New Breasts to Go With My Cancer-Free Life

The day before surgery...

Almost every night for a while now, I enter a world of self-pity upon undressing. Tired and vulnerable, my mind loses control. I am one of the lucky women, so why am I mourning my breasts? Is my self-image so tied to my physical appearance?

This picture was taken the day before my mastectomy, which will also mark the beginning of my reconstruction. I've decided to have tissue expanders. They'll inject saline into each casing and then leave the wounds for two weeks. More saline is introduced weekly into the expanders after that, until they are fully inflated. Two months later I'll have implants put in.

Next: ...And after