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"  Efrat Roman always knew that she would get cancer. Her sister, mother, grandmother, and four great-aunts are all survivors of ovarian or breast cancer. She thought the disease was something she was ready for. And yet, at 41, as she underwent a double mastectomy, reconstructive surgery, three rounds of chemotherapy, and an additional four reconstructions, she realized that nothing could have prepared her for that deep sense of helplessness, the utter lack of control. Last week, six years after three cancerous tumors were found in her breast, she launched an e-commerce site, CureDiva.com. &amp;quot;When it came to my day-to-day needs\u2014when it came to my shallow and superficial day-to-day matters\u2014I was clueless,&amp;quot; Roman says. &amp;quot;I couldn&amp;#039;t find any information that was really focusing on my new and ever-changing needs. And it seemed really unreasonable.&amp;quot;   Efrat Roman; Photo: Courtesy of CureDiva  She didn&amp;#039;t just survive, she teamed up with two friends to create an all-encompassing one-stop-shop to help women maintain their lifestyles while fighting for their lives. Besides the grueling medical realities, fighting cancer means figuring out which aluminum-free deodorant actually does what it&amp;#039;s supposed to and finding a really good, moisture-wicking compression bra. So CureDiva stocks all the things women never thought they&amp;#039;d need\u2014never even knew existed\u2014and usually have no idea where to find. There&amp;#039;s all-natural makeup, medical-grade lash adhesive, super soft and cleverly cut undergarments, and pink faux-pearl bracelets that are kept in the freezer for when hot flashes flare up. On top of the products, CureDiva is an online community where women can post tips, share stories, and ask questions (imagine an oncological Sephora.com). Visitors to the site input their stage\u2014recently diagnosed, in treatment, metastasis, or remission (called &amp;quot;ever after&amp;quot;)\u2014and the site filters itself to show only the products and discussions that are useful in that stage, cleverly preventing information overload. The founders have plans for expansion in the coming months, including an online marketplace to sell pre-owned items, and a program called Guardian Divas, where recently diagnosed women and those in treatment are paired with survivors who act as mentors throughout the process. But the range of models Roman and Co. have chosen to showcase the products online say it all: women ranging from their mid-thirties to early fifties, all in treatment or remission. And they&amp;#039;re all people you look at and would like to be. They&amp;#039;re dancers and marathon-runners, and they look gorgeous in turbans. These are not victims. Nothing about the site is clinical or frumpy or overwhelming. It just provides seemingly small services that could make a world of difference. &amp;quot;There&amp;#039;s something about knowing that I can get everything I need in advance and be ready for the huge and enormous changes that breast cancer brings,&amp;quot; says Ester Gofer, another of the site&amp;#039;s founders. &amp;quot;That brings back some of the control.&amp;quot; Below, some suggestions from CureDiva.  Photo: Courtesy of CureDiva 1. 3-Piece Planner, $52; curediva.com The planner has specific sections for treatment dates and medication schedules. 2. Gramercy Robe, $76; curediva.com The 100% cottons adds some comfort to frequent examinations. 3. Organic Eye Cream, $28; curediva.com All-natural ingredients protect sensitive eye skin. 4. Lace Bandeau Bra, $46; curediva.com This no-cup bra is fit for bilateral mastectomy without reconstruction. 5. Blush Pink Cooling Bracelet, $31; curediva.com The pearls have a cooling effect on the wrist that combats hot flashes. 6. Hot Lips Fan, $21; curediva.com A fan is another handy way to fight off heat. 7. Connie Beanie, $23; curediva.com Deal with unwanted hair loss from chemotherapy stylishly. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.elle.com/fashion/news/a23866/efrat-roman-curediva-e-commerce-site/>