How could someone ever look at me and find beauty when I could not find it inside or outside myself?
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?”
For some strange reason, putting myself first seems selfish. It wasn’t until my aunt passed that I realized I have to put myself first.
I was practicing self-care. Treating my body well and doing the things that were supposed to be good for me. I never expected to find out that I had breast cancer.
At the age of 43, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was an emotional mess but the one constant thing that helped me survive was running.
One of the most popular New Year’s resolutions is to become healthier. But what does that mean, exactly? For some people it means losing weight or getting fit, for others it might mean cutting out unhealthy foods like sugars and fats. The key to achieving this resolution is finding a plan that works best for you!
Emotions are a part of life. They’re a driving force and are what connect us to ourselves and others. But it can be easy to get stuck in the negative emotions, and they can consume you if you let them.
When I stop to think of the bright side, I think of my husband, my co-survivor. During active treatment, I was so focused on myself that I didn’t stop to think about how afraid he must be. But I noticed what he did. He took care of me.
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.
