The bigger my brand grows, the greater our capacity for doing good in the world. That’s why, every year, for the month of October, the CAMILLA brand donates $1 from every online order to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
In 2024, this amounted to $5,218. But we felt this could do with a top up, so we added an additional $5,000 to almost double the amount, giving the NBCF a total of $10,000.
Breast cancer is an issue that will be forever on my radar. You may already be aware of my breast cancer journey. In 2018, in the first weeks of new motherhood, I received my own breast cancer diagnosis. After having the full gamut of treatment from chemotherapy, a mastectomy, and my ovaries and fallopian tubes removed, I was given the all-clear.
Tragically, not everyone’s story is like mine. Here in Australia, over 21,000 people are diagnosed and around 3,300 people will die of this disease each year.* To help detect signs of cancer early on, I encourage everyone to self-examine. If you have no idea how to do this and what is involved, here is a guide.
From the time we are 20 years old, experts recommend we do regular self-examinations. It’s a good habit to get into – you will get to know how your breast tissue naturally feels and you’ll be able to act on any suspicious changes quickly.
From the time we are 20 years old, experts recommend we do regular self-examinations. It’s a good habit to get into – you will get to know how your breast tissue naturally feels and you’ll be able to act on any suspicious changes quickly.
In Australia, free breast screenings for people over 40 are also available. Find links to your local screening places here.
Breast cancer doesn’t discriminate, but it sure as hell will bring us together. Part of what helped me through my own devastating journey, was finding out I was not alone. There was hope and an army of supporters out there. A community of endless love gathered to uplift me. From my close companions, from my crew at the CAMILLA brand, from my brilliant medical team, even from people I had never met. And from the arms of a little girl who loved me and needed me, and who unknowingly held me up too.
For anyone out there struggling against this disease, or with loved ones suffering: you are all my fellow travellers on a journey that none of us wished to take. We are all warriors, stronger together!
I send you so much love, hope and light.