My Journey!

My name is Peggy and I began Caring Baskets By Design because of the needs I experienced while being treated for Inflammatory Breast Cancer or IBC.

At 43 years of age I was enjoying a wonderful life, being a loving wife and mother to my husband Alan, and our two children who were 11 and 3.

In March of 2007, I noticed something wrong with my left breast.  My doctor said it was a milk duct infections.  When it didn’t get better, tests were done and on April 23, 2007 I heard the dreaded words, “You have cancer!”  I was diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer - which mimics mastitis.  IBC is a rare, aggressive, and fast spreading cancer.  Every day matters ... the five year survival rate is only 50% - with most people having a recurrence within the first 1-2 years.  Because of this, strong chemotherapy treatments were used to first try to shrink the cancer to hopefully allow for a mastectomy, and thus saving my life.

In my journey through the next steps ... the chemotherapy, mastectomies, and radiation, I experienced many of the side-effects associated with cancer treatment.  I was extremely sensitive to scents.  The skin on my hands and feet became extremely dry, began to crack ... my fingers bled like crazy; this was very painful. And with the nausea, I had to figure out what I could eat to nourish my body.

I discovered many items that helped me during the process of treatment ... scents that calmed me ... creams and lotions that healed my dry, cracked skin ... foods that nourished me.

I realized that I could help others going through their own journey with cancer.  That is why I started Caring Baskets By Design.  We provide wonderful products that are perfect for cancer patients or anyone.  You “design” your own basket from the many products we have. A portion of our profits are sent to the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Foundation and various breast cancer charities.

This would be a wonderful way to show someone you care ... and benefit someone you many never meet.