October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. October 7th is International Flat Day. It’s important to raise awareness of Aesthetic Flat Closure as an option for breast cancer survivors.
Most people automatically assume that when a woman gets a mastectomy because of breast cancer, that she will also do reconstruction surgery to make her look “normal.”
It is unbelievable, how many women report that their doctors and surgeons NEVER gave them (or discussed) the option to stay flat. Or if the woman told them that’s what they wanted, were completely dismissed and/or pressured for reconstruction.
What is “normal”? Why do some people think that if a woman is “flat,” it is wrong, or it looks bad?
Many women (like myself) choose to stay flat for medical reasons. I do not want more surgery (than is absolutely necessary). Any type of reconstruction has multiple surgeries that go along with it (even years later for maintenance).
If a reoccurrence in my chest tissue were to happen, I would notice much faster.
I do not want to get sick from breast implant illness (like so many women have after dealing with breast cancer).
These are just a few examples. Ultimately, I just wanted to move forward with my life.
I do believe that the conversation around breast cancer should be more focused on saving the woman rather than saving her breasts.
It must be included in the conversation that there doesn’t have to be added pressure to have more surgery because of societal pressure around breasts and what we “should” look like as women. Breast cancer has enough pressure and fears that come with it.
Let it be up to the woman, what she does with her body, rather than pressure her to be a certain way.
And that means telling her what ALL of her options are.
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