Cancer survivor creates all-natural skincare line

When Cherry-Ann Boyce first found the lump in her breast, she tried not to think the worst. She had always been strong, the one in control, the one her family leaned on. But when the tests confirmed her fears in 2021, her world broke apart.

"The first thing that came to my mind was my daughter," Boyce recalled. "She was only seven at the time, and I thought, 'Boy, mi going dead and leave mi pickney.' I didn't know how to process that."

The diagnosis sent her spiralling. Surgery followed, but even as her body healed, her spirit sank. Depression crept in silently.

"There were days when I just sat on the balcony and thought about ending it all," she admitted. "I thought about jumping. But then my daughter would come, and she would remind me to take my medication, she would sit with me. That little girl became my superstar. She gave me the will to live."

Her daughter and God pulled Boyce back from the edge.

"I had to lean on God," she said. "When I couldn't find strength for myself, I prayed and I asked Him to let me live for my child. Breast cancer doesn't only affect the person, you know, that has the diagnosis. It affects an entire family. One day I said to myself, Cherry, even if you're in pain, you cannot let her know any more. And that's when I recognised that boy, Cherry, you have to get up. I have to be strong for her."

The Global Cancer Observatory reports that in Jamaica, in 2020, there were an estimated 1208 new cases of breast cancer, with an estimated 637 breast cancer deaths. It is estimated that one in 21 Jamaican women will be diagnosed with breast cancer."

For Boyce, living beyond breast cancer became a mission. Having worked as a medical technologist for 25 years, science was her second nature. She could not ignore the questions that had been building long before her own diagnosis, questions about what women were putting on their bodies every day. The issue hit home years earlier, when her eldest daughter, then just 13, developed breast lumps she believed were linked to commercial deodorants.

"I looked at her, so young, and thought, no, this can't be right," Boyce said. "We don't think about what goes into these products. But I knew I had to find an alternative."

That determination birthed Jamizola Naturals - a line of natural deodorants and skincare products made from clean, safe ingredients. Even the name carries significance. "'Jami' is for Jamaica, the country that became my home. 'Zola' means calm. Together it's about balance, where nature meets nurture."

But the journey wasn't smooth. Boyce chuckled as she remembered the sacrifices she made to bring her vision to life.

"I sold my sauce spoons, I sold my vacuum, just to buy ingredients," she said. "There were pop-up shops where mi never sell a ting. Nights where I went back to the lab again and again because the formula wasn't right. But mi never give up. Just like with cancer, I kept fighting."

Support arrived through the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), which helped her transform her passion into a viable business.

"JBDC really stepped in at the right time," Boyce said. "They gave me the training and guidance I needed. They showed me how to package my products properly, how to approach the business side of things. Anything at all that I am looking to put out or any query that I have with regards to where to find information I can pick up the phone. It gave me the confidence to see Jamizola as more than just a hustle - it's a brand with a future."

Vivette McFarlane, assistant manager of the Marketing Services Unit at JBDC, said Boyce's brand aligns perfectly with a growing consumer shift toward health-conscious and sustainable products.

"Consumers are now reading labels, researching ingredients, and choosing local options that are safer and sustainable. And Jamaica's natural raw materials give our brands a real advantage," she said.

Today, Jamizola Naturals is available in Things Jamaican stores and is also exported to Barbados, Boyce's homeland.

"When someone picks up Jamizola, I don't just want them to feel softness on their skin. I want them to feel strength. I want them to feel cared for," she said.

October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month - holds deep meaning for Boyce. She affectionately calls her customers "breast cancer warriors" and continues to use her platform to inspire others. Her message is clear:

"Pay attention to your body. Don't ignore the signs. And don't be afraid to make changes in your lifestyle. Cancer is not the end. You can fight, and you can win."