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This week I had the pleasure of meeting Taryn Rose, Orthopedic Surgeon and founder of Taryn Rose Shoes. In 1998, Dr. Rose changed the footwear industry by creating a line of comfortable, yet beautiful, handcrafted shoes. I’ve always thought of “comfortable shoes” as being thick-soled athletic shoes or clumsy-looking orthopedic shoes, but Taryn Rose shoes are anything but orthopedic-looking. As we talked, I suggested she consider marketing to the millions of women, like me, who’ve had breast cancer and need comfortable shoes because of peripheral neuropathy. <PREVIEWEND>
Simply put, neuropathy means there’s been some kind of damage to the peripheral nerves that control the feelings in our arms and legs. Chemotherapy, radiation, diabetes and alcohol, are just a few of things that can cause nerve damage, resulting in everything from numbness or a burning “pins and needles” sensation, to weakness and cramping that makes walking painful and, after a few minutes, downright unbearable.
Not all cancer patients develop neuropathy, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology says many recover fully with time. While many of the symptoms I listed are worst-case scenarios, don’t let fear of neuropathy stop you from taking the treatment your oncologist recommends. I was one of the ones who developed neuropathy during chemo. Although most of my symptoms have since disappeared, I still have mild numbness in my fingers and toes, plus it sometimes feels like electrical shocks are shooting down my legs. That brings me back to the shoe thing. Since chemo, I've worn comfortable shoes all the time. They’ve helped my neuropathy, given me better balance and made walking easier. Many of these shoes have been Taryn Rose. My favorites are called Fierce and Ballerina.
Even without neuropathy many of us, especially as we get older, experience trouble with our feet and can no longer wear Carrie Bradshaw’s Sex and the City shoes, or can only wear them for short periods of time. My girlfriend, Gayle, calls them “special event” shoes. Another friend calls them “sit and sip” shoes. I love that term. It conjures up a pretty Southern belle, with honey dripping from her voice who says, “Why yes. I would love another Mint Julep… provided you walk over here and bring it to me!”
Can you imagine Carrie Bradshaw with neuropathy? In the next Sex and the City movie, I think Taryn Rose should be the shoe designer of choice. After all, the last season ended with Samantha’s revelation she had breast cancer. Since Samantha’s character has always been so upfront about everything, she would tell us about the “shoe thing” and sing the praises of Taryn Rose.
So Taryn, for all of the Samantha’s—the breast cancer women of the world—perhaps you can give your next line of shoes names like Strength, Survivor and Sisterhood.
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commented on 12-May-2010 07:56 PM I am a survivor, since 1994, I have always considered any woman who has shared what we went thru could only be consider my sister, no matter what her race, religion, education, any visual difference. Because we are the same because of the experience.
Luann commented on 14-May-2010 04:56 AM Brenda, the shoes are so cute! I have a question does she carry them in a 6W? Having wide feet even before BC it is very hard to find cute shoes that are comfortable in my size.
Brenda Coffee commented on 15-May-2010 04:49 PM Hi Luann,
Don't know about wide shoes, because I have just the opposite problem: I'm 9NNN. Here's Taryn Rose's website. You might email and ask. I do know that soon she will be launching a less expensive shoe line carried by lots of stores around the country. Yay!! I sometimes think Taryn's shoes have kept me out of a wheelchair. Seriously. My feet hurt that bad.
XOXOXO,
Brenda
Don't know about wide shoes, because I have just the opposite problem: I'm 9NNN. Here's Taryn Rose's website. You might email and ask. I do know that soon she will be launching a less expensive shoe line carried by lots of stores around the country. Yay!! I sometimes think Taryn's shoes have kept me out of a wheelchair. Seriously. My feet hurt that bad.
XOXOXO,
Brenda
Peggy commented on 19-Jun-2010 04:34 PM For the price of those lovely shoes (they are lovely) I could buy a wheelchair and motorize it.
Brenda Coffee commented on 21-Jun-2010 12:12 AM Peggy & Luann,
Your comments made me realize I should clarify something: The picture of the shoe in my blog is not a real shoe, but a piece of art made from the label of a champaign bottle. I'm always taking pictures to use on my blog and thought it was clever and kind of quirky.
Miss Taryn! I think we've got a new shoe design for you.
Your comments made me realize I should clarify something: The picture of the shoe in my blog is not a real shoe, but a piece of art made from the label of a champaign bottle. I'm always taking pictures to use on my blog and thought it was clever and kind of quirky.
Miss Taryn! I think we've got a new shoe design for you.
Lily Shipley commented on 18-Sep-2010 08:48 PM Dear Brenda, Thank you for the comic relief and education. I am a student working at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and I have been searching for bloggers who may find some of our new video resources useful. Your blog seems like it has a good combination of personal stories, educational information, and outside resources for those in treatment and for those who have completed treatment. I would like to share a few short videos that I think will be of interest to you and your readers. The videos are part of a series called, Living Well Beyond cancer, which consists of personal stories of survival and interviews with experts from the fields of oncology, psychology, nutrition and more. This series was produced by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and is intended to be a resource for all cancer survivors, covering many of the typical issues that cancer survivors face. I'd love to share more information with you. Please contact me if you'd like to learn more!! Wishing you the best, Lily
Philippa Kibugu-Decuir commented on 01-Oct-2010 05:24 PM Dear Brenda!
I am a survivor too! 16years!!!
This piece has prompted me to send you my Mother's Day Message about the women
on the other side of the world.
Blessings for all you do.
Philippa Kibugu-Decuir
Founder Breast Cancer Initiative East Africa Inc.
I am a survivor too! 16years!!!
This piece has prompted me to send you my Mother's Day Message about the women
on the other side of the world.
Blessings for all you do.
Philippa Kibugu-Decuir
Founder Breast Cancer Initiative East Africa Inc.
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