C,D
Lara Dots Brief8-20
Lara Comfort Soft Cup
10-22 B,C,D,DD
BRAVE THE CURVES
WE
WIL
L
IN TODAY’S ROAD; WE WILL JOIN IN OUR DAILY LANDSCAPES (AND ESCAPES).
IT’S A CINCH
MIC
HE
LE
, BR
EA
ST
CA
NC
ER
SU
RV
IVO
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OD
EL
SAY IT WITH SHINERefresh with a shimmery swipe of high
gloss. Lip glosses in Rose Gold and Soft
Pink are the “in” colours for SpringPhoto credit: © M&S
Karla Soft Cup10-20 A,B; 12-20 C,D
Karla Brief8-18
Janina Underwire10-20 B; 12-20 C,D
Janina Brief8-20
AN
NE
TT
E, B
RE
AS
T C
AN
CE
R S
UR
VIV
OR
MO
DE
L
HAPPY APPSLighten your load this Spring with
apps like Happier to help you
stay in tune with the important
things in life.
ALL AROUND THE TOWNShow off your Spring style in a
belted trench coat like this one
from Autograph — they’re all the
rage! Photo credit: © Marks and Spencer
Janina Pocketed Camisole
8-18
Janina Brief8-20
FREG OUTPlanning meals makes
on-the-go days way ‘cooler.’
Try a cooler bag like this one
and you’ll be carrying your
lunch in style. Photo credit: ©
Debenhams
HAPPY HOUR
COSY CONVENIENCEDesigner ballet fl ats like these that fi t
in your purse will get you to and from
that 5 o’clock meeting toute de suite!
RE
NE
E, B
RE
AS
T C
AN
CE
R S
UR
VIV
OR
MO
DE
L
to and from
ute de suite!
JUST IN TIME FOR
PINK OCTOBER!
>>> FASHION
16 | Amoena Life Amoena Life | 17
PLAY IT PRIM Love these new neutrals.
Asian-infl uenced prints like this
Autograph Oriental print are
in-style! Demure and divine!Photo credit: © M&S
Anna Soft Cup
10-14 A; 10-18 B,C,D
Anna Brief
8-20
Anna Pocketed Camisole
10-14 A; 10-18 B,C,D
Anna Brief
8-20
Valerie Soft Cup
10-14 A; 10-18 B,C,D
Valerie Brief
8-20
Valerie Underwire
10-14 A; 10-20 B,C; 34-44 D,DD,DDD
Valerie Boyleg
8-16
View the complete collections at www.amoena.com.au
Click on the Store Locator to fi nd a retailer near you.
WANT TO SEE MORE?
NIGHT
WE WILL MAKE
UNFORGETTABLEDATE
Marks and Spencer and Accessorize are London-based stores that ship internationally. Find them at www.marksandspencer.com and www.accessorize.com.
ADD ADORNMENTSWhat about some jewels like
this Catwalk Pearl Statement
Bracelet to sparkle you through
the night? We say yes.
Photo credit: ©Accessorize
YOU’RE SO DEEPYou could call it a “cool”
colour but these days, it’s
defi nitely hot. Deep blue
nail polish keeps you
in trend.
But in 2009, her whole existence was turned upside
down. “My baby brother, Jon, was diagnosed with an
inoperable brain tumor. It was such a shock. He fought it for
16 months and died, aged just 46, in October 2010.” She
dropped everything and joined the rest of the family in nursing
Jon, even trying to ignore a scare of her own when she found
a hard lump in her left breast. “I knew it wasn’t right—I went
for a scan and biopsy, and I got the results just two weeks
after Jon had died. It was grade three breast cancer.”
Still grieving for her brother, Michele was catapulted into
treatment—a bilateral mastectomy, chemotherapy and radio-
therapy: “I told my doctor I wanted him to take both breasts.
I didn’t want to be ever worried about breast cancer again.
I looked at it as a way of starting over.”.
FINDING A NEW ‘NORMAL’
Having breast cancer meant Michele found out more about
herself than she ever knew before: “I had become used
to a fabulous life—I was living the dream. But cancer is
a great leveller. To have bits of myself taken away was
shocking. I felt as though my whole identity was gone.”
Her survival instinct fortifi ed by a determination not to let her
parents bury another child, Michele knew she would fi nd her
feet, although she confesses that re-orienting herself was very
challenging at fi rst: “When you’re going through treatment,
you cope by simply not having expectations
about anything—you are fl at. The self that
you had known is gone and you have a new
‘normal.’ I describe it to friends like a crazy roller
coaster ride—normally you would get on at point
‘A’ and eventually get dropped off there again.
With cancer, you get on the ride and it’s fast and
winding and it goes upside down and turns your
stomach inside out, and you get dropped off way
over there—it’s like you started in London and are dropped
off in Munich. You don’t speak the language and you don’t
know how you got there. When your treatments are over you
are supposed to be normal again, but you don’t know who
you are. You have to recreate yourself. And I don’t think there
are a lot of programs out there to help you deal with that.”
Committed to keeping her career going, Michele focused
on voiceover work once she could no longer be in front of the
camera: “I have a studio in my house, so when I felt strong
enough, I could still work as a voiceover artist.” But when her
hair started growing back, she discovered a whole new look.
“I think my modelling days would have been over had I not
gone in a diff erent direction. But I decided to keep my hair
short and grey, and I entered a nationwide modelling contest
for mature models. I was chosen fi rst runner-up out of 7,000
entrants. It opened up an amazing new strand to my career.”
BODY BEAUTIFUL
The Wilhelmina Models 2012 Over 30 Model Search was a
very high profi le contest, run by one of the world’s most
prestigious model agencies. As fi rst runner-up, Michele
felt she had been given a second chance. “Cancer wasn’t
what I had planned—it was what I was given. I decided to
go with it, and this was the result. Now I have contracts with
various diff erent agencies—I am a novelty model. I always get
applause when I do runway shows, because of my hair. I did
have reconstruction but I have no nipples, and my breasts do
not look normal. But you can’t wear a bra or prosthesis when
you do runway shows, so I just let it be. I fi gure somewhere in
the audience there may be a woman who needs to see this.”
By simply being herself, Michele has become an
ambassador for breast cancer survivors. “I fi gure maybe it’s
my job, in some small way. Sometimes people wait around
after the show, wanting to talk to me. And backstage, some
girls look at my chest when I am changing. I always say, ‘Don’t
be afraid—this is what a double mastectomy looks like.’ I think I
help to make it normal. It’s also a way of saying, ‘I am a model
and I am not perfect. Nobody is perfect—it’s not something
to be ashamed of.’”
Michele’s new look also helped her to win a modelling
contract with Amoena—a fi tting coincidence, since she
already loved their clothes. “They wanted a breast-operated
model,” she explained. “I got the call from my agent and I
remember rushing upstairs and putting on my Amoena
camisole—a much-worn top that had been my saviour
during the early days after my mastectomy. I took a photo
of myself in that camisole and sent it to my agent, who sent
it on to Amoena. I got the job there and then.” Michele went
on to model for Amoena’s 2013-14 product catalogs, as well
as appearing in Amoena Life magazine.
Michele is now looking forward to wearing the new Amoena
Active collection in an exciting project she’s developing, to
help other women who have been through breast cancer get
back to full health again. “I want to fi nd a personal trainer
who specialises in working with breast cancer survivors, and
together we’re going to make a video blog,” she explains.
“We’ll approach it holistically—diet, nutrition, exercise and
the spiritual side of recovery. And it will be ‘no holds barred’
—I will show them my bare chest, I want to be open and
honest and let everybody see.”
Summing up the attitude that has informed her entire
approach to life, Michele says: “I don’t take myself too
seriously—I can’t. I’ve gone from having what many people
would consider to be ‘everything’ to losing my entire identity. It
is a very humbling experience.” She refuses to tell people what
to do, emphasising that everybody’s journey is their own, but
stresses that reaching out to others was key to her recovery:
“I made the most of all the help my friends and neighbours
off ered. Nobody is a ‘no-need woman.’ If you ever thought that
about yourself, think again. I let go of control and I let people
love me. It’s what got me through.” |
Amoena Life | 19
>>> REAL LIFE
18 | Amoena Life
NO ROOMfor vanity
Professional model, TV presenter and voiceover artist Michele Torres is probably heard by millions of people every day. But her recent cancer experiences have given her a different story to tell. Cover model for the Autumn 2013 issue of Amoena Life, Michele
Torres is beautiful, talented and successful—to an outsider,
she would seem blessed indeed. And yet when tragedy
struck her family in 2009, Michele was forced to reassess her
life and rebuild it from the foundations up. Diagnosed with
aggressive breast cancer just two weeks after losing her dearly
beloved youngest brother to a brain tumour, she was suddenly
catapulted into a kind of “no-man’s-land” where her beauty
and talent no longer mattered: “When cancer strikes, you don’t
know who you are,” she says. “You have to recreate yourself.”
She lost weight; she lost her hair and could not rely on her
looks to earn her living. But Michele’s resilience allowed her to
come back from cancer with renewed optimism and zest for life.
THE SCENIC ROUTE
Michele, 51, is one of four children, born and raised outside
Los Angeles in Ontario, California. Her parents are still happily
married after 57 years and she describes her family as “very tight
knit.” By her own admission, she had an amazing childhood—
she attended the world-renowned UCLA but did not graduate
from there: “I partied too hard to really focus on my studies. My
parents always said I took the scenic route through life, whereas
my brothers and sister were more studious. That’s about right!”
Michele had been modelling part-time while at UCLA.
“Ever since I was about seven years old and saw my fi rst
fashion magazine, I’d wanted to be a model,” she says. And
while she eventually gained not just one degree, but several,
including a Masters in Psychology and Sociology, it was to the
advertising world that she was drawn when she started
full-time work. Luckily for Michele, this small agency was very
hands-on, which meant that she was not just expected to
write scripts for TV and radio ads, but to record them herself
“It brought together my modelling and my creativity, teaching
me how to be in front of a camera and how to use my voice ”
In what would still seem to be a charmed existence,
Michele slipped easily into a full-time modelling, acting and
television career. Her voiceover work fulfi lled a very early
ambition: “When I was little I used to dial up the speaking clock
and just listen to the female announcer telling the time of day,”
she recalls. “I was fascinated by it.” 40 years later, Michele is
now the voice of AT&T telephone services and several other
automated telephone systems, in both English and Spanish.
MICHELE TORRES - MODEL SURVIVOR
“They wanted a breast-operated model,” she explained. “I got the call from my agent and I remember rushing upstairs and putting on my Amoena camisole. I took a photo of myself in that camisole and sent it to my agent, who sent it on to Amoena. I got the job there and then.”
—Michele Torres
drroppppppedee
“Ts
ddrror pppppp dded
LIFEAutumn 2013
www.amoena.com.au
Feeling good, looking great.
Is Greens Greenthe new
Pink?Lifestyle changes after breast cancer
Painting a
Brighter
PictureOne woman’s creation
of beauty over trauma
Four Corners,
One Journey
Survivors around the
globe share their stories
Smooth Moves
Try these gentle,
safe yoga poses
the WILD SIDE
PLUS: HEALTH | BEAUTY | PORTRAITS | AND MUCH MORE
Real women, real lives. When we share each other’s life stories, we learn about ourselves, too. Search for “real life” at www.amoena.com.au to read more inspiring articles like this one.
>>> FEATURE
20 | Amoena Life
You probably don’t hear any heart-stirring crescendo of
trumpets and timpani when you put your Comfort+ breast
form in your bra every morning. But you could, if you’re of
the movie-soundtrack persuasion, because Comfort+ has
a connection to one of the most profound and meaningful
achievements in human history—space exploration.
Comfort+ was born of a proud partnership with Outlast
Technologies and utilises phase change materials (PCM) that
absorb, store and release heat for optimal thermal comfort.
Originally developed for NASA, for use in space gloves to
protect astronauts from extreme temperature fl uctuations, this
PCM is now integrated into many diff erent applications and
products that we use in everyday life.
THE OUTLAST DIFFERENCE? IT’S PROACTIVE
Outlast® technology provides extra-sensory comfort to the
Amoena breast form and apparel—and to astronauts, as
well—by proactively working to manage the build-up of heat
and moisture. A key diff erentiator of Comfort+ is that it’s a pre-
emptive technology; it works to balance temperature before the
body begins to sweat, unlike reactive technologies that only work
once the body has started to sweat to wick the moisture away.
IN OTHER WORDS, COMFORT+ GOES BEYOND.
Thirty-fi ve years ago when the fi rst silicone breast forms were
developed, Amoena’s main focus was to create a shape and
softness that was as close as possible to a natural breast. But
NEXT OF KIN:
Exploring the history of Comfort+ and its connection to humanity’s greatest achievement
COMFORT+ & THE ASTRONAUTS
> FEATURREE>>
Amoena Life | 21
THE FUTURE OF
Soft SiliconeABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO, AMOENA EMBARKED
ON ANOTHER QUEST TO IMPROVE THE
COMFORT OF OUR BREAST FORMS, AND TODAY
WE’RE INCORPORATING THE RESULTS OF THAT
MISSION. OUR NEW SOFTER SILICONE IS NOW
BEING USED FOR ALL LIGHTWEIGHT AMOENA
BREAST FORMS, AND YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE IT.
“It wasn’t just about the softness,” says Brigitte
Seehaus, Global Product Manager for Breast Forms.
“We wanted a lightweight breast form that would
‘bounce back’ naturally after being touched—and
most importantly, we needed to ensure its durability
over years of wear.” Amoena conducted comprehensive
durability testing, plus wear tests with more than 60
women in Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Spain.
One woman commented, “My husband loves the new
softness.” This is a signifi cant compliment!
Seehaus continues, “Now we have a complete
portfolio of products that are natural, durable and the
softest silicone ever.” The future of breast forms looks
very comfortable, indeed.
ASK YOUR AMOENA RETAILER ABOUT INTOUCH
AT YOUR NEXT FITTING.
BR
IG
IT
TE
SE
EH
AU
S
Bre
ast F
orm
Pro
duct M
anag
er
we continued to develop beyond the status quo. Women
told us they felt hot between the breast form and their chest
wall, so we began testing diff erent methods to alleviate
the problem. Then in 2008, we partnered with Outlast to
introduce and patent Comfort+ breast forms. Unlike other
solutions, Comfort+ forms:
ABSORB—they pull heat away from the chest wall;
STORE—they keep that heat in the form, until there is a
decrease in temperature; and
RELEASE—they allow the heat to return to the body, to
maintain a near-constant body temperature as a woman
wears them.
Today we’re adding the temperature-equalising capability to
not only breast forms, but also to some of our textiles and
fashion products.
CONTINUED PERFORMANCE
We like to think of it this way: The greatest thing to happen
to breast forms is closely related to one of the greatest
adventures in human history. It’s more than just a
comfortable solution to help you manage your everyday
life—it’s a truly historic achievement. |
©Outlast Technologies LLC. Used with permission
It’s not just the silicone that has become softer on Amoena’s Energy breast form, the three-dimensional pearl surface on the back has too! And with the addition of air-flow channels, all these features maximise ventilation to help reduce perspiration behind the form. Combined with the heat absorption benefits of Comfort+, and you might forget you’re wearing a breast form.
FEEL THE INTOUCH SOFT SILICONE EXPERIENCE FOR
YOURSELF WITH NEW ENERGY.
www.amoena.com/intouch
BALANCE ENHANCERS, OR PARTIAL SHAPERS, ARE CURVED TO MATCH THE BODY’S SHAPE, PERFECTLY FILLING THE BRA CUP. THEIR THIN, TAPERED EDGES MAKE THEM INVISIBLE UNDER CLOTHING—BUT THE EFFECT THEY HAVE ON YOUR FIGURE WON’TGO UNNOTICED. ALL BALANCE ENHANCERS NOW FEATURE COMFORT+.
>>> FEATURE
22 | Amoena Life
ENHANCEMENTS
MOST WOMEN WHO TRY
COMFORT+ AREN’T EXPECTING
THE RESULTS THEY FEEL. EVEN
THE SAVVIEST CONSUMERS
AROUND THE WORLD HAVE
BEEN DELIGHTFULLY SURPRISED
TO LEARN WHAT A DIFFERENCE
COMFORT+ REALLY MAKES. IT
CAN BE A MOMENT OF CLARITY
AND RELIEF YOU DIDN’T KNOW
YOU WERE MISSING. READ
HERE WHAT THREE DELIGHTED
COMFORT+ WEARERS HAVE
TO SAY.
COMFORT+ UNEXPECTED SURPRISE!
BALANCE DELTA* BALANCE OVAL
*Also available in Tawny; all sizes.
BALANCE VARIA
ANN — AGE 64, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
“My life changed in 1983, when I was diagnosed with cancer, but it changed again when I was fi tted with the
Amoena Contact in the early '90s. The pain in my neck was gone instantly; I felt whole again. Now I wear the
Contact with Comfort+, which absorbs heat and stores it. It keeps the chest wall and the form at the same
temperature—how clever is that? My son has moved to hot and dusty Mt. Isa, but my breast form never moves.
It stays right there on my chest wall (it takes a lot of perspiration to push off a size 9 breast form, and I just don’t
perspire that much)! I wear it for at least 16 hours a day, every day. I never think about it.”
…I never think about it…
MAGGIE — AGE 40, POLAND
“My fi rst breast form was a one-layer form; I thought, ‘Well, this is
what a breast form can off er.’ Changing to Comfort+ was like winning
something—a new quality of life. In summer or in winter, my skin under the
breast form stays comfortably dry. In combination with Contact, it is the
perfect solution. I don’t ever think about reconstruction.”
…the perfect solution….
CAROLINE — AGE 40, QUEBEC, CANADA
“Since I have been wearing my Amoena breast form
with Comfort+, I feel great about myself. The diff erence
in how it feels and wears is incredible. It gives me more
freedom and I don’t get that uncomfortable heat and
moisture on my skin anymore. I adore it!”
…I feel great about myself…
Tell us your story! We’d love to hear about your surprise and delight! Tell your Comfort+ story at www.facebook.com/pages/Amoena-Australia
NEW BREAST FORMS <<<
THREE NEW AMOENA LIGHT WEIGHT BREAST FORMS ALL WITH THE
INTOUCH EXPERIENCE
ENERGY LIGHT 2SStyle: 342 Size: 1-14
More air fl ow and better heat
absorption help reduce perspiration
behind the form for even your most
active days. And now with InTouch soft
silicone, the improved Energy forms
are more fl exible than ever, helping to
provide the perfect fi t.
So soft, so natural, Amoena’s softest silicone is easy to fi t and more natural to touch. By producing the softest silicone that maintains our standard for durability, we created a wearing experience that may make you forget your breast form is even there.
NATURA LIGHT 2UStyle: 399 Size: 1-14
With changes in surgical trends and
comfort in mind the new Natura Light
2U is so soft and natural it makes an
ideal fi rst form.
To find an Amoena retailer near you, visit the store locator
at www.amoena.com.au or call 1800 773 285.
Amoena Life | 23
CONTACT LIGHT 2SStyle: 380 Size: 1-14
Comfort+ technology absorbs excess
body heat and reduces perspiration
behind the form during a rise in body
temperature, therefore keeping the
Contact breast form more securely
attached.
>>> MIND & BODY
24 | Amoena Life
AB93
“Brain fi tness” caught on years ago as a way to stave off one
of the more troubling eff ects of aging: cognitive impairment,
or dementia. Pencils in hand, adults have been working the
daily crossword in an attempt to lower their risk of Alzheimer’s
and sharpen their minds since the 1980s. In recent years,
studies have begun to give evidence that mental function
really can be improved—much the same way that physical
health can be improved with exercise—by consciously training
your brain’s neurons.
WHY DOES THE BRAIN NEED TRAINING?Scientifi cally, when mental stimulation takes place, so does
neurogenesis; that is, new neurons are created in the brain
and they begin to connect with neighbouring neurons, fi ring
together in a sort-of combustion of growth. This, in turn,
prevents cell death—you might say it keeps the brain’s power
switches “turned on.”
There are a lot of reasons the brain slows down as we
age, and some decline is normal. The human life-cycle allows
for lots of mental stimulation all through childhood and formal
education, through career training, and then continuing
education and hobbies, but oftentimes those activities
lessen as we get older. Unfortunately, other events like
illness, depression, reactions to certain medications (like
chemotherapy), too much alcohol, head injuries and even
poor diet and not enough exercise can exacerbate memory
problems and function.
FOUR WAYS TO WORK THE MIND’S “MUSCLES”
1BE ACTIVE—PHYSICALLY ACTIVE. The National
Institute on Aging recommends that all adults boost their
overall health and well-being with regular exercise. It’s
unknown whether this directly prevents or delays mental decline,
but it can greatly lower the risks for other chronic diseases.
2EAT RIGHT. The food you eat delivers nutrients to your
whole body, including your brain, and can have a direct
eff ect on your mood, energy level and physical health.
Don’t ignore this important component of mental health.
3DO SOMETHING INTERESTING. Take a class,
learn to play an instrument, read and stay socially,
intellectually engaged with friends and family.
4PLAY BRAIN GAMES. You can fi nd them everywhere
these days—online, in books, in the app store for your
smartphone and on your kids’ video game devices.
Some experts recommend 20-30 minutes a day for optimal
training.
One thing to keep in mind: Doing the same types of brain
teasers repeatedly—like daily crosswords—only reinforces the
brain’s already established pathways. It isn’t quite as helpful
as trying a variety of mental challenges and tasks.
So, branch out to really pump up that frontal lobe.
H OW F I T A R E YO U R N E U R O N S ?Stay at the top of your game by training every day
Amoena Life | 25
CHECK OUT THESE RESOURCESLumosity.com — Off ers both free and paid plans, and you
can customise your “workouts” to what you want to achieve
—better memory, improvement in learning names/faces,
thinking creatively, even doing faster mental calculations. A
mobile version is also available for free in the iTunes App Store.
BrainAge — This highly rated video game series for
the Nintendo DS is based on the work of a Japanese
neuroscientist and incorporates simple math problem
solving, classical literature, Sudoku and more. You use the
touch screen and stylus for a very interactive experience.
PositScience.com and Brain HQ—Paid and free
subscriptions available. Brain HQ’s exercises are designed
to improve Attention, Memory, Brain Speed, Intelligence,
People Skills, and Navigation, and have been used in
clinical trials.
Clockwork Brain — The London Times chose this as
one of the 500 Best Apps in the world. Fun games for
spatial, visual, logic, language, math and memory—
and word games are available in 9 diff erent languages.
Workbooks— Do a quick search for “brain games” on
Amazon.com and you’ll reveal more than 8,000 workbooks
with brain teasers and tests that work just like the online
versions, if you prefer paper and pencil (and it’s okay if
you do)! |
SUDOKU
ANAGRAM ACTIONHow many diff erent words can you make from the letters in
this phrase?
L O V E A M O E N A B R A S
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
_______________________ _______________________
Set a timer for 3 minutes and get neuro-fi t!
WORD SEARCH
SOLUTIONS
4 6 5163 1 4
1356
65 3
65
26 2
1
23
41
5
52 351
23 2
2
14
3
25 216
53
3
1
43
52
315
3 4 6 15
2 35
1
2
3 2
2
6 51 4
4 23 6
2 36 5
5 6
6 51 4
4 1
14
3
4 6 5
16
3 1 41
2 5 3 4 63
56
53
54
62
23
21
6 4 1 22
41
53
4 2 1 63
6 44
3
6
1 6
5
5 21 3
1 32 6
6 15 4
3 5
5 32 4
4 2
52
1
1 5 3
34
5 6 26
6 3 4 1 52
34
24
65
56
12
12
3 4 1 52
41
36
C E N G A G E D T K W M B S
S Y X V U F C H M L E R M N
R Y W Z O D G V V M A Q M S
E X E R C I S E O I A Q T S
E C V T R R P R N L H I U V
T M C T S R Y T Z T M D E D
I W A F H D E H H U O H R S
F E D N B A E O L K G O N R
T L N B S I B A U Y W O G S
E M F E M B T K A S R U A X
G Z R E I E I A S U B H B T
I X R E Q Q F O E D N R I O
K S S K H L R N B A Z Z B G
N S G I E C U S Y A U B A Z
Alzheimers
Get Fit
Brain Teaser
Hobbies
Crossword
Memory
Eat Right
Neurons
Engaged
Stimulate
Exercise
Sudoku
26 | Amoena Life Amoena Life | 27
Years ago, I started
to say, “That island’s
looking good!” whenever
things bugged me, or the
city was feeling just, too
busy, or I simply couldn’t
fi nd a parking spot.
2012 arrived, and I found myself longing
for a change. The idea of the “Island”
was no longer a pie in the sky idea,
and my husband was on board too.
As with anything we do, we threw
ourselves into it, and started looking for
the dream location, the one that would
be our last move, and would really feed
our souls in our retirement years.
We had one very defi nite requirement,
wherever we went, it must be fl at, because
Colin is a C5/6 Quadriplegic from a
Hang Gliding accident 35 years ago.
After a fairly exhausting, fruitless search,
in some of the most divine coastal towns
in Victoria, we took an unplanned side
trip, to an Isthmus in Eastern Gippsland.
As we drove down the long main road to
the town, I joked about the name of this
place. Paynesville, Paaaaaynesville, how
could I live in a place named Paynesville?
We reached the end of the road, and
Lake Victoria stretched out in front of
us, yachts bobbed on the glassy water,
and to the left, there was an island. It
took my breath away! Pelicans have
always been positive, spiritual signposts
for me, they were there too, gliding
above us, and in groups in the water.
I remember saying “I could live here!”
Within a few weeks, we had started
negotiating to buy the perfect house.
I believe the house found us. It had
been on the market for 2 years and was
wheelchair friendly, with killer views!
The day we got the news that our off er
had been accepted, we put our home
on the market. What on earth were we
thinking? We’d broken the cardinal rule
of real estate. Fortunately, the house
sold quickly, and the renovations began
on the new place. Four stress fi lled
months of driving 350km each way
every couple of weeks, to oversee the
work, and organising all the fi xtures and
fi ttings from that distance, we were on
our way to a new chapter in our lives.
By late September, everything had settled
down, and most of the work was fi nished.
We had met wonderful people, most, had
had a similar experience, arriving here by
accident too. It is a magic place that has
a way of drawing likeminded people to it.
I received a reminder in the mail for my
routine mammogram. I called and got an
appointment the very next day. I remember
kidding around about how diff erent it
is here in the country. I’d be waiting for
weeks in the city for an appointment.
I chatted with the operator while she
was doing my mammogram, even
discovered that she had known my
husband 30 years ago. When she said
she needed more shots of my right
side, I felt a strange sensation in my
stomach. I had always been told I had
tissue that they could see right through,
that it was easy to read. I put it down
to the fact we’d been chatting, and she
may not have got what she needed.
Sunny days turned into weeks, and
an unexpected phone call gave me
that same strange sensation I had
felt in my stomach on the day of my
mammogram. It was someone from
BreastScreen and I was being “Invited
Back” for further investigation. They had
seen something on my mammogram.
I so wanted to say, “Thank you, but
no, I can’t accept your invitation!”
A week later, Colin and I were driving the
2 hours to Breast Screen in Traralgon.
I was taken in and a nurse explained
that I would have another mammogram
to check the area that was a concern,
then if they weren’t happy with that, I
would have an Ultrasound, then maybe
a Fine Needle Aspiration, and if they still
weren’t happy, I would have a Stereotactic
Vacuum Assisted Core Biopsy. The
fear was beginning to really build, like a
Roller Coaster Ride, that clackety-clack
as it approaches the top of the rise.
I met Steph, the Radiographer, she
showed me what we were dealing with.
It looked just like the Nike tick, or the
Milky Way. Microcalcifi cations, was what
they were called. I felt comfortable with
Steph. I went back to the waiting room,
in my Christian Dior gown, along with
the other 17 ladies seated there. I clearly
remember thinking the ratio is 1:9, two
of us are getting bad news today.
I was right, two of us were singled
out for Stereotactic Vacuum Assisted
Core Biopsies, at the time I thought I
must have something terribly serious,
because I had bypassed all the other
tests and had gone straight to the “Big
Gun,” and a very Big Gun, it was too!
Steph talked me through the whole
procedure, and explained that this was the
test required for this presentation.
I was suspended off the fl oor, on that
skinny table, attached to the machine by
the paddles that clutched the off ending
breast. I saw each core as it was removed,
on a screen, and when Steph showed
me where they had placed the BC
Ribbon shaped, Titanium Clip, I had an
overwhelming rush of emotion for all those
women, who had gone before me on this
journey. Suddenly, it was all very real.
I had 11 agonising days to wait for my
results. The race that stops a nation, The
Melbourne Cup, just happened to fall on
the day I should have received the results,
so I had to wait another long week, for
the next clinic. The waiting was brutal.
In my gut, I knew I wasn’t going to
be in the 80% who would walk away
from this unscathed. Finally, I got my
results. The biopsy did indeed show
DCIS, Intermediate, and High Grade. A
lumpectomy with 6 weeks of radiation
was indicated, and of course, until
the fi nal pathology is in, there are
no promises that there wouldn’t be
another surprise lurking in there.
I found a sensational Surgeon, who asked
me to make a decision about what “I”
wanted to do. I wanted to avoid Radiation
if at all possible, so I decided to have a
Mastectomy, without reconstruction.
I had another month to wait for
the surgery, which took me up to
a few days before Christmas.
I spent the night before my surgery at
a Motel near the Hospital. I was sure I
had made the right decision for me, but I
needed to disengage from my right breast.
I know this seems very weird, and wouldn’t
be for everyone, but I actually spoke to my
breast, I said “You’ve let me down, you
have to go!” It worked for me. I felt a sense
of calm which stayed with me that night.
Early next morning, I breezed through the
Sentinel Node Tracer, even though I feared
it even more than the surgery. I have no
idea why, but people seem to get perverse
pleasure out of telling you horror stories
about their bad experiences. I couldn’t
wait to be able to go back to them and
say “I had a great experience, with a
wonderful operator, and it didn’t hurt a bit!”
I spoke with my Surgeon just before I went
in to theatre, and reminded him I wanted
a really great, straight scar. I was feeling
really confi dent now, I felt a slight sting
in my hand, and the lights went out.
The fi rst face I saw when I woke up
was my Surgeon, he was saying that
he’d done what I asked, and the scar
was so straight, he’d even checked
it with a spirit level. In my anesthetic
stupor I said, “Oh Wow, Really?” to
which he replied, with a laugh “No!”.
I stayed awake all night, walking the halls,
chatting, and drinking tea with the Nurses,
I didn’t need any pain meds, then, or in
the days that followed. I felt wonderful.
First thing next morning, my Surgeon
was back to see me. He removed the
bandages, said I looked great, and to go
home. I had been there for 16 hours.
I went home with a drain still attached, and
prepared for Christmas in a few days.
My Daughter arrived, and stayed for
10 wonderful days. The roles were
reversed for the fi rst time, ever. We
laughed, reminisced, and created great
new memories. She wouldn’t let me
do a thing, and I really enjoyed it.
I had the wonderful District Nurses coming
to see me daily, my drain came out in 6
days, and the dressings and steri-strips
were removed after 10 days. I couldn’t
believe how good I felt, but I had a fear of
infection. My Mother had been diagnosed
with Breast cancer in ’94, just 4 months
after my Dad passed away. She had a
Radical Mastectomy, and almost died
from a massive infection. I didn’t realise
at the time, just how brave she’d been.
She was a great role model for me, and
I am sure her grace and dignity, not to
mention her wicked sense of humour,
were what made non reconstruction right
for me too. I read a beautiful line on a BC
Forum that spoke to me, “I remember my
Mother’s smile, like the curve of her scar!”
When I saw the beginning of an infection
starting I was back to see my Surgeon.
I had a Seroma, a hematoma, a stitch
that hadn’t dissolved, and Mondors
Disease. Who’d have thought!
I still felt great, but I ended up on
my back, with my surgeon holding
a big syringe, and a scalpel.
Just a hiccup, it was all good, and
so was the pathology report which
had just arrived that morning.
I was straining over every word, all foreign
terms. Pure DCIS, Intermediate and High
Grade, No Evidence of Invasive Ductal
Carcinoma! He said, “because of your
decision to have the mastectomy, you
are eff ectively cured. It was all removed.
There is no more treatment required!”
I felt the Roller Coaster teeter at
the top, and then the rush, as
it dropped to the bottom.
I am one of the many, many women who
are receiving this diagnosis of DCIS, a
very controversial form of Breast Cancer
to some, and Pre Cancer to others. New
Digital Mammography machines are
fi nding this much earlier than perhaps
it could have been in the past. Some
believe that it is being over treated.
For me, I have not a single regret, and if
there was a hint of it in my remaining good
breast, I’d remove that too, in a heartbeat.
I am now 4 months out from my surgery.
I have been extremely fortunate, both
in diagnosis, and recuperation. Am
I the same woman that went into
this? No way! I have changed, and I
have felt a shift. Things look and feel
diff erent, in a good way. I don’t know
if it is from feeling that fear, and then
getting somewhat of a reprieve.
I started to investigate everything available
to me in lingerie, prosthesis, and clothing.
The one name that kept coming up
was Amoena. A week after my surgery
I went to my local Amoena retailer to
be fi tted for a prosthesis and some
bras. The girls were wonderful, asking
if I was going to have a mastectomy,
when I said I had already had it a week
ago they were amazed, but sent me
home, and told me I couldn’t be fi tted for
another 5 weeks, at least. I managed
to make do with some softies.
I went for my fi tting 6 weeks to the day,
after my surgery, I got my prosthesis, a
couple of great bras, and my absolute
favourite item, the Valletta Camisole.
This Camisole is a brilliant item, I
wore it to my fi rst BC group meeting,
imagine how thrilled I was when one
of the women asked why I hadn’t had
my surgery yet. It looked that good!
My Amoena collection is constantly
growing, I have many Valletta camisoles,
and several prosthesis, including
a swim form, and swimsuit.
I am back, watching the seasons change
in my favourite place. I feel really confi dent,
and comfortable with my new “Normal”!
>>> PORTRAITS
Moira‘s story!
Amoena Life | 2928 | Amoena Life
>>> PORTRAITS
So where do I start - The 17 November will always be a memorable day for me for a number of reasons - it was the day I was born, it was the day I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, and 12 months later it was the day that in conjunction with St Andrews Hospital in Adelaide, South Australia that the launch of the fund raising campaign of $42Kae for St Andrew’s Hospital commenced.
So my journey started when with a friend, I was doing a weight
loss challenge and for me when I lose weight it always starts
from the top! I noticed that my breast shape had changed
and thought this wasn’t quite right so went off to the GP.
From there I started a very private journey of working through
all the diagnostics, seeing the surgeon and getting the fi nal
diagnosis which all happened on my birthday. Within 4 days
I was scheduled for major surgery on a Friday night at St
Andrews – yep the girl who was usually the strong one, the
girl who was always there to do anything, the girl who worked
50 – 60 hours a week at the job she loved while at the same
time training to run marathons! I realised that my life was
going to change a lot but deep down I knew that if I stayed
in control and continued to be positive I would be OK.
I am not really going to go into all the specifi cs but I am
not sure how I can ever explain my sincere appreciation to the
staff at St Andrews from the night of my admission, during my
inpatient stay and discharge process. The compassion showed
from the time I presented at admissions, to the breast care
nurses explaining to me what will happen, to the theatre nurse
and my Surgeon arguing who would hold my hand until I went
to ‘sleep’, to the nurses who were prepared to stay with me
during the night when I couldn’t sleep, to the Chaplin who was
sent in by the CEO to ‘stir me up’! As a health professional
who is used to dealing with ‘challenging situations in the public
health system’ I will ever be grateful to the amazing professional
and compassionate staff at St Andrews – it is truly an amazing
organisation which I strongly believe is infl uenced by the
leadership and commitment of its senior staff and clinicians.
However, that part of the journey was the easiest bit (if
one can say that). The next part started with my Oncologist
explaining to me the treatment regime that I would endure
over the next twelve months. I can still remember quite clearly
the fi rst conversation with me – he said just remember, the
cancer is gone – our job now is to make sure all the ‘rogue
cells’ are gone as well. So this was the start of a chemotherapy
and radiotherapy treatment program which has included
drugs and more drugs and a few radiation beams.
The staff at East Terrace Centre have just been fantastic,
they really make you feel like ‘one of the family’ and I have
always felt very welcome and comfortable going there. It
was during one on my sessions – I was reading my trusted
Runner’s World magazine and about training tips for a marathon
when I thought – yep I could do another marathon (I had
already down two – Paris and Chicago) and I wanted to see
if I could do something for St Andrews. I was supposed to
do the London marathon in 2010 but because of the ‘ash
cloud’, my plane was cancelled the day before I was to leave
so London has always been unfi nished business for me.
So my next step was to have a discussion with Chief
Executive of St Andrews Hospital and when I fl agged my
idea he told me that they were about to announce that they
were going to build a new St Andrews Medical Centre which
would incorporate a new Oncology Suite. So to me, this was
a perfect opportunity and a ‘sign’ that I could do another
marathon and also to see if I could assist in starting some
funding raising as my way to say thank you. At this stage
I was 3 months into my treatment and still going to gym
3 – 4 times a week trying to keep my fi tness levels up.
I fl agged with some of my gym colleagues what I wanted
to do - and I am sure they would say they were conned into it
and were really thinking that they would just go along with my
dreams not really thinking that I would do it – but 3 of them
agreed to run London with me. I have been very fortunate to
have a fantastic gym instructor who has the biggest heart and
will help any of her clients with their goals – so she was prepared
to take the challenge. I think my ‘medical team’ and extended
‘support team’ which included my physios (one to manage
my knee and one to manage my lymphoedema), podiatrist,
massage therapist and naturopath all think I was a bit mad,
my family and friends – well they had given up trying to ‘keep
me down’ cause they know if they try I will just go harder.
So with the aim of raising $42,000 for St Andrews
Hospital - $1,000 for each kilometre – the fund raising
activities and of course the training program commenced
with gusto! The generosity of family, friends and people who
value the care and compassion of the staff who work at St
Andrews have been amazing. I was very appreciative of the
kind donation of gift vouchers from Amoena Australia which
supported a raffl e as part of the fund raising activities
At the time of fl ying out to London on 19 April 2013,
the target of $42,000 was reached and by the time the
marathon was completed on the 21st April the total had
grown to $44,000. All the funds raised will go towards
supporting new patient and staff equipment for the Oncology
Centre which will be located within the new St Andrews
Medical Centre that will be opened in October 2013.
The experience of crossing the fi nish line in the London
Marathon in 5 hours 33 minutes will forever be very memorable
for me. To me it was not only a personal achievement but
a way of saying thank you to so many people who have
helped me on ‘my journey’ over the past 15 months.
Final total of $51,000 was raised for the Oncology Centre.
KAE’S journey running the london marathon
Receive this gorgeous bracelet
when you purchase any Amoena
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*Offer valid 14th October to 31st October 2013 while stocks
last at participating stores. (*excluding Leisure bras)
30 | Amoena Life
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Amoena Life | 31
your a creative soul E M B R A C E S E V E R Y C U R V E
She is now ten years out from her
breast cancer diagnosis, but remembers
clearly what it felt like to be a new mum
(her daughter Claire was just one year
old when she was diagnosed) dealing
with one of the biggest curves life can
throw your way. She doesn’t dwell on
those times, but counsels anyone
currently dealing with a diagnosis to try to
fi nd ways to embrace their new normal.
From her current perspective, life
couldn’t get much better. She and
husband David welcomed another
member to their family four years ago
with the arrival of son Benjamin, and
as she says, “I’m in a really diff erent
place right now. At one point I realised
what I had lost (bodily, and how my
future had changed), but I found what
I needed was to paint my feelings.”
At present, Sara is in the midst of a
two-year project creating 42 original
works of art for the Minneapolis
Children’s Hospitals of MN. Her playful
characters are sure to help the children
being treated there feel much less like
they are in a hospital setting.
Grateful that life’s unexpected
curves have led her to a much better
place than where she found herself just
a little over ten years ago, when she
ponders this year’s pin design, Sara says,
“For me this woman is wrapped with
a ribbon of power, love, compassion,
knowledge, insight, passion, support,
victory, joy, and the understanding of
the true importance in life.” |
This year’s pin artist, Sara Weingartner
(she previously created a design in
2003), found her inspiration by focusing
on a victorious female who has conquered
breast cancer. Sara’s design depicts a
woman wrapped in the pink ribbon,
and to her way of thinking, the ribbon
symbolises all the good and bad that
comes with a diagnosis.
When asked how she approached
the project, Sara shares: “You ask what
good can come from cancer? Well, for
me, it was about my peak awareness
of the preciousness of life. People
who cared about me came out of the
woodwork and I was wrapped with an
amazing outpouring of support. My
family was there for me every day. I was
truly blessed, which made me see the
goodness in the world. I learned a lot
about my body and I brought awareness
of breast cancer to everyone around
me. I connected with a higher being in
a profound way. Having cancer also
made me care less about trivial things
and made me focus on my passions
– and of course, next to my family, art
is at the top of that list.”
A visit to Sara’s website,
www.creativesouldesign.com, feels
about as far away from breast cancer as
you can get! In this fanciful realm, the
fi rst thing you notice is her glorious use
of colours and whimsical images. Sara’s
creative world is fi lled with magical
characters where you are likely to
encounter a laughing pig, a singing moose,
a frog driving a car, turtles dreaming,
or a mother embracing her child.
Since a breast cancer diagnosis means something different to every woman affected and doesn’t discriminate based on a woman’s size or shape, the theme for this year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Pin celebrates how important it is to Embrace Every Curve—the curves of our bodies, as well as the curves life throws our way.
The 2013 limited edition pin, Embrace Every Curve, is available at participating Amoena retailers. Net proceeds from the pin sales are donated to Australian breast cancer support organisations. To fi nd an Amoena retailer near you, call 1800 773 285.
2013 Sara Weingartner
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
PIN ARTIST
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