Breast cancer as we all know is a group of cancer cells (malignant tumour) that starts in the cells of the breast.
About two years ago, I went from being a stay-at-home mom to a breast cancer patient so fast that it felt like a dream. While battling with breast cancer, chemotherapy and double mastectomy have taught me a few things. And if I was just diagnosed of cancer, this is what I would have loved to know.
1. Exposing your breast won’t be a big deal anymore
As soon as you are diagnosed to cancer, your modesty will fly into the thin air. And no I wasn’t the type that likes flashing her boobs or body parts, but since I was diagnosed I’ve flashed over a hundred people. When I was been treated, I showed doctors and curious friends the changes my body is undergoing. The point of attraction is the port, my mastectomy scars and drains, the final implant and my first tattoos which were done in a way that looks like a nipple.
2. You will be surprised at how much you are loved
This is the time when friends, family, neighbours and acquaintances will flock around you to show you their support even more than you ever expect, including people you don’t know. They will take care of your kids, bring food to you, and when you get home you will find food and different get-well-soon cards.
Your friends will be ever ready to do anything that will help relieve you of stress, and your mother who is out of town will come down to wherever you are so she can help take care of your children and house. And you will be so overwhelmed with gratitude.
3. You will learn that immediate reconstruction is not immediate
Don’t be deceived into thinking that the surgeon will completely reconstruct your breasts at the time of the mastectomy, just like I didn’t realize that what “immediate reconstruction” really means is “starts during mastectomy and ends with at least one more surgery probably a year after or so.”
4. You will feel the need to check out other women’s breasts
You begin to forget what a normal breast looks like after you’ve had a breast surgery or two. Although what you see in the mirror when you look at yourself may not be that bad, yet it’s not normal. And you will be in the habit of checking out other women’s breast to see what theirs look like. Just to know how not-normal your breast looks.
5. You will begin to realize how important breasts are
Even though you are not using your breasts to feed babies again, it is at this point that you will realise how important breast really are begin the mastectomy is performed, your surgeon will inform you of how you won’t feel any sensation in your breast again, and you will say okay, as long as the cancer is gotten rid of. And of course, the significance of losing sensation will be lost on you until you discover you cannot feel the passionate touch of your husband or the gentle nuzzle of your child, that’s when you can spot the difference.
6. You won’t be needing a bra!
You won’t have the need to wear a bra, and even if you feel like wearing one anyway, you will have a hard time finding one that fits, so you might have no choice than to go around braless. Your girlfriends might encourage you to try on and buy a strapless and backless top because now you can wear them, and they’ll surely look good on you.
7. You may never again have “just a headache”
The cause of every slight ache or pain will be attributed to cancer. Is my cancer coming back again? You’ll ask yourself. Be it hip pain, back pain, irregular menstruation, you will blame everything on cancer. Although, with time, you will get used to it. Then you would totally forget to tell a doctor that your nipples aren’t real (you are used to them) or you go an entire day without thinking about cancer. Nothing changes the fact that you are different now, but you are going to become used to that new person that you’ve become.
However, research has shown that roughly 30% of women diagnosed of cancer later develop metastatic recurrence which later claims their lives, even though some women living with breast cancer still live longer and are stronger. And this makes me sober, despite that I’m hopeful and so want you to know the personal side of cancer, scientifically I want you to know that the lives of women with metastatic disease depend on the breakthrough which medical research can come up with, if not, their lives will be cut short.
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