#NoMakeUpSelfie

In order for this article to make any sense I must first tell you three things about myself. The first is that I hardly ever wear make-up and I absolutely love taking photos. In fact, and you can ask my sister to back me up on this, I almost always take the perfect selfie. This will probably tell you that I’m a little self-absorbed and that my Facebook page is full of photos of me almost all of which are without any make-up on.

The second thing you need to know is that I am studying a BSc degree in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology with Genetics as one of my majors. I therefore know quite a lot about cancer and its causes and repercussions as I have read various article journals and had many lectures based on cancer. I wouldn’t call me an expert but I have a greater understanding than the average Joe.

The final thing you need to know is that today marks exactly 11 months since my step-mother died from cancer. She was an amazing woman and put up a major fight but in the end her own body turned against her. This is what cancer does and it kills even the strongest and most amazing people we know. And there is actually very little that we can do to stop it.

Which brings me to yesterday, when one of my friends nominated me to take a #NoMakeUpSelfie and post it on Facebook. Now, usually when people share cancer awareness related stuff on my Facebook page I ignore it. Invariably it is some photo trying to guilt trip people into sharing the link so that all of your friends can also be guilt tripped into doing the same. Instead of sharing these links I make a conscious effort to either spread awareness or raise money for the CANSA association.

This one, however, I could just not ignore. Of course there was a part of me who just wanted to be part of the trend of woman taking pictures of themselves and posting them online but there was a greater need. A need to remember my step-mom and her infinite wisdom and beauty, a need to tell people that cancer is a serious issue and that it can affect everyone and anyone and a need to remind myself that I too am susceptible.

And so I have taken my #NoMakeUpSelfie and I will share it with you all, but I would like you to take a minute as you look at all the pictures on your news feed and just think about the fact that most of those woman will be diagnosed by cancer at one point in their lives.