Confidence and Self-Esteem

By Amanda Brunson

Confidence and self-esteem is definitely one of the areas that get hit when doing treatment for leukemia. Funny thing is that my confidence and self-esteem did not really take a hit until I went through my bone marrow transplant. Losing my hair did not really bother me; I embraced my bald head and wore big earrings to give my new look some bling - lol! Being an athlete, other changes impacted me.

That's not everyone's story. Others' confidence may have taken a hit from the very beginning. Either way, I'm here to tell you, you're not alone and together the glow-up is going to be REAL! Just watch!

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Connie Connely
Your videos always make me smile! Cancer is hard at any age, but someone as young as you deserves an award. A young lady said to me, "I guess the worst thing about cancer would be losing your hair to chemo." No, the worst thing would be losing my life. Hair will eventually grow back. However, I know when I was a teenager and had long blond hair, which I thought was my only good feature, I would have thought the same thing. Keep up the good work, Amanda!
1. Amanda Brunson Moderator
 <inline-mention username="Connie Connely" user-id="3639405"/> thank you 💗🐼🫂
2. Ann Harper Moderator
 <inline-mention username="Connie Connely" user-id="3639405"/> Wow, that definitely puts the whole cancer thing into perspective. You just don't realize it until you are going through it. Ann (Blood-Cancer.com Team member)
DennisGolden Moderator
Nice fun video with lots of great info. You can go through some tough times with blood-cancer and you remind us --- we are not defined by ourcancer but rather by the strength and content of ourcharacter and how we interact with others
1. Ann Harper Moderator
 <inline-mention username="DennisGolden" user-id="3641422"/> Love that!
Amanda Brunson Moderator
Amen💜🥰🫂🫂🫂🌹
Ramae Hamrin Moderator
<inline-mention username="Amanda Brunson" user-id="4145474"/> I always love your videos... so candid and real! To be honest, I loved losing all the weight during my transplant. I think that was a left-over from all the feelings I had as a long-distance runner wanting to be skinnier and faster in my younger days. The hair was much harder because it has always been my best feature, especially as I got older. I'm so happy for you that you can work out again! Pain and fatigue prevent me from doing too much these days, and that's been the hardest of all because I was born to get things done! Keep making these videos. I know you're reaching a lot of people! 
1. Amanda Brunson Moderator
 <inline-mention username="Ramae Hamrin" user-id="3651272"/> I struggle as well with the fatigue I’m still active but not as active as I once was I have to store up the energy to do my workouts🥴🫠I feel and understanding the struggles. I love to get things all done in one day but now a day I gotta break stuff up otherwise it doesn’t get done 😩🫂🫂🫂💞
2. Ramae Hamrin Moderator
 <inline-mention username="Amanda Brunson" user-id="4145474"/> That's been the biggest lesson for me ... slow down and do things in bite-sized pieces -- and rest in between! As difficult as it's been, I've learned to enjoy life more because of it. But I do sometimes miss my superwoman days!
Susan Gonsalves Moderator
Thank you for your video and your smiles today. Going through some things right now and it is difficult to keep up with self confidence or even wanting to try, like you mentioned. Sick and tired of being sick and tired is a good way to put it. Anyway, I'm going to try to do better a few minutes at a time until I can build myself back up. Good advice.
1. Amanda Brunson Moderator
 <inline-mention username="Susan Gonsalves" user-id="3653135"/> 💃🏾 🪩 ✨Yesss🥳🫂🫂🫂 I’m soo supporting you, you got this‼️♥️💪🏾
Maria Valente Moderator
Great video! Its true that having my pic taken is not my favorite thing at all. Sometimes the symptoms are huge, but I look ok on the outside. The there are times when I fell ok, but I look like crap! I just can't tell what this disease will show to the world. I think that self care is key to gaining back our confidence and self esteem. You've made some great points here. Thanks so much. 
1. Amanda Brunson Moderator
 <inline-mention username="Maria Valente" user-id="3654780"/> yes, self care is 🔑 💜
Daniel Malito Moderator
Mine didn't take a hit until I saw a picture of myself in the middle of chemo. I didn't realize how different I looked until I saw it in full technicolor. That humbled me. I didn't look like myself at all. Sometimes it takes something jarring like that to knock us out of our preconceived notions. Keep on keepin' on, DPM
1. Ramae Hamrin Moderator
 <inline-mention username="Daniel Malito" user-id="3641972"/> Agreed! I didn't see the differences at the time because they were so gradual, but looking back on those pics was jarring!
Ann Harper Moderator
I love your energy and positive attitude. How can anyone not feel happy just being around you. You definitely help me to glow. Thanks for always sharing your truths in such an upbeat way! 😀 Ann (Blood-Cancer.com Team member)
1. Amanda Brunson Moderator
 <inline-mention username="Daniel Malito" user-id="3641972"/> 💞✨🫂
2. Ann Harper Moderator
 <inline-mention username="Daniel Malito" user-id="3641972"/> Love it!!