Look of the day

Manon van Buren

A few weeks ago, I met Manon during a readers' lunch at the editorial office. She told me her story and I was hanging on her every word. It all started during a date she arranged via Tinder. One thing led to another and suddenly she had an unexplained bleeding...

How I came into contact with cancer

I was the odd one out; I had cervical cancer which I found out about in December 2015 due to an (warning, now it gets a bit explicit, do with it what you will) unexplained bleeding. I knew immediately that something was wrong. After a smear test, my suspicion was confirmed: it was immediately PAP 5, or cancer. After 11 months of chemotherapy and two surgeries, I was declared cancer-free in September 2016.

My story about breast cancer

My biggest goal is to make women aware of the importance of getting a smear test done on time. I was incredibly stupid and naive to ignore the call at thirty and think: it will be fine. Something that has hit me quite hard now, three years later. It can genuinely save your life and it can happen to you too. Get yourself checked!

I certainly found my appearance important during the time I was sick.

Appearance was even very important! You lose control over everything when you receive the diagnosis, especially over your body. I was lucky that, by using a so-called cold cap, I kept my hair, but that was by no means a certainty when I started treatment. To not feel too sick and too much like a ‘cancer patient’, I went all out every day. Even if I was just going to watch Netflix on the couch all day. Unfortunately, I couldn't go to the hairdresser, which was a bit difficult, but other than that? I faithfully dragged myself to the nail salon every three weeks, even if I had had chemotherapy the day before, and always wore a catwalk-worthy outfit when I had to go to the AVL (Antoni van Leeuwenhoek) for check-ups. Preferably with high heels and bright lipstick. It was also a kind of proof urge: I wanted to show the doctors and other patients that I ‘really wasn't that sick’. A terribly bad reason, I know, but it worked...

And what are you wearing today?

Today I'm wearing an old boyfriend from good old H&M with a top from Zara. I also recently scored my pumps at Zara and my Escada blazer is one of my favorite items in my wardrobe.