While I did not choose nipple reconstruction after my double mastectomy, I am familiar with the process, and I’m happy to share my understanding of it. I want to stress that every woman’s path to healing is unique and highly personal. I believe that it’s important to make these decisions with the help of trusted …
The Financial Burden of a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
At the onset of my breast cancer journey, I was alerted to the realities of the financial burden that a breast cancer diagnosis brings. Indeed, the financial aspects can quickly become a formidable aspect of the cancer experience that can feel equally as daunting as the physical and emotional contours of this disease. When I …
Why Might a Woman Choose to Remain Flat after a Mastectomy?
Many of us carry this erroneous assumption that a woman’s wholeness is somehow attached to her physical attributes, especially her breasts. But when you walk through the overwhelming ordeal of breast cancer like I did, your perspective changes – shifts – you begin to see yourself and others through the eyes of survival and strength, …
Do We Need Breasts to Feel Feminine?
While it’s true that many women associate their breasts with their womanhood and deeply value them as a part of their femininity, it’s also true that not all of us feel this way. Breast cancer clarified this for me, in a stark and surreal fashion. The disease, insidious and grand, stripped me of what society …
Managing the Anxiety that Comes with a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
The landscape of life shifts tremendously after a breast cancer diagnosis. The reality is stark and the journey sprawling, feeling as though you have walked into a marathon without a warm-up. You find yourself standing on the edge of an uncontrollable situation and information. Among the many facets of this mammoth experience, the management of …