At Aderans, we understand that hair loss is one of the many emotional challenges that come with a cancer diagnosis. That’s why we’re committed to providing not just high-quality wigs, but also confidence, comfort, and unwavering support for those navigating this journey.
One inspiring individual who has shared her experience with us is Marie Nichols, who was one of our Aderans Ambassadors in 2023. Marie is a fashion, beauty, and lifestyle creator on Instagram, where she shares her latest style finds, tips, and tricks.
In 2022, Marie was diagnosed with breast cancer, a life-changing moment that she turned into an opportunity to raise awareness, document her journey, and inspire others. Through her platform, Marie also educated her audience on installing and styling synthetic wigs from Aderans, helping many feel more confident in their own hair loss journey.
In 2023, Marie took to the runway at our annual Aderans Charity Fashion Show, an empowering event dedicated to raising funds for hair loss and cancer charities, including Macmillan Cancer Trust, Look Good Feel Better, Hair Reborn, The Little Princess Trust, and Alopecia UK. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we raised an incredible £3,750 in support of these vital organisations.
Now, as we step into 2025, we are overjoyed to share that Marie is cancer-free! In honour of World Cancer Day, we had the privilege of sitting down with her for an exclusive interview - reflecting on her journey, resilience, and the strength she’s found along the way.
How important was it for you to have a support network around you during your treatment and recovery?
Having people around me to support me was probably one of the most vital parts of getting me through the whole ordeal, both physically and mentally. Mentally, it was good to have people to speak to, just to talk to about how I was feeling, but also for them to bring some normality to my day. It was so easy to lose sight of what life was like before getting cancer, I got so much out of listening to friends and family talk about work, life and their adventures — it allowed me to escape momentarily from the situation I was in.
Physically, I also needed help. There were days when I couldn't even get out of bed, so having people to help me and my family was hugely important. Simple things, like picking my son up from school, bringing food over and picking up some shopping were all a massive help.
Without my support network behind me, this would have been such a different (and much more miserable) experience.
What were some of the most challenging moments you faced during treatment, and how did you cope with them?
As you can imagine, there were quite a few challenging moments! Breaking the news to your family, losing your hair, not recognising yourself when you look in the mirror, and being physically unable to do the smallest mundane task are just some difficulties you have to face. But, the first thing I thought of when I read this question was 'unplanned setbacks'. You gear yourself up for your treatment plan and you can't help but have the end date etched into your brain. Then when things like infections, and complications happen, it's soul-destroying. I had quite a few infections and reactions when I was going through chemotherapy—my oncology team called me the anomaly! If there was a medical reaction to have, you could be sure I would have it! Naturally, this delays treatment, because you have to be as fit and well as you can be before you embark on your next round of chemo.
My treatment end date seemed to get further and further away, and at one point, it felt like it was never going to arrive! Firstly, I allowed myself a short amount of time to be upset by it, but then I forced myself to focus on the fact that these were minor blips in what is a relatively short amount of time—although it didn't feel like that at the time! I had 2 mantras throughout my whole journey, and they were 'brighter days are coming' and 'head down, crack on' I got through my whole treatment plan living by these two statements. A positive attitude and outlook were my only options.
Were there any products or brands that helped you feel better during your treatment?
I came across a few great brands whilst going through treatment. The first one was Aveeno, recommended by my oncologist. I used face and skin care, but mainly on my face. I reacted quite heavily to one type of chemo, bringing my face out in really painful sore boils. Aveeno was the only thing I could stand on my skin. I was introduced to a brand called MooGoo, which has a specific range for people who are going through chemotherapy.
I used a lot of bath and shower products as well as hand lotion. My hands and feet became so sore, MooGoo was a godsend. I also found that using a dry scalp treatment and scalp oil to keep my skin hydrated was very beneficial.
And of course, my Aderans wig was a huge comfort to me throughout my hair loss.
Did you use any specific support networks or cancer-related charities that provided you with emotional or financial support throughout your journey?
I had a great experience with a charity called Breast Cancer Now They offered support over the phone, or as part of a support group. I used their helpline a few times to give me advice and guidance on a few things that I didn't feel I could talk to anyone else about.
They offered an amazing counselling service too. I didn't personally use this, but I know people who have, and it really helped them. My hospital team were also amazing, and I honestly couldn't have got through it without them. The oncology nurses were where I drew a lot of my energy from. I feel incredibly privileged to have been looked after by such an amazing team.
Finally, Instagram was a huge source of knowledge and support for me. Speaking with ladies who had walked this path before me was invaluable and made my whole journey a less scary experience. From emotional support to practical advice, I have built up such a great community on Instagram and I am so grateful for that.
What advice would you give to someone currently going through cancer treatment or recovery in terms of physical and emotional well-being?
Firstly, I would say to take it one step at a time. It is so easy to look at your treatment plan end to end, but this is so daunting, and you never feel like you are going to get to the end of it. I took it one treatment at a time, working my way through each session, counting them down and before I knew it, I was over halfway. Not long later I popped my head up and I was almost at the end of treatment. Breaking it down made such a difference to my confidence in my ability to get through it.
Secondly, I lived by my 2 mantras’. 'Head down, crack on'—what choice do we have? We must go through it, so we may as well face it head-on, with a positive approach. And finally, ‘brighter days are coming’—I am not exaggerating when I say these 4 simple words got me through some of my hardest darkest moments. I had to believe that life would return to how it used to be and I would feel like me again.
How did you manage the physical side effects of treatment and were there any resources or services that helped alleviate those?
I had 2 approaches to dealing with the physical side of things. On treatment days, I would put my makeup on, don my favourite wig or head scarf and get dressed in something that made me feel good. I spent so many days in bed, it was important to me that when I went for treatment, I looked and felt as confident as I could. This really helped me.
Secondly, I had to come up with a coping strategy to get me through what was about to happen to me, so I told myself that anything that happened to me between Oct 2022 - March 2023 whilst on chemo didn't count, I lost my hair, it didn't matter, it didn't count, I put weight on, It didn't matter, it didn't count, I looked so poorly, but it didn't count. I pressed pause on my life the day I was diagnosed, and I wasn't prepared to press play until all my treatment was over. My physical appearance changed dramatically, and I didn't recognise the person in the mirror (My phone didn't even recognise me some days!!) but that was ok. I was very much focused on the day when I would start to feel like myself again, and I didn't even notice when it started to happen. One day I just felt a bit more like the old me, and as time went on, I felt this more frequently.
Looking back, what do you wish you had known or had access to earlier in your cancer journey in terms of products, services or support systems?
I think I only scratched the surface in terms of services and support out there. There are endless websites, charities, helplines and support groups to reach out to and sometimes it can be a little overwhelming. It's important that you pick the help that's best for you, and if you don't feel like you need any help, then that's ok too.
One thing I got a lot of help from was talking to like-minded people who were also going through their own cancer journey. I honestly believe we are stronger together, so if I look back to my time on treatment, I wish I'd have done more of that. Apart from people I met on the oncology ward, I didn't really know where else to go to meet more people going through it too—but there are a huge amount of fantastic support groups available and if you feel that would be beneficial for you, then it’s worth reaching out to them.
We would like to thank Marie for sharing her journey with us. Each cancer journey is unique and the advice and support you choose to take will be a deeply personal experience, however, If you or somebody you know is looking for support then please consider looking through some of the links below:
Hair Loss Consultation: https://aderansuk.com/book-now
Macmillan Cancer Support: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support
Hair Reborn: https://www.hairreborn.uk/
The Little Princess Trust: https://www.littleprincesses.org.uk/
Look Good Feel Better: https://lookgoodfeelbetter.co.uk/
Aderans Hair Loss Support Groups https://aderansuk.com/support-groups
Follow Marie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparkleandthread/
