By: Jenni Rai, PT, CLT When I initially began working with women who had breast cancer, I was often the first person to mention “lymphedema” to them. This was in 2005, and at the time we Physical Therapists and Certified Lymphedema Therapists (at least the ones I worked with) perceived breast surgeons to find lymphedema insulting. A sort of, “I didn’t screw up! YOU don’t have LYMPHEDEMA!” Despite all of the credible research and acceptance in Europe, lymphedema seemed to be the “red headed step child” of Western Medicine, which unfortunately left patients under informed. Somewhere during the last 13 years, I’ve noticed a change. More often than not, when…
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We Belong To One Another
Mia’s bilateral mastectomy was in 2007, and mine was in 2010. Numerous times since then, we’ve both had people say to us, “Can’t you just get over it?”, and other similar comments. We know there are women both in treatment and post-treatment that hear these same words every single day. And we also know words like that can cause a woman shame due to her wondering why she isn’t ‘over it’ already. It has to stop. Women (and men) who are faced with the reality of a breast cancer diagnosis already have enough worry and fear on their plates, they don’t need anyone – inner circle or acquaintance – adding…
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HEALING THE WHOLE WOMAN
One can’t imagine the stigma, loneliness, pain and sometimes embarrassment that comes with cutting off your breasts. Women are “known” for their breasts – after all that’s what makes a woman beautiful and voluptuous, right?! So losing them can be a major blow to one’s heart and soul. There isn’t much, if any, information out there on how to heal one’s soul from the loss of your breasts. It’s just a brushed over subject that no one in the industry wants to entertain. That’s breast cancer information, in general, and so many people don’t realize what women are actually dealing with on a daily basis. There are women walking around…
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THINGS I WISH I HAD KNOWN PRIOR TO MY MASTECTOMY
A mastectomy, either single or double, is a common treatment for women with breast cancer. I asked some of my friends to contribute to the conversation, and this is the information that many from the breast community wish they had known. 1. I wish I had taken pictures documenting procedure and recovery, and journaled. There’s so much I have forgotten! (I am a firm believer that our mind clouds our memory sometimes to allow us to heal from trauma, but there is still so much healing that can come from the remembering.) 2. More support from other women who went thru this…You find out you have cancer and without catching…
- BODY POSITIVE, BREAST CANCER, BREAST CANCER AWARENESS, FLAT CLOSURE NOW, FLATTIES UNITE, LIFE AFTER BREAST CANCER, MASTECTOMY, RECLAIMING MY BODY
It Changed Me
I never thought I’d be that girl that would pose topless for photos…..
