I worked in a lingerie dept in aus many years ago , I was privileged enough to be trained for prothsesis fitting, and also help with a few fashion parades with women who had all had mastectomies, all models were breast cancer survivors , all inspirational women, I take my hat off to you , your determination and attitude are amazing, I have your book but haven’t read it yet
I agree it helps to know. I have a variant of BRCA1+ (not the familial one) that was attributed to causing my cancers. It didn’t save me from the first two at 27, but the third was detected in the BRCA1 screening program and would have been missed in routine follow-up. I had my ovaries and tubes removed too, as a precaution. I felt this was an empowering step and allowed me some control in this very random and chaotic mess. I think genetic testing is more common now in younger women contracting the disease (particularly triple negative) and this can only be a good thing. I would have had a mastectomy from the outset if I had known. It would also have been much easier as a mastectomy conducted through the scar tissue of radiotherapy is problematic. I’m glad you have your answer at last - that ‘just knowing’ feeling makes a big difference xx
Wow after all this time it must feel strange to have an answer. The developments in medicine are amazing. I agree though self care is never wasted and there’s more to your health than whether or not you had breast cancer. I think your mental health resilience and positive attitude is incredible and self care definitely comes into that.
I worked in a lingerie dept in aus many years ago , I was privileged enough to be trained for prothsesis fitting, and also help with a few fashion parades with women who had all had mastectomies, all models were breast cancer survivors , all inspirational women, I take my hat off to you , your determination and attitude are amazing, I have your book but haven’t read it yet
I agree it helps to know. I have a variant of BRCA1+ (not the familial one) that was attributed to causing my cancers. It didn’t save me from the first two at 27, but the third was detected in the BRCA1 screening program and would have been missed in routine follow-up. I had my ovaries and tubes removed too, as a precaution. I felt this was an empowering step and allowed me some control in this very random and chaotic mess. I think genetic testing is more common now in younger women contracting the disease (particularly triple negative) and this can only be a good thing. I would have had a mastectomy from the outset if I had known. It would also have been much easier as a mastectomy conducted through the scar tissue of radiotherapy is problematic. I’m glad you have your answer at last - that ‘just knowing’ feeling makes a big difference xx
Wow after all this time it must feel strange to have an answer. The developments in medicine are amazing. I agree though self care is never wasted and there’s more to your health than whether or not you had breast cancer. I think your mental health resilience and positive attitude is incredible and self care definitely comes into that.
Absolutely! Thanks so much x