She Fought Cancer While Running a Company—Now This Survivor Helps Women Care for Themselves First (EXCLUSIVE)
On World Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Cathy O’Brien shares her story and lessons in healing
Whether we like to admit it or not, breast cancer is a lingering thought in the back of all women’s minds. In light of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Woman’s World sat down with Cathy O’Brien, a breast cancer survivor, CEO of Naturopathica, and founder of Inside the Wellspace.
Having been through it while still working full-time, Cathy understands the need for self-care and giving yourself grace while going through chemotherapy treatments and throughout other difficult times in life.
Cathy shares her story along with tips for those going through treatments and loved ones seeking to support current cancer fighters.
Woman's World Answers
After spending years working in the beauty industry, Cathy sought jobs to help make women’s lives better. But, she always felt a tug on her heart to make an impact on them internally as well.
She was soon inspired to get her Master’s degree in social work, which lit a spark in her mind to create a wellness space for women to come and receive skincare, therapy, meditation sessions and connect.
I’ll call it Wellspace for Women, she decided. It’ll be a safe haven for women struggling with an illness, a broken heart or just in need of a friend.
But as her dream began taking flight in 2022, a private equity group for Naturopathica — a wellness skincare brand with spas and healing centers around the country — reached out with an opportunity for her to become CEO of the company.
“No, I have to start Wellspace for Women,” Cathy protested, knowing her heart was set.
“Well, we’re a wellness company, why don’t you do it here?” they asked, which piqued her interest, knowing it would be easier to turn her dream into a reality with their backing.
A dream into reality
Catchy eventually joined as the CEO, and immediately got to work remembering the healing power of touch. “Let’s have all of the massage therapists and aestheticians trained and certified in Oncology treatment services,” she instructed the teams at the spas and healing centers.
Soon, Naturopathica partnered with hospitals and cancer centers to give patients massage therapy while they are going through chemotherapy treatments.
This is what its all about, Cathy thought, her heart filling with joy knowing she was making a difference already.
But everything took a turn in October 2023 when Cathy herself was diagnosed with breast cancer. Having no family history of cancer, she was shocked.
How is this happening? she thought, sitting in the doctor’s office receiving the diagnosis. It was stage one, but she would still need chemotherapy. Within a month, she had surgery and then began treatments.
“This is not going to kill you, but it is a wakeup call for you, isn’t it?” one of her doctors asked her one day.
“Yep, I’ve always felt like I’ve had it together,” Cathy confessed, “But there are definitely things holding me back.”
From that moment, Cathy felt changed. It’s time to start really making an impact, she thought. What am I waiting for?
Making an impact
Feeling more motivated than ever, Cathy learned how to set boundaries to open herself up to spending the time she had on the dreams that were in her heart.
I’ve got to use my energy to get information out there that is necessary for women, she thought, How about I start a podcast?
Not long after, Cathy started Inside the Wellspace: Women, Wellbeing, Wisdom podcast—a health and wellness podcast featuring doctors and experts discussing pertinent and informational topics for women—like heart health, skincare, breast cancer, divorce, financial planning, nervous system regulation and hormones.
While she digs in to further her mission, she’s humbled to receive messages daily on social media of women reaching out to tell her how much of a difference the work she does has made for them. “That is like wind for me,” Cathy says. “It makes me realize that what I’m doing does matter and it is helpful, and it’s exactly what I dreamed of doing.”
Now, it’s Cathy’s goal to continue helping women with cancer around the country receive access to quality self-care and provide information and resources for women struggling with any issues.
Here, Cathy’s tips and advice for brave cancer fighters, who she champions each day!
Set boundaries
Making sure she wasn’t doing anything she didn’t want to do wasn’t Cathy’s strong suit before her cancer journey, but now, she’s made it her mission to only expend her energy on her passions. “My diagnosis really changed me personally, and my own approach to my life. I have rock-solid boundaries now that I did not have before,” she explains. “When I don’t want to do something, I don’t do it. I don’t do something just because I feel like I should.
“I would rather stay home than do something, be somewhere, or be engaged in a conversation that is sucking any kind of energy from me. All we have is energy, and if you’re not being infused with it or able to use it in a constructive way, all it’s going to do is suck from you. I’m very conscious of what makes me feel good and what does not make me feel good.”
Find a network
Whether you are fighting cancer or supporting someone else who is, Cathy highly suggests finding a community that can walk through the journey alongside you.
“When you go through cancer, you lose your mind, you lose your identity, and you feel totally alone,” Cathy says. But she explains there are many resources out there for women to find connection.
One guest on her podcast, Christina Merrill, the founder of the Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation, created the CancerBuddy app as the first peer support app network for people facing cancer.
“You plug in your details—like ‘Hi, I’m Kathy. This is my age. This is the type of cancer I have. This is the type of treatment I’m going through. This is where I live.’ And then you swipe and match with people. Then you start a dialog so you’re not alone. You have companionship. This is an amazing resource!”
Take care of yourself
As Naturopathica’s spas and healing centers treat patients, Cathy understands the true benefits of soaking up self-care. It’s easy to put ourselves last as women, but Cathy touts the healing nature of treating yourself to good skincare, a spa treatment, or just a day to yourself.
“Be so gentle with yourself. Follow your body. If you’re tired, lie down and sleep. Whatever you need to do, just do it. Be super comfortable from a physical standpoint. I didn’t wear anything that made me feel in any way uncomfortable in my body,” explains Cathy.
“Do the things that make you feel good. I made sure I had flowers in my house. I made sure that things smelled good. I took lots of hot showers. I slathered my skin with skin care. I recommend that highly!”
There are many resources for women to receive beauty and wellness services that alleviate the mental and physical tolls of cancer treatments, like Mondays Cancer Care. Search in your area for complimentary spa, facial or beauty treatments that are free for women going through chemotherapy.
Just show up
If you are supporting a loved one, Cathy explains how wonderful it felt just to have friends and family show up for her. “People showed up big time. It’s important when someone you love is diagnosed to just show up,” she says. “Because they’re not going to reach out to you, so it matters!”
“It’s not up to the person who is diagnosed and going through it to make you feel better. It’s up to you to step up and be there. Just send a message, ‘I’m coming over’ or ‘I want to come with you to treatment’ and even if they say, ‘I can’t see anybody now,’ just text them every day and say, ‘Love you, thinking about you. You’ve got this.’
“It’s got to be all about that person. Just see where you can be of help. My daughter’s roommate bought me a comfy bathrobe. She sent it to my house with a note that just said, ‘I love you so much. Thinking about you. Wrap yourself up.’ That meant so much to me!
What’s next?
Cathy is hosting her next event for Naturopathica on October 22 with a panel discussion for experiencing care beyond treatment — including strategies for healing, bouncing back even stronger, and moving through life with grace. For Woman’s World readers, her team is offering an invitation to the special event. RSVP at Naturopathica@AndreyAndMelissa.com.
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