Reconstruction

A few months ago at my support group meeting I was declared the winner of the “prize no one wanted.” What was the prize you might ask? Well, it was a bathing suit of all things. And not just any bathing suit, a mastectomy bathing suit, one to be worn with or without prosthetic inserts. …

This past October I completed my breast reconstruction. Things are now finished on that front (pun intended). Overall, things turned out alright. Am I thrilled with the results? Hmm… no, not thrilled. Implants are still stand ins for the real deal. Am I satisfied? For now, yes. I could choose to have a few further minor adjustments made, …

Once you’ve heard the dreaded words, you have cancer, you can’t go back. December 2nd marks the one year anniversary of my tissue expander-implant exchange surgery. This means it’s also been exactly eighteen months to the day since my bilateral mastectomy. Which in turn, means it’s been a little more than eighteen months since I …

Recently, I stumbled upon a blog post with this title, “Breast Reconstruction Makes Breast Cancer Patients Whole Again After Mastectomy.” What? This particular choice of words immediately made me bristle. In fact, I found them down right irritating. Why? It’s the definitive nature of the statement that annoys, no offends me. Breast reconstruction makes breast …

Let’s talk about one of those labels often thrown around post-cancer treatment when you are turned loose and expected to get back out there — also known as figuring out life under the ‘new normal’ umbrella. Or, simply finding your new normal, whatever that means. Following treatment (if you’re “lucky” enough to have a treatment …