The Practical Side of Cancer No One Talks About: Why Functional Clothing Matters During Treatment

I was four years old when my mom, Cathy, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Over the next 22 years, I watched her face recurrence after recurrence with incredible courage. But one of the most frustrating things? It wasn't always the treatments themselves, it was the minor, everyday struggles that nobody prepares you for.

Like where to put your ID card, your insurance information, or even your phone.

"Just use your pockets," you might say. Unfortunately, most women's jeans don't have functional pockets. When you're already dealing with IV lines, ports, and the exhaustion of treatment, having to carry a purse everywhere becomes one more burden you shouldn't have to bear.

I accompanied Mom to many appointments and watched her fumble with her purse, trying to find her insurance card while managing everything else. Carrying and keeping track of a purse can create anxiety about where it is, is it safe?  My whole life was in that bag.

These aren't minor annoyances. They're daily reminders that you've lost control over the simple things.

Before Mom passed in November 2015, I made her a promise: I would work to make the world a better place. That promise led me to create the World Change Coalition, a for-good enterprise designed to support women facing breast cancer. And from that came Cathy's Jeans.

Named after my mom, these jeans solve the problem she faced every single day. They have deep, functional pockets that can hold what you need, your phone, ID, insurance cards, hand cream.  Cathy’s Jeans are comfortable enough for treatment days and stylish enough to help you feel like yourself, not just a patient.

But here’s what matters to me: 15% of every purchase goes directly to non-profit cancer support organizations that provide wigs to patients. Our logo? It's Mom's actual fingerprint, a reminder that her impact continues to touch lives even after she's gone.

Sic parvis magna, great things from small beginnings. What started as a simple observation about inadequate pockets became a mission to restore dignity and independence to women during one of life's hardest journeys.

Here’s the thing to not overlook, Cathy’s Jeans are great for any women!  Large functional pockets and comfortable style and fit is for every women!  Further, purchases of the jeans supports a very worthy an important cause as well supporting women facing breast cancer.

When you're on a cancer journey, you shouldn't have to fight with your clothes too. You deserve comfort, function, and the freedom to feel like yourself. That's what Cathy's Jeans and the World Change Coalition are all about.

Mom taught me that life is temporary, empathy matters, and perseverance is everything. Now, every pair of jeans carries her fingerprint and her legacy forward.  Thank you for your inspiration. You are always in my heart. Richie