Mel O'Neill, a mum-of-two from Penketh, was diagnosed with breast cancer a decade ago. In a regular blog with the Warrington Guardian, she describes living with cancer

Live more presently has been my mantra for a long time as you just don’t know what’s waiting around the corner; good or bad.

Only a few weeks ago I was coming to terms with feeling worthless, thinking I had no purpose in life and learning to live with that emotion as I busied myself cooking, washing and cleaning for my family (as every mum and wife does) knowing that Stanley (my dog) gives me a purpose in life on a daily basis, especially in lockdown and writing my blogs have helped but I still felt I was lacking.

I was running out of things to talk about on my vlogs but wanted to continue with them as they were helping so many.

Doing Tik Toks with my girls and taking photos of the dog, I wondered who cares or is interested in me doing any of this even if I was having fun. I started to vlog less and less not wanting to bore people or expose my everyday day to day life which I felt was so uninteresting to others.

Self-doubt has always been my downfall.

And then out of the blue, with little thought, I posted a few short videos of how to apply a natural day makeup when going through cancer treatment or just to pick yourself up during lockdown and the response has blown me away.

Always loving make-up growing up, it certainly wasn't as popular as it is now, however I chose to return to college at 22 years of age as office work just wasn’t cutting it for me.

I would look at Carl enviously, loving his job and being creative and I knew I had lost my way. I couldn't see myself working in an office Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm for the rest of my life so I found the courage to start over, thinking I had missed the boat in a performing career (The Spice Girls had already been launched lol) so I took a careers questionnaire where Makeup Artist came top of the list as my perfect, most suited profession.

I hunted far and wide for a suitable course that would teach me the tricks of the trade along with photographic, TV and film makeup until I found one called Media Design, a brand new course running in Manchester.

Continuing to work in the same office but in the evenings during the week and my mother-in-law gave me a Saturday job working in her hair salon after my late night working at Mr Smith’s nightclub the night before.

My mum and dad allowed me to live rent free for two years as I needed every penny I earned to pay for petrol costs, my car as well as my makeup kit including many different types and colours of makeup, water paints and the right brushes.

I was in my element. I loved learning and being creative taking second place in a regional competition and third in a national but upon leaving the course and living with very little money for two years I yearned to make a decent wage and could no longer offer my services for free hoping for the right break.

The Trafford Centre was opening and after numerous interviews, I was given the role as assistant manager on the Elizabeth Arden counter in Selfridges only to move to a more makeup orientated brand on Bobbi Brown a year later.

It was there where I learned most of my skills in becoming a Makeup Artist, then a manager then a business manager in Selfridges London.

During my time there I learnt the importance of applying makeup to enhance your natural beauty and not as a fashion statement, what colours work best with others and how to achieve the best application for your budget. I was learning timeless makeup artistry skills as well as being involved with catwalk shows, photoshoots for magazine covers and meeting many celebrities.

This knowledge has picked me up on many a dark day when I have felt well but looked awful with chemotherapy ravaging my skin, making me feel old and tired and without makeup; a cancer patient has stared back at me when I have looked in the mirror longing for hair and a glowing complexion.

Makeup hasn’t given me hair back but being married to a hairdresser has its advantages, but it has picked me up and helps me glow, along with a decent skincare routine appropriate for my dry skin.

And lipstick always manages to make me smile even when I’m feeling down...you fake it to make it.

Warrington Guardian:

So I decided to share my tips and techniques with anyone on my Instagram or Facebook that is interested in makeup, discovering so many women are.

Along with my friend Gabby we have both studied in Nutritional Healing and is an Inflammatory Breast Cancer survivor, we have decided to come together to help anyone giving impartial, unbiased information and advice on many areas of life that make you feel better.

We have the knowledge as both of us know what it feels like to have a cancer diagnosis, to go through treatment (I still am) and both having numerous surgeries along with nutritional advice, makeup tips and much more knowing there is no money to be made but fulfilling a need and a want to help people while doing something we are both passionate about is priceless.

I no longer feel worthless. My purpose has been found and we will continue to help others for as long as they need light in their dark times which is needed more than ever now.

Time for Your Soul to Shine is our Facebook page and Instagram account which I would love you to follow.

My soul is sparkling now as I feel useful again and I love all the questions I'm getting doing my best to answer them while giving an honest review on products that friends are sending me to try out.

Keep them coming and I will give me honest opinion on anything.

It’s my turn for my soul to sparkle now and I’m thoroughly enjoying it.

Cancer? What cancer? Oh yes I almost forgot, I have cancer, cancer doesn’t have me...to be continued