After I had my bilateral mastectomy in 2017, I decided on immediate DIEP flap reconstruction. During the process of explaining to me some intricacies of the surgery, my plastic surgeon mentioned that my nipples would always be at attention – um, excuse me?
Living flat wasn’t a choice I thought about when I was diagnosed with cancer. Now I know that it wasn’t only a choice, but it was the right choice for me.
“If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?”
Breast cancer patients need to be their own advocates when it comes to their health care. But how do you do this when you’re feeling scared and overwhelmed?
The most important lesson I’ve learned in being a breast cancer survivor is that I can do things on my terms and define what survivorship looks like for me.
I am self-conscious of certain things, no matter how strong I may appear.
If you are someone who is struggling or has struggled through the pain of breast cancer, then now more than ever, you need to practice self-love and self-care in order to fully heal for yourselves and for those who love you.
I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and then found out I had a gene that made me susceptible to breast cancer as well. I could wait and see or I could prevent a worst-case scenario.
Preparing for surgery can be a scary and exciting time…whether this is happening at the beginning of your cancer diagnosis, the middle or the end, it’s one more mountain to climb, and climb you will!
Shame has been used to control the minds and bodies of Black, Indigenous, and all People of Color since colonization. It has been passed from one generation to another in many different ways…Life is too short and too difficult to carry around the extra baggage that comes from shame.
Your voice, your story, and your support can make a difference. Join For the Breast of Us in our mission to empower, support, and advocate for women of color across the globe. Together, we can create a future where every woman has the resources and support she needs to overcome breast cancer.
On the Web:
www.breastofus.com
www.breastofusfoundation.org
Email:
hello@breastofus.com
Welcome to our community—where hope thrives, strength is found, and sisters in the fight become family.
