CLOTHING for cancer treatment: Why I started caelan.
Caelan didn’t start as a business idea. It started as a problem I lived through that I couldn’t ignore anymore.
It took me about six months to say this idea out loud to anyone other than my husband.
When I look back now, I think I always knew the problem existed, I just didn’t know where to start. It sat there quietly for a long time until it didn’t anymore. It got to the point where it felt like it was screaming at me, and instead of trying to solve it perfectly, I just started.
Since then, I’ve found myself surrounded by the most incredible people helping shape this in ways I couldn’t have done on my own.
After my diagnosis, my doctors described me as an “outlier” at almost every stage of treatment. I got through something I wasn’t expected to, and that has a way of changing how you think about time, about work, and about what actually matters. It’s given me a very clear sense that whatever I do next needs to have purpose and focus.
For me, Caelan is it.
What to wear during cancer treatment
One of the things that surprised me most during treatment was how difficult something as simple as getting dressed became.
Clothing for cancer patients isn’t just about comfort. It needs to work with the realities of treatment. Soft, breathable fabrics help when your skin is sensitive, loose-fitting pieces make movement easier on days when energy is low and practical features like access for ports, IV lines or PICC lines can make a huge difference during appointments.
But most of the time, those needs aren’t met in a way that feels considered or personal.
The gap that still exists in chemo clothing
During treatment, my clothes were cut open for access, hospital gowns left me cold and exposed and the options that did exist felt clinical, outdated or simply didn’t reflect who I was.
I wanted something that worked but also something that still felt like me. And the more I’ve explored this space, the more obvious it’s become that the gap is still there. Even as cancer and chronic illness continue to rise, especially in younger people, the options for chemo clothing and adaptive clothing haven’t kept up.
I’ve always believed that when your body is in battle, your clothes shouldn’t be.
What to look for in adaptive clothing for cancer and chronic illness
As I’ve worked through this, it’s become clear that good adaptive clothing needs to balance both function and feel. That means:
Soft, comfortable fabrics that don’t irritate sensitive skin
Easy access for treatment (without fully undressing)
Thoughtful design that still feels like everyday clothing
Simple, easy-to-wear pieces for days when energy is low
These sound simple, but they’re surprisingly hard to get right all at once. So, right now, we’re deep in development. We’ve been through three rounds of sampling across around eight to ten styles, and while we’re getting closer, there are still a few “problem children” - the pieces that should work, but aren’t quite there yet!
As we move towards final samples, I still don’t know exactly what will make the first release. But I do know that every piece needs to earn its place because this isn’t just clothing, it’s something someone will wear during one of the hardest periods of their life. My hope is that Caelan can offer even a small moment of comfort. A sense of normality in a time that feels anything but.
Why this hasn’t been solved (yet)
One of the biggest challenges so far has been something that sounds simple: zips. Knowing where access is needed is one thing, especially when you’ve lived it, but finding a manufacturer who can execute that in a way that still feels considered, modern and high quality is another entirely. Creating clothing with discreet access for treatment, without it looking or feeling clinical, is far more complex than it should be.
Working through this, I’ve quickly understood why this problem hasn’t been properly solved before.
It’s hard.
Be part of what comes next
If you’ve found your way here, (hello and thank you) you’re already part of this.
Caelan is being shaped not just by my experience, but by the people who’ve shared theirs — what works, what doesn’t, and what’s missing when it comes to clothing for cancer treatment and chronic illness. If you’d like to follow along as we move towards launch, or share your own experience, you can join the Caelan community below - i’d love for you to be part of this journey with me.
