In 2019 at 35 years old I never thought I would hear the words, “You have breast cancer.” It’s interesting how one phone call can change your life forever. The doctors insisted on a double mastectomy which I agreed to with a broken heart. I remember the first time I saw myself in the mirror after the surgery – I was shocked and sickened by my changed appearance. Reconstruction was attempted twice and failed twice.  I decided to have my implants removed and go flat. It felt like I had lost my breasts all over again. I remember laying on the floor in a fetal position wondering, Am I still beautiful? I didn’t fit the societal standard of beauty any longer. Am I enough? Am I broken beyond repair? Will this define me forever? The physical pain and gut-wrenching emotions were overwhelming

In 2019 at 35 years old I never thought I would hear the words, “You have breast cancer.” It’s interesting how one phone call can change your life forever. The doctors insisted on a double mastectomy which I agreed to with a broken heart. I remember the first time I saw myself in the mirror after the surgery – I was shocked and sickened by my changed appearance. Reconstruction was attempted twice and failed twice.  I decided to have my implants removed and go flat. It felt like I had lost my breasts all over again. I remember laying on the floor in a fetal position wondering, Am I still beautiful? I didn’t fit the societal standard of beauty any longer. Am I enough? Am I broken beyond repair? Will this define me forever? The physical pain and gut-wrenching emotions were overwhelming

In 2019 at 35 years old I never thought I would hear the words, “You have breast cancer.” It’s interesting how one phone call can change your life forever. The doctors insisted on a double mastectomy which I agreed to with a broken heart. I remember the first time I saw myself in the mirror after the surgery – I was shocked and sickened by my changed appearance. Reconstruction was attempted twice and failed twice.  I decided to have my implants removed and go flat. It felt like I had lost my breasts all over again. I remember laying on the floor in a fetal position wondering, Am I still beautiful? I didn’t fit the societal standard of beauty any longer. Am I enough? Am I broken beyond repair? Will this define me forever? The physical pain and gut-wrenching emotions were overwhelming

In 2019 at 35 years old I never thought I would hear the words, “You have breast cancer.” It’s interesting how one phone call can change your life forever. The doctors insisted on a double mastectomy which I agreed to with a broken heart. I remember the first time I saw myself in the mirror after the surgery – I was shocked and sickened by my changed appearance. Reconstruction was attempted twice and failed twice.  I decided to have my implants removed and go flat. It felt like I had lost my breasts all over again. I remember laying on the floor in a fetal position wondering, Am I still beautiful? I didn’t fit the societal standard of beauty any longer. Am I enough? Am I broken beyond repair? Will this define me forever? The physical pain and gut-wrenching emotions were overwhelming