It was a brutally cold day on the south side of Chicago, in January of 2009, when Arnett Faulkner was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. “Typically we discover 80% of individuals’s results are noncancerous and 20% are cancerous,” a radiologist told her. “But you fall within the 20% category.”

Following this statement, understandably, every thing became a whole blur for Faulkner. “I feel that I toned her out and have become numb,” she explains. “I remember calling my husband to choose me up. I walked down the hall of the hospital praying that I wouldn’t run into anyone.” The silence continued even through the whole automotive ride home. “I knew, from that time on, my life would perpetually change.” 

She initially underwent one lumpectomy and later found that they didn’t extract all of the cancer cells. One month later, a second lumpectomy followed. “After my second lumpectomy, I used to be told that they found an extra mass,” she says. She then decided to undergo a radical mastectomy of her right breast–  a ten hour procedure called a rectus abdominis flap. Immediately after the surgery, doctors realized the blood vessel was clotted– leaving Faulkner to endure yet one more surgery in the course of the night. “I used to be within the hospital for over per week and upon returning home, the vein feeding the tissue in my breast occluded. I used to be rushed back to the hospital and remained there for over 2 weeks, undergoing an extra 4-hour surgery,” she says.  

After becoming cancer-free in June of 2009– in large-part because of her own strength, lifestyle changes, and the support of family and friends– she began making her own body care products. “I became very particular about what products I used on my body and in addition on my eczema-prone son’s,” she says.

Naturally, she began sharing her recipes with family and friends. Because her community loved the products a lot, they began encouraging her to launch a full-blown business. “I never intended to become profitable from my products as they were meant to assist me and my son,” she says. But within the name of helping others, in 2014, “I formed a reputation and corporation and a yr later I launched AHF Body Chemistry.” And creating the road– which incorporates heavenly-scented, and deeply nourishing body butters– was all value it. More recently, AHF Body Chemistry has been present in the likes of Whole Foods, Mariano’s, and magazines akin to Vogue, and Well + Good. Currently, Faulkner is working on restructuring and rebranding the incredible line of natural products.

Lately, through anything she has occurring, Faulkner ensures to place her health first. She does this via healthy eating and drinking habits, and reducing stress by meditating and praying day by day. “Self-care is the most effective and most important thing we will do for ourselves in life for the mind, body, and spirit,” she says. “I trust that God provided me with all that I want to make it through any storm.”

For anyone who’s currently battling breast cancer, Faulkner’s advice is to “take a deep breath, get the entire facts, weigh your options, and ask as many questions as you might want to,” she says. Faulkner after all understands that everybody’s battle and financial means are different as well. Due to this fact, she also recommends looking for out an area breast cancer awareness group. “They will provide answers to questions it’s possible you’ll not even know that you just had. They’re very supportive and remind you that you just aren’t alone in your battle,” she says. “Your mind may wander but stay focused on the consequence that you just want and never where you’re,” Faulkner adds. “It’s an ongoing battle,” she says of the 11 surgeries she’s undergone to this date. “But I proceed to fight!”