Clea Shearer from the Home Edit shared yesterday that she was forced to remove her right breast implant in an emergency surgery procedure. After eight surgeries and the best efforts of her doctors, she simply was not healing. She shared in an Instagram post that she will remain flat on the right side until likely the Fall of 2025. Once healed, she plans to reconstruct using LAT flap procedure.
Clea Shearer’s breast cancer diagnosis that parallels mine (in a way)
Clea Shearer was diagnosed with breast cancer right around the same time I was diagnosed, so we have travelled parallel paths. I appreciated her honesty and transparency and I followed her story closely as she was just one step ahead of me. We both had double mastectomies, chemotherapy and radiation. All that said, her news yesterday resonated beyond the ripples of shared experiences. Those among us touched by breast cancer know how traumatic this journey can be.
I deeply empathize with what she is feeling right now. The sudden, heartbreaking development of her implanted breast failing is something no woman should have to face.
Many women find comfort in the breast mound reconstruction process, hoping the implants will restore some semblance of normalcy. So, when that beacon of hope falters, the pain can seep in deep, touching the furrows of despair we’ve painstakingly plowed over.
Breast Reconstruction is NOT a “boob job”
Breast reconstruction is nothing short of a gargantuan journey. It is a path fraught with complexities and is not a decision taken lightly. The process often represents the final stretch in a race against breast cancer – a desperate bid to reclaim oneself from the clutches of the disease. But it’s a path laden with multiple surgeries, potential risks and endless appointments, tests, and evaluations. Various surgical techniques provide an assortment of choices, from implant reconstruction to autologous tissue reconstruction, such as the DIEP flap or LAT flap technique, which are incredibly complex surgeries. Each breast mound reconstruction method carries its pros, cons, and potential complications.
Why I chose aesthetic flat closure instead of breast mound reconstruction like Clea Shearer
This brings us to the heart of my journey and the reason I chose aesthetic flat closure and the ‘flat’ appearance post-mastectomy. My journey is different from Clea Shearer’s as I opted out of breast mound reconstruction. It is not that I didn’t consider it. But my options in that regard were limited by the fact I had multi-focal cancer (three tumors), knew that I would require radiation because of the size of my cancer, and I had lost 10 pounds due to stress before my surgery.
I count myself fortunate that I researched reconstruction early on to inform my decision-making. In my book Flat Please, Hold the Shame I vividly recall a conversation with a well-meaning survivor, a woman who had undergone a single mastectomy followed by chemotherapy, radiation, and eventually DIEP flap reconstruction. Yet she was dead honest about the trials and tribulations she faced and about the healing challenges associated with a DIEP flap. In her word, the reconstruction was much harder than the mastectomy.
I was introduced to the option of flat closure by another friend. That conversation was a tipping point in my decision-making process. I was struggling with the idea of multiple surgeries required for implants and the invasive nature of DIEP/LAT flap. I remember questioning: “Why all the toil? Why the added suffering? Why endure all those unnecessary surgeries and associated risks?” I detailed my reasoning in this article for Chatelaine Magazine.
Your decision about breast or chest wall reconstruction should be yours to make, and should be respected
After I decided flat was the right option for me, I realized that much of the world around me — including most doctors — relentlessly drummed the chant of reconstructing Humpty Dumpty. The freedom to opt out of reconstruction, to get on with my life and the determination that Ellyn without breasts was just as complete as the Ellyn with D-cup breasts rang truer to me. There was power and grace in choosing to remain flat. There was relief in knowing that I didn’t have to endure additional surgeries or face the risk of complications like implant failure down the road.
I have always advocated for flat as a third option that should be presented and considered. That said, it is JUST an option. I stand by the decision that for other women, breast mound reconstruction is their desired path. I have always believed this is a deeply personal choice and one that should never be questioned.
So I grieve for Clea Shearer today, and the loss she is feeling. My heart aches for her. She’s proven to be a resilient woman who has rebounded from every setback. Going flat was not her choice as it was mine. It was forced upon her, and that’s a bitter pill to swallow. I hope she finds self-love and acceptance in time.
Most of all, Clea Shearer’s willingness to share her pain and story sheds light on the road we walk as survivors or fighters, each with our struggles and victories uniquely intertwined. Her story, and those of countless other women, underscore the importance of informed decision-making, of having real conversations about the choices involved, and the empowerment that comes with taking control of our journeys.
Through our shared experiences and loving support, we continue to learn, grow, and navigate the path that breast cancer lays before us.
Sending Clea and all others who are navigating this process gentle and loving hugs that are close to my heart.
A short video offering up my heartfelt thoughts on Clea Shearer’s news.
