You will certainly Glow when using our Award Winning Cleansing Balm, and Vogue has given their stamp of approval in April's edition. It doesn't get much better!
Hurry they are flying off our shelves!
This week we celebrate women who share Kate's Strength, Resilience, and Achievements on our blog & stories.
It is understood that adversities are part and parcel of everyone’s life, and women often must go the extra mile to overcome them. Kate fought back despite the unfair cards fate dealt her and will always remain inspiring to so many.
This week we will celebrate inspiring ladies who, like Kate, also established businesses whilst undergoing health challenges. The strength of these ladies and their tenacity is the common thread.
We are super excited to introduce you to Lizzie England you may have seen this Super Woman on Instagram, she's somewhat famous for her reels!
Delighted to introduce you to 'Lizzi England'.
32 years old, Mum of 3 beautiful children, aged 3,4 and 10 and married to Taylor.
Lizzie was first diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2019 whilst pregnant with her third child. She had to undergo treatment throughout her pregnancy, but thankfully delivered Violet safely and continues with treatment, where she reached NED in June 2020.
She was diagnosed with secondaries in July 2021, a day after her 31st birthday. It took a long time to get diagnosed; the pain was dismissed for a long time as wear and tear or being too young for metastatic breast cancer despite being diagnosed with primary Breast Cancer at the age of 29.
Lizzi lives with secondaries in her bone, that being her spine, pelvis and sternum.
She’s on palliative cancer treatment, desperate to live life as normally as possible.
Apart from her children, one of her greatest achievements was being a serving front-line Police officer. However, she has recently had to make the tough decision to be medically retired.
Since then, she started creating a number of small personalised gifts and named the business after her two daughters - Violet Ivy Gifts. Since then, she has expanded the range and now offers a multitude of cute colourful gifts to suit anyone and everyone. Since starting in April 2022, it has gone from strength to strength. Not only does this provide a source of income to a family of five, but it also gives Lizzi that much-needed normality, a sense of purpose and something to strive for.
Here are a few of her colourful creations, which can be purchased here on Etsy
Happy Women's Day to all the incredible women out there!
This week we celebrate women who share Kate's Strength, Resilience, and Achievements on our blog & stories.
It is understood that adversities are part and parcel of everyone’s life, and women often must go the extra mile to overcome them. Kate fought back despite the unfair cards fate dealt her and will always remain inspiring to so many.
This week we will celebrate inspiring ladies who, like Kate, also established businesses whilst undergoing health challenges. The strength of these ladies and their tenacity is the common thread.
We are super excited to introduce you to 'Designs by a Little Bit of Hope.'
Designs by a Little Bit of Hope was created during the first Lockdown by Hope, who, before having her little boy, Bertie, had served as a high-profile Nanny for ten years. Hope came up with the idea of teaming up with her Mum, an Artist, to design her own range of nursery prints.
The concept of the business was to create simple pencil sketches for Nursery’s and children’s bedrooms by using Hope's experience of working with children and her Mums unique way of drawing. Designs by a Little Bit of Hope grew steadily with a steady stream of new customers and lots of exciting potential to continue to grow and expand the business.
However, in June 2021 Hope suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage caused by a benign brain tumour called a Cavernoma. This led to a life-changing diagnosis, which meant that some adjustments would have to be made to her day-to-day life.
There was a recovery period and some challenges along the way, and having a business to focus on ironically gave her hope. Together Hope and her Mum came up with new designs, which are now their best sellers, and they decided to expand from prints into baby swaddle muslins.
Their unique hand-drawn designs are printed onto muslin blankets which are 70% Bamboo & 30% Organic cotton; they are exceptionally soft, cosy, breathable and gentle on baby's delicate skin, making it the perfect swaddle to be wrapped in.
The business became a finalist in Muddy Stilettos Awards for best children's business 2021, has featured in HOME&GARDENUK, Sheerluxe, Chealsea life magazine, as seen in Mama&papas & Stacey Solomon's littlest pickles nursery along with winning the 2022 Gold award for ‘The best gift for new baby gift’
With the launch of new products arriving imminently and a focus on growing the business by getting the products into more retailers, they currently stocked in 11 shops, the future looks exciting.
Hope knows that building a small business is an achievement, that it takes time and a lot of patience but most of all it takes belief in yourself and a lot of faith that others will love it as much as you do.
Happy Women's Day to all the incredible women out there!
This week we celebrate Kate's Strength, Resilience, and Achievements on our blog & stories.
It is understood that adversities are part and parcel of everyone’s life, and women often have to go the extra mile to overcome them. Kate fought back despite the unfair cards fate dealt her.
This week we will celebrate inspiring ladies who, like Kate, also established businesses while undergoing cancer treatment. The strength of these ladies and their tenacity is the common thread.
Today we want to celebrate Roisin, even though life has challenged her beyond what most of us could comprehend, she has thrived raising her family and developing her own business, 'Fighty Pants'.
We are delighted to introduce you to the Ray of Sunshine, Roison.
Written by Roisin -
Hello!
I'm Roisin; book reader, wine lover, gift maker, mummy of two and wife of one. Lover of the great outdoors.
MY DIAGNOSIS
I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in 2014 when I was 34 weeks pregnant aged 32. It was, as you can imagine... horrific. I was induced 4 weeks early and Ivy was born perfectly healthy. The cancer took over everything in those early days and I hated it for it. The excitement and nerves of giving birth had been completely replaced with 'get the baby out so you can get the cancer out!' I recurred in 2018 and although I'm now classed as incurable, I'm delighted to say - I'm bloody thriving!
CANCER MADE ITSELF MY BUSINESS, SO I DECIDED TO MAKE IT MINE
After dragging myself out of hell, I decided that cancer had taken too much of me and if it was something I had to live with - then so be it. So I decided to make it work for me. And so ‘Fighty Pants' was born! I had received so many well wishes and gifts throughout my diagnoses - some were amazing and some not so much (Sorry.)
As horrendous as a diagnosis is, it is a really wonderful feeling if you're lucky enough to be wrapped up in love and well wishes (and yes, gifts and dinner on the doorstep!) People willing you on! I wore a couple of my gifts like lucky charms to every treatment and I felt that they really helped. You can become quite neurotic I think... for example, if something isn't done a certain way, something bad might happen. I also began writing about my experience and people empathised or familiarised with so much of what I was talking about. I'd utter words like "Goin nowhere motherfucker' or 'what a crock of absolute shit."
PRE-CANCER
I had worked in the Oncology unit in hospital before my diagnoses and I'd tried to go back but just being in that environment was incredibly triggering and I knew I couldn't stay. But I still had to earn a living so I decided to make some cards with things like ‘Goin’ nowhere motherfucker’ printed into them, then it was pin badges with positive mantras attached. I would wear my pins like lucky charms when I had to do something scary and it seems thousands of others do the same because it has grown and grown and I now sell with Not On The High Street and Not Another Bunch Of Flowers as well as Thortful & Scribbler! Wahhhhh!
I absolutely adore what I do and I love hearing from people who have found the perfect gift at Fighty Pants and how they’ve helped in some small way.
WHY FIGHTY PANTS IS IMPORTANT TO ME
As a cancer patient for almost 9 years now (WOWZERS!) I feel pretty fluent in the ‘what to say' and the 'what not to say' code.
Although I'm always learning. Using this to my advantage has created an audience who keep coming back when they can't quite find the right thing to say to someone who is going through a tough time. That is so incredibly valuable to me; it's one thing to have a small business, but when people remember you and come back to you makes it so worthwhile and gives me such a thrill!
Shop here - Fighty Pants
MY HOPES FOR THE FUTURE
My dream is that I will continue to thrive and my treatment will continue to work. I want to be able to experience all those little moments with my children. I want to sit in the back garden with my husband when I'm an old lady and feel that sunshine on my face. I want to continue to use my experiences - good and bad to help others and to show them that a full and wonderful life can still be achievable with an incurable diagnosis.
I would love Fighty Pants to be the place people think of when someone needs an understanding word or an encouraging gift or a perfect idea for celebrating the milestones, no matter how big or small.
The last few months have brought exciting things, including collaborations with some wonderful people through the power of social media. I’m so honoured and so pleased to be involved with Secondary Sisters, JustbeingJUles with The Roy Castle Lung Foundation and an incredible new foundation ‘Fighting To Be Heard.’ Being able to support them and help to raise funds is such a wonderful feeling, knowing that we’re contributing to change and education!
There’s going to be more collaborations with more charities and communities who want to help raise awareness and funds in their own individual style.
By April, there’s going to be another new range to celebrate 4 years in business and I’m so excited to show you some powerful, fun, light hearted, hilarious, maybe sweary but stylish new additions so watch this space.
The Beauty Shortlist Awards celebrates the Best in Natural Beauty, and our CLEANSING BALM IS THE WINNER!
The Cleansing Balm sold out so many times last year, we experienced record sales and the news of our win today put this beautiful product on the beauty map.
This award is so prestigious, to explain we want to share with you past and present judges
Irene Falcone, founder of leading Australian natural beauty & wellbeing retailer Nourished Life
- Jessica Ourisman – California-based freelance beauty editor (The Zoe Report, Harper’s Bazaar, re.spin (Halle Berry), and founder of CBD site Beauty Stoned.
- London-based red carpet, cruelty-free makeup artist Justine Jenkins (Fearne Cotton)
- Katie Hill, the founder of eco-living magazine My Green Pod (distributed with The Guardian to 6 million eco-conscious readers quarterly)
- Top UK nutritionist Vicki Edgson (author of “Honestly Healthy”).
A FEW WORDS FROM INDUSTRY LEADERS & INSIDERS
“No other awards champion beauty brands, both established and upcoming, like The Beauty Shortlist does.
A true celebration of the best, the awards’ impartiality and inclusiveness mean that there’s an opportunity for every brand to take part irrespective of budget, size or provenance, and to share a platform that brings them wider recognition.”
The British Beauty Council
“I love the integrity that shines through. These awards should be used as everyone’s beauty shopping list.”
Alexia Inge, co-founder, Cult Beauty
Kate McIver Skincare was carefully selected for Vogue's March Spring Skin feature. To say we are thrilled is an understatement! This is what brands dream of, and we dedicate this success to our founder Kate McIver on her fourth anniversary.
The March 2023 Issue: Fashion and Family
Debuting news of your second child at the Super Bowl? Icon behaviour. Rihanna graces the cover of the British Vogue March 2023 issue, in none other than a ground-breaking series of family portraits, to discuss her most seismic reinvention yet- becoming a mother.
Editor-in-Chief Edward Enninful also heralds this March issue as 'a fashion bonanza. Our bountiful Trends section heralds the key moods for the new season, from laid-back luxury to the Vogue spin on contemporary grunge, metallics and popping colour. Do not shop without it. Meanwhile, we meet a cross-section of the activists, lawyers and policymakers working tirelessly to tackle the ever-present spectre of gendered violence against women. Their brilliance and commitment truly give me hope.'
We believe our Secret Weapon Serum Original is also an Icon in its own right, as do our customers; see their reviews here. Use Discount Code 'Vogue' to start your Glowing journey.
We are so excited to share the news that Kate McIver Skin has been featured in the high-end luxury Magazine, Millionair, in their A/W Edition. As an early Christmas gift, we thought we would share the feature for you to read!
Also, we would like to thank Melanie Burnett, Editor-in-Chief, for writing such an amazing piece about our founder and brand.
To read more, head to:
https://issuu.com/milli-on-air/docs/millionair_autumn_winter_2022_
We are honoured to share Brogan's story with you all this Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
So many within the Secondary Breast Cancer Community are inspired by Brogan's positivity and the openness of her journey is giving others with Secondaries hope her positivity is endearing.
We are blessed to know Brogan through our involvement with the Cancer Community and we hope Brogan’s Blog informs and provides hope for others.
Brogan was given 3 months to live, and she defies the odds with her recent stable CT scan and the tumours in her liver and neck having disappeared!
Brogan shares, "Please everyone live every day like it's your last and treasure the moments. Make memories and stay positive because mental health is integral in kicking cancer's arse."
Grab a cuppa, or glass of your favourite and read this amazing ladies' share..
Hey, peeps, I am Brogan, @brogan.smashingsecondaries
I am 34 and currently living with secondary breast cancer. My primary diagnosis was in January 2019, stage 3 Her 2 positive breast cancer with 1 lymph node involvement. I had 6 rounds of chemo should have been 7 but decided to have anaphylaxis to FEC. Then mastectomy with lymph clearance and temporary reconstruction, 15 rounds of radiotherapy then 18 cycles of Herceptin and Pertuemab to reduce the risk of reassurance. I had DIEP reconstruction in 2020 as we went into lockdown where I had my healthy breast removed and reconstructed from the fat in my stomach to give more natural-looking breasts.
After my Herceptin and Pertuzemab in October 2020, I was told I was free from Cancer but no scan to confirm.
I started complaining about left-sided rib pain and back pains on November 20 and was told my cancer wouldn't return and to learn to understand my body.
Fast forward to Feb 21 pain was still uncomfortable and I saw my oncologist who notice numbness in my leg and admitted me for an urgent MRI. This was clear so no further investigation but the pain in my side continued.
I returned to work on May 21 and the fatigue was huge even after 4 hours at work I used to cry as my body hurt so much and I would sleep for days afterwards. I found a lump in my neck on June 21 and managed to get face to face appointment with my new oncologist by this time voice had started to change but I thought it was hay fever. He arranged for an ultrasound and chest x-ray still no CT scan as I was too young for so much radiation.
On July 21 I was at work and found myself struggling to breathe thinking it was just the mask and panicking I tried to dismiss it but was sent to ED with my history to get checked out. 3 hours later and after 1 chest x-ray, I was told I had covid lung and to go home and rest. I was so relieved it was the other big C but couldn't understand how I had covid lung and never had covid but hey what did I know?
I went home and was sent to an appointment for my ultrasound which I went for and the sonographer said to me Brogan it doesn't look good and questioned why I was breathless so I explained my covid lung, he checked my previous Xray and asked me if he could arrange a full body CT scan as he wanted to rule out metastasis of my cancer. I went for my scan and knew in my heart it was back I was told to contact my oncologist Monday morning.
I rang his secretary to be told he was off sick but working from home and if the CT scan was urgent, he would have called me so no news was good news. 10 days passed and I was getting progressively worst and couldn't breathe. My mom took me to ED and they said I had covid sepsis, I was sat in a cubicle alone and the consultant came in with a cancer look on his face and said I've looked at your CT scan and I'm sorry your cancer is back and it's advanced, he said looking at your scan I doubt we can offer treatment and predict 2 weeks to live. I sat there alone due to covid, I called my husband and had to tell him his wife was dying over the phone, it was the worst call of my life.
I had 3L of fluid on my left lung, a tumour in my neck, and liver and both lungs were covered in small tumours. Well, I didn't expect that one so in the short form now I was admitted and had 3l fluid drained from my left lung, pleural talc treatment to try and help stop the fluid, lots of steroids and told by my oncology team I could have palliative chemo if I was stable which I wasn’t, and my prognosis was poor 3 months maximum 12.
I finally was a strange version of stable to have palliative chemo 3 cycles of kadcyla causing my cancer to progress to most bones from next to my knees, my lung continued to fill will fluid requiring multiple drainage and chest drains.
Finally, on November 21 I had a heart scan which showed cardiac tamponade and I had emergency heart surgery to remove the fluid from my heart and lungs and insert a permanent pleural drain which I could empty at home.
I used to drain 500mls every 2-3 days at home and we switched chemo to Enherthu. On December 21 I had a strange drainage like a milky substance and when they tested the fluid it had pseudomonus so needed 6 weeks of intravenous antibiotics which I started self-administering at home.
Christmas eve I went for a check-up with the respiratory team and we found my drain was blocked despite attempts to unblock we decided it was time to remove it. Boxing day I felt rotten so went to ED where they found I had Covid and still the infection on my lung so finally it was time to say bye to my chest drain.
This was the point I decided no more hospital admission I wasn't dying anymore and 2022 was for living.
I have stuck to my plan it's now October 22 and I have not had any more admissions. I have my chemotherapy every 3 weeks Enherthu but have decided to live my life.
My recent CT scan was stable and the tumours in my liver and neck have disappeared!
Positive Mental Attitude
I have alternative therapy such as intuitive healing and hyperbaric oxygen therapy which I honestly believe helps me keep a positive mental attitude.
Life is too short to worry about death, so I've decided I need to focus on the living, and I love every second. I have a beautiful daughter who will be 7 in November and an amazing husband whom I've promised another 20 years, and I don't break promises. I hate I had to be told I was dying to learn how to live properly I know the last 18 months have been rough, but I've loved having time with my family.
Please everyone live every day like it's your last and treasure the moments.
Make memories and stay positive because mental health is integral in kicking cancer's arse.
Love Brogan ❤️
A few weeks ago, we went with Make 2nds Count the Charity to Future Dreams House. This is the only specialised Breast Cancer Support Centre in the UK.
Make 2nds Count Tea & Chat launched at Future Dreams House
Future Dreams funds research into breast cancer, provides practical and emotional support for those touched by the disease and saves lives by early detection through their campaign 'Change and Check' which some of you may learnt of from the 'Lorraine Show'.
It was started in 2008 by mother and daughter Sylvie Henry and Danielle Leslie. By a cruel twist of fate, they were both diagnosed with breast cancer, Danielle just 35 and a mother of 3 young children. Tragically both women lost their lives to the disease within a year in 2009.
Since 2008 they have continued their legacy to raise over £6.5m for support, awareness, and research.
Future Dreams Values -
'As a charity, we are inspired by the vision of our founders and the precious insight and advice from the people and families we have met on the journey. Future Dreams wants to make a breast cancer experience less bleak and lonely using these core values.'
Currently, Future Dreams offer the following workshops and classes.
If you have Secondary Breast Cancer and want to know more about the 'Tea & Chat' support get togethers in your area and at Future Dreams head to www.make2ndscount.co.uk
Kitchen area in the house
When we spoke to Sam Moffat, best friend of Danielle who is the protector of the legacy and Future Dreams House, she shared that Future Dreams House is the home to all those going through Breast Cancer.
The 1-2-1 treatments they will eventually be offered at the House:
Should you want to pop in for a coffee, spend the day chilling in the comfy area which has been carefully curated by Sam, or join a support group, the Future Dreams House door is open.
Future Dreams is supported by celebrities, medical, beauty and fashion experts, not to mention inspirational campaigners and business people.
Some familiar ambassadors who support and shine a light and are Gaby Roslin, Dame Judi Dench, Patsy Kensit, Kylie Minogue, Dame Arlene Phillips to name but a few.
It was lovely for our kathryn to meet Sara from Ticking off Breast Cancer who has now become involved with the team at Future Dreams. They laughed about the live they carried out during lockdown and how great it was to finally meet.
Kathryn shared, "The Future Dreams house is a home. You know that warm feeling when you walk in to a home were your loved it had that magic. The air was filled with a beautiful fragrance, smiles and hugs were plentiful and the rooms were filled with chatter although a sense of calm. I felt vey fortunate to have been given such a warm welcome and see first hand the positive impact the support services were having on ladies."
You can donate , give time just get in touch with the team they are so approachable.
x
Hello! My name is Angelina Hardy, I am 27 years old, and on the 15th of November 2021, I was unfortunately diagnosed with stage 1 DCIS grade 3 hormone-positive HER2 negative breast cancer at 26 years old.
My entire life fell apart; I had no idea what to do or whom to talk to; I felt so confused... Breast cancer at 26?
Your whole outlook on life completely changes; you change. This has been the most challenging life journey yet, difficult conversations were had throughout this journey, and my life will never be the same again.
As of Tuesday, 11th January 2022, I can officially say with great pleasure.
I am Cancer Free!
I, like other younger women, naively thought breast cancer only aected older women..because you rarely see anything about breast cancer in younger women! I was diagnosed when covid-19 was still a concern so I couldn't see friends and family as often as I wanted to which often left me feeling isolated from the world..as I was also o work at this time. I then decided to do my first ever Tiktok video...I didn't really know where to start but I knew it would be a way of keeping my mind occupied! And I'm so glad I started on tiktok, not only have I been able to document and share my breast cancer journey, I've also connected with many other younger women I otherwise would have never met!
Doing this has also enabled me to raise awareness of breast cancer in younger women, I've had countless women come forward and tell me my videos have urged them to self-check and see their GP's when something wasn't right, something I will always be proud of.
Being online also has lead me to discovering so many charities that work towards raising awareness for breast cancer, and brands too!
Which lead me to Kate McIver Skin.
They saw a few of my videos, and I came across their Instagram page and saw the founder Kate had breast cancer herself and wanted to create skincare products accessible to women going through treatment such as chemotherapy. Kate was incredibly well known and respected in the skincare world, and after reading about the brand and about Kate I knew I had to try these incredible products!
I immediately ordered the secret weapon serum after seeing such incredible reviews, and after ordering I just had to get in contact with them to say how excited I was about ordering and how I loved how the brand were catering towards women going through treatment and to my surprise they added a cleansing balm to my order! How incredible?! I couldn't wait to start using these incredible products. Angelina's favourite pair here.
Kathryn from the Kate McIver Skin Team shared,
“When I initially saw Angelina sharing about the Secret Weapon Serum, I was a little choked as she reminded me so much of our Kate, her beautiful smile, long dark hair and when we chatted Angelina had the same zest for life, I obviously had an immediate connection with her. We have grown friendly throughout her journey and I am delighted its now over and her new journey begins. Kate’s legacy lives on when her products and company can support people on their difficult path, we are all immensely grateful to be able to continue her work. All our love for the future Angelina.”
