Every year during the month of October, for every WINK sold, we donate one to a cancer warrior, to help their lashes and brows, lost through chemotherapy. In partnership with the Breast Cancer Charities of America, we are sharing these warrior's stories, as powerful examples of how your gift is directly helping breast cancer patients across America.

This week we share the story of one of those warriors, Shanita B., in her own words:

I was diagnosed in December of 2015. My cancer had metastasized to my liver. My primary care doctor referred me to an oncologist. He immediately drew out a plan to help me. I have undergone 5 months of the strongest chemo, have lost 42 lbs and have lost my hair. I had surgery on June 8th, a double mastectomy. My co-workers have been a great support system, along with my family. I am blessed.

But as of June 8th, I can proudly say that I am cancer free! Even though the chemo and side effects were extremely hard, I knew it was important to stay positive and keep a clear mind, and knowing this I knew that I would apply for the Help Now Fund and remain positive and in the end I got positive results. The funding allowed me to be stress-free and stay afloat during a bad situation. It means a lot to have the Breast Cancer Charities of America willing to help out!

This is SO important. 

If you're not familiar with the Help Now Fund, it's an emergency fund run by the Breast Cancer Charities of America that helps Breast Cancer Warriors with their daily needs--like rent, utilities, and mortgage bills--while they're busy fighting cancer.

Financial instability is not something you'd necessarily think of: most Americans have insurance anyway, right? Well, yes, most (48 Million Americans are still uninsured (source)).

But beyond the piling medical bills, those going through chemotherapy don't have the strength or physical ability to go to work; and boy is it hard to pay the bills when your income stops flowing in. Believe it or not, 40% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck (source).

October is all about Breast Cancer--and honestly, all types of cancer--Awareness. You can choose where to spend your dollars: research, individual's life funding, the running of cancer charities--or all of the above.

For those already in a seemingly hopeless situation, your small donation can make a big difference in the stress levels--and therefore the potential life outcome, given the strong links between psychological stress and physical health--of a cancer warrior. 

To find out more about how you can donate to the Help Now Fund, visit the Breast Cancer Charities of America page, here.

Every year during the month of October, for every WINK sold, we donate one to a cancer warrior, to help their lashes and brows, lost through chemotherapy. In partnership with the Breast Cancer Charities of America, we are sharing these warrior's stories, as powerful examples of how your gift is directly helping breast cancer patients across America.

This week we share the story of one of those warriors, Michelle Passarella, in her own words:

"In May 2014, I was diagnosed with Stage 1 HER2+ER+3+PR+. My last treatment was October 3rd, 2015. Due to treatments, my immune system has been compromised. I get ill often, have neuropathy in my hands and feet, and fall all the time. My life has slowed down tremendously.

I found the Breast Cancer Charities of America through the internet. I receive most of my support through meditation groups, long walks on the beach and participating in a lot of charity runs.

Michelle at a charity run

My best advice is keep fighting! I unleashed my inner "Warrior" as "we" breast cancer survivors put it. During my treatments, I still had running. It was my therapy, and it saved me. I imagined each finish line as me reaching the point where I'm about to be. I would cry each time I finished a race and look for the next race to participate in because it meant another week I am living. I had to look cancer in the face and not hide from it. I would walk through some days without a wig, not because I wanted sympathy, but because wigs bothered my skin. Let me tell you how liberating it is to feel rain drops on the coconut; very therapeutic, just saying!"

Oh my god, how can you not love Michelle's spirit?

She painted a really powerful picture of resiliency of the human spirit. I really wish I could just give her a hug!

In case you don't know what Michelle meant by "Stage 1 HER2+ER+3+PR+" (I didn't!), here's a guide to understanding what the different diagnoses mean, and what the treatment looks like for each one.

It is really important that breast cancer is caught early, as an early disagnosis greatly improves the chances of survival, and usually decreases the severity of treatment needed.

Check yourself, using this guide, every 1st of the month. Early detection really i key: it's what saved my grandma's life when she encountered breast cancer, and it's what probably saved Michelle's, too.

And even though Michelle liked to "feel drops of rain on the coconut" (I loved that line :P), getting your hair, brows and lashes back after the long battle can help you start to feel like yourself again. Give someone that gift this October, by purchasing WINK today (here) for yourself and a cancer warrior. 

Every year during the month of October, for every WINK sold, we donate one to a cancer warrior, to help their lashes and brows, lost through chemotherapy. In partnership with the Breast Cancer Charities of America, we are sharing these warrior's stories, as powerful examples of how your gift is directly helping breast cancer patients across America.

This week we share the story of one of those warriors, Sharon Garry, in her own words:

"I was first diagnosed in May 2013, which to me felt like an eternity of fear, pain and loss that seemed like it would never get better. At the present moment, I am undergoing aggressive treatments.

As hard as the days may be, the most effective changes are the people that I have been blessed to meet, who help in small ways. They have been so helpful, such as bringing me soup, fresh foods, or just staying with me when I'm sick or weak. Not to mention, the medical professionals who really care and go to bat for me.

Sharon Garry

I find the most support in my church group and a support group at the hospital where I have met peers who are going through the same issues. This is the place where others truly understand my journey.

I try my best to find joy during this time, by being outdoors or listening to good music with some of my good friends. My advice that I would like to share is make a plan, ask the right questions, [and] research treatment centers that will be the best for you. Also, don't be afraid to ask and accept help. Your life is going to change so try your best to take care of yourself."

Sharon's advice is really solid, but it doesn't just extend to the warrior, but also the family and partner, too. Your life is changing in a big way; don't be afraid to ask for help.

Taken from the Breast Cancer Charities of America website, here are the steps to help you respond with maximum intelligence to a cancer diagnosis and help you rebuild your self-healing functions:

1. Examine. Step back from the day-to-day pressures of your life to evaluate your current situation in its entirety.
2. Discover. Assess both current life issues that must be changed as well as future needs that must be met.
3. Plan. Create a simple plan to restore health and total well-being.
4. Implement. Work in partnership with health advisors who have your confidence. Begin a self-care plan to create whole-person well-being.
5. Review. Conduct quarterly reviews of your progress, making adjustments as necessary.

Taken together, these action points will play the central role in mobilizing all your healing options and capacities, both external and internal.

Getting Emotional Support

For both you and your loved one, it's important to maintain your emotional and psychological health throughout the process. The diagnosis is tough, but the constant hospital and doctor visits can also do a number on your mental health.

If you or a loved one needs someone to talk to throughout this process, and find yourself at a loss with friends and family, consider using the Crisis Text Line to talk about anything and everything. The Crisis Text Line is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping those who need to talk about any serious problem at any time of day or night via text message. Just text 741741 whenever, wherever to be instantly connected to a trained counselor for free.

For a more routine way to connect on-the-go, consider using a service like TalkSpace, which connects you instantly to a therapist.

Thought texting a therapist may seem like a foreign concept, the anonymity frees up you to say whatever you want, however you want. It's a good way to unload without having to say the words out loud.

Of course, if you prefer talking on the phone, there are plenty of free hotlines available. Here's a list of cancer-specific help hotlines that you can call, for cancer-specific questions.

If you'd like to unload regularly, you can set up regular sessions with a therapist nearby, or Skype sessions (Google will pull up some options) if you're always on the go.

The suicide rate is double the national rate among cancer patients. But cancer is difficult not just for the diagnosed, but also for the family, partner, and friends. Take advantage of all the resources that technology has offered us. People who care about you are closer than ever; they're right in your pocket.