8-year check-in ... and pictures

Momine

I don't check BCO that often anymore. Stopping in on my 'anniversary' to report that I am still alive, and as far as I know still NED. My DX was 3B and the docs were not super-confident about my prospects.

To celebrate I did a photo project, helped by a couple of good friends. Fair warning, it involves nudity, so probably not safe for work.

I wanted photos that highlighted femininity and that showed me as a full woman in spite of the lack of boobs.

We got published in Flaunt Magazine, so have a look!

https://www.flaunt.com/content/androgyne

If you have Instagram, please give the Insta post a like, to show Flaunt that their move is appreciated: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1pZhrrn0jV/

Misstic

Interesting work. Thanks for sharing.

Are you still on Letrozole ?

Momine

misstic, yes I am

ruthbru

Glad to 'see' you, Momine! The pictures are stunning!

Claire_in_Seattle

My best would be too x-rated for general publication. So I hold them in my memory only. Love these! I was only able to do a corset party shoot a few years ago.

Hoping for more of the same in the future as it's been a trifle too long. Go get 'em, Momine! - Claire

Momine

Ruth and Claire, thanks much and nice to "see" you too.

@ Fair warning! But do feel free to kite on the link to any friends who might enjoy it.

MelissaDallas

Momine, it’s good to see you. The pictures are lovely and thought provoking

Momine

Hi Melissa, backatcha! Thank you very much. The feedback so far has been positive, and some of it very touching. We are now working on getting the photos into a gallery (or galleries) somewhere.

Newnorm

Fantastic photos, thanks for sharing and for being brave and confident. Very inspiring.

Momine

Newnorm, thanks very much.

Beesie

Momine, the pictures are stunning, and inspirational. And as a side note, your hair is gorgeous.

Momine

Hi Beesie, good to see you too. Well, the hair was thanks to a local hairdresser It was a total mess, and the day before shooting, I was running around to find someone to put it in order. She lopped 5 inches off it and made it look respectable.

ruthbru

I was so taken with the pictures that I neglected to add that the interview was very, very interesting and thought provoking as well. I hope it gets the wide recognition it so deserves.

Momine

Thanks Ruth, and for reading. As I explained we are having trouble with Facebook, but if you know anyone who might like to see it, feel free to share .

ruthbru

I wish that everyone who is facing BC surgery could read/see something like this!

Momine

Ruth, thanks again! Your nice comment reminded me to send it to my onc, who tried very hard to talk me into recon.

ruthbru

Not taking anything away from people who chose reconstruction, but not reconstructing should be presented as an equally positive option by doctors (or equally valid anyway, I don't know that 'positive' is the right word for any of this). Many (if not most) people are pressured into making decisions without really realizing what they are getting into (with whatever choices they make).

Momine

Ruth, I would even be good with just "respected." In that regard, my breast surgeon was perfect. He said it was entirely up to me, and he meant it. When I pressed him, he said, "look, from my perspective, it works better for me to have you flat, because I can examine you more easily. But if you wanted recon, I would support you. Your body, your decision."

FarAwayToo

Momine, so happy to "see" you here. I followed your posts for a while (mostly in Complimentary subforum), and, even though my visits to BCO became less frequent in the past year (once I finished active treatment, life has slowly been taking over), I found myself here again, before upcoming MRI and MO visit.

The pictures are stunning! Thank you for this work. I'm one of those who went for the most straightforward reconstruction, but I start to regret it. I can say that it was almost assumed by my providers that at age 40 (or 41 at the time of BMX) I would want a reconstruction, so I never explored going flat in earnest. Looking at your pictures makes me revisit my recent thoughts about getting rid of my implants.

The beauty of the photos speak for itself. And congrats on you 8th year of being cancer free!

Momine

FarAwayToo, thanks very much for checking it out and for the nice comments. My doctors equally assumed that I would have recon, and that time of DX and getting a treatment plan is, for most of us I think, stressful and overwhelming. Initially I didn't question it either. But 2 things happened. I had to have chemo before surgery, and the docs decided that I could not have immediate recon (which, of course, is a misnomer, because there is nothing immediate about it) because it might interfere with timely treatment. That gave me time to regroup, research and think.

Heidihill

Go, Momine! Stunning pics. We could be almost twins (gross, self-serving exaggeration).

I also had chemo before surgery and surgery before radiation and was told I could think about reconstruction after all that. I decided to remain flat but asymmetric. I started using foobs for symmetry a few years after rads.

Momine

Hi Heidi, and thanks!