Put On Your Own Mask First!

We’ve all heard the instructions on aircraft – “put on your own mask first before you help others”.  In a very similar way, we hear that professionals trained in first aid should always look after themselves first and foremost in any emergency situation.

We’re all happy to comply, and to adopt these instructions, except for when it comes to self-care!

So, you’re a busy mum or dad, and you are going through cancer – it’s not easy, in fact it’s one of the very hardest things that you ever have to do, and yet somewhere between taking your kids to soccer practice, looking after the home, holding down full or part-time work, finding time for your spouse, partner, friends or colleagues, you simply forget to give yourself the dedicated time and love that you need.

Cancer is debilitating. Heck, it’s so tiresome.  Getting through cancer takes time, energy and so much effort.  Endless appointments, blood tests, scans, more blood tests, more appointments… All of those before you even have the stress of treatment to deal with!

If this wasn’t bad enough, let’s then add all of the treatments’ side effects, hair loss, nausea, deep-rooted bone ache, loss of appetite, loss of libido, loss of desire to see friends and to enjoy time with others, all whilst battling the never-ending constant fatigue, and of course even more appointments.

STOP!  Full Stop!  Pause, rewind, prioritize… and delegate!

That’s right, DELEGATE, it’s not a swear word – do not be afraid to give smaller tasks to other people around you.  If you don’t have many people around you to help, learn to say “NO”!  It’s time for you to give yourself some true and unconditional love.  If you love life, and you are serious about whooping cancers’ ugly A** so that you can stay around long enough to meet your grandchildren and watch them grow up, We need to learn to delegate or to say NO!

FACT – Stress, anxiety, depression, overwork, and overwhelmed, has been demonstrated to reduce your body’s best line of defense your natural killer (NK) cells!  Don’t believe me?  A simple Google search can provide enough evidence from many trusted sources.

So where then do we start?

Simple – choose one to three magical things each day that are for you, and for you only.  One to three things that will bring you energy, life, vitality, and joy!

Make these 1-3 things simple but enjoyable, practice Reiki meditation, visit a licensed cancer massage therapist, walk in nature, hug trees, have a gentle workout (if you can), eat delicious high nutrient density foods that bring energy, vitality and life force into your body, mind, and soul – embrace YOU and love yourself enough to do for you what your soul desires.

But just as importantly, create your own personal power mantra.  This could be “I’m doing my best and I will win my fight”, to “I love myself, my life, and my universe”, whatever words resonate deeply with you, and whatever words bring power and positivity into your world.

You see, this is your cancer journey, this is your fight, and it all starts and ends with you!

Put your mantra on the wall, on the kitchen units, the mirrors in your home, pass them daily, multiple times with the physical “high 5” and a smile.

Delegate your non-essential tasks.  Let your children car share for after school activities, reduce your working hours if you can, reach out and ask friends, family, and neighbors for help, join support groups – you are not alone in this journey!  Cancer now affects 1 in 2.5 people, it shouldn’t be taboo anymore to talk about it, nor should it be taboo to reach out and ask for help!

When I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in 2023 I was devastated!  I’d lost my beautiful mum one month earlier, my husband needed me, and our son had just started college… I felt lost, lonely and isolated EVEN with full support.

With my husband’s encouragement, what I did was I put on my own mask first!  I put on my mask, and I wore it with pride.  I hit the gym, I walked in nature, I became a Usui Reiki Master, I juiced so many healthy vegetables and fruits every single day, I took my herbs and my supplements, I took daily detox infrared sauna blanket sessions, I literally immersed myself in the beauty of nature’s holistic healing.

By the time chemotherapy started, I was in full swing.  I was healthy and strong in mind and body, and even more so in my soul.  I was fully fighting fit before beginning my chemotherapy journey. By the time this journey had started (I’ll give my tumor the affectionate name of “lumpy”) I was even more determined to evict “lumpy” more and more with every passing breath.

Two days after my first chemotherapy session I was back in the gym, tired but still there, and still doing my best.  Even when my hair began to fall out, I simply wore my shiny bald head with a smile.

Before my double mastectomy and breast reconstructive surgery in October 2023, the tumor had been reduced to almost undetectable levels, I flew through surgery and never looked back.

Recently, I had my latest appointment with my medical team – thankfully all clear!

Awesome news, however… I’ve made a conscious decision to keep my mask on.  Why? Well quite simply, post-treatment, I’m not going to revert back to living in a way that invited “lumpy” to visit in the first place.

Life change means LIFE change, changing my life, for the rest of my life.

I’m loving my life now more than ever, and I fully encourage everyone in the same situation  – self-love is NOT selfish!  Learn to love yourself a little bit more every day.

Put your mask on first thing every morning, and wear it with love and pride!

 

This article was first published on CETI (Cancer Exercise Training Institute) on 15 May 2025. Republished on ISBUND with author’s permission.