It’s Not A Boob Job-It’s an Amputation!

I guess you could say I’m one of the lucky ones. I didn’t get breast cancer. I chose to get rid of my boobs BEFORE they killed me. I avoided a breast cancer diagnosis by being super proactive and making a very difficult decision.

I guess I’m also sort of lucky because I haven’t encountered any one specific person flat out say to me, “Oh, well at least you get a free boob job out of it.” It hasn’t been said to my face in so many words BUT it has been implied to me. And it has been flat out said to many other BRCA ladies I have spoken to. Unbelievable.

The truth about this surgery? It is not fun. It is not pretty. And it certainly isn’t a free boob job.

Yes, I had new breasts reconstructed at the time of surgery. From an outsiders perspective, I have a “normal” looking chest in a shirt. But guess what? I have no nipples! I have zero feeling in my chest for sexual purposes and I still have nagging pain in spots and my surgery was almost three months ago. My new “foobs” have random lumps and bumps that may or may not disappear on their own. If I have another baby, I can’t breastfeed. If I bend over in a bathing suit, you would likely see the ripples of my implants right through my skin and the only way to fix that would be to have more surgery. Which I may or may not do. I haven’t decided yet.

Sure there are a few positives to having implants used with reconstruction. If I need to go braless because a certain shirt or dress would show bra straps, I can. My foobs are perkier than my original set. But the biggest plus to this whole thing-I will (hopefully) not get breast cancer. Yes, unfortunately it is STILL possible. But fingers crossed I made this huge leap for good reason.

Love and foobies,

Allison

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