My Journey with Breast Cancer
One of the reasons why I started YINA was because of my battle with breast cancer. During my chemotherapy, I was constantly exhausted and lost my appetite. I was given an aggressive protocol to match with my aggressive tumor. The chemo cocktail annihilated all fast-growing cells in my body, cancerous or not.
After a few rounds of chemo, I started seeing my TCM doctor. Dr. Kong gave me gentle auricular acupuncture treatment and prescribed a topical patch to tape over my belly button. Within a week, my appetite was back to normal and I felt more energized.
When I started YINA a few years later, I wanted to create beyond skincare products that improve your sense of well-being, much like Dr. Kong's magic patches. Our products uplift, calm, energize, and center you — something we all need today.
The mind-body connection may seem like a modern wellness concept but it has been practiced for over 2500 years in east Asia. Some of the earliest Yang Sheng manuscripts were found in tombs from the 2nd century BCE. These silk scrolls depict lifestyle adaptations to seasonal and climatic changes, healing mind body rituals and exercises, dietary guide, and healthy sexual practice.
One product that's rooted in this mind-body connection and inspired by my experience is YINA's Decolletage Treatment. While this balm nourishes and improves skin elasticity, it’s also a reminder for women to pay attention to their breast health.
As many as 40% of women with cancer detect the lumps on their own. That’s how I found my cancer lumps, twice. The second time I found my second cancer lump on my own, I actually had a mammogram a week prior and it did not detect anything.* I’ve put together a list of stories and integrative medicine resources in this blog post that I hope can be helpful to you or someone you know fighting breast cancer.
*(Note: If you notice any breast abnormalities but the mammogram reading is negative, make sure to talk to your doctor about other screening such as MRI, ultrasound and biopsy.)
The breasts are located near the heart where we hold our emotions. There are many important meridians that go through our breasts. By taking time to pay attention to this area, we will be able to tell what’s normal or not normal and improve circulation. The skin on this area is more delicate and vulnerable than the skin on our face, so make it a point to bring your facial skincare down to the breasts. As you massage this area, take deep breaths and feel around for any bumps, or tenderness and massage the area under your arms to stimulate lymphatic drainage. By taking a few minutes daily, you'll improve the texture and elasticity of your decolletage, you may also save your life. It saved mine.
Through my own personal journey, YINA is committed to donating 10% of net proceeds during the month of October every year. We've supported great organizations like Charlotte Maxwell Clinic and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center over the years.