on being an amazon

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eiepb
eiepb Member Posts: 6
edited June 2014 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
on being an amazon
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  • eiepb
    eiepb Member Posts: 6
    edited February 2008

    I had a L mastectomy without reconstruction on 2/14/08. I'm 45. 5 months ago I got DCIS diagnosis...  bx plus 4 lumpectomies got no margins over 1mm and increasingly multifoci DCIS.  I'm really okay with the single-breasted look and trying to find bras and bathing suits that support just that.  Does anyone else remember the beautiful mastectomy poster from the early 80's: black and white photograph of a Caucasian woman dancing nude from the waist up? Head thrown back in the sun?  It was such a strong photograph... made me feel positive long before I imagined I could be in that place.  I really want to just be single-breasted, but am struggling to find bathing suits especially - everything seems so focussed on prostheses and looking 2-breasted?  Let me know if you've found anything~  Thanks~

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  • AnnNYC
    AnnNYC Member Posts: 4,484
    edited July 2011

    At first I thought of Matuschka's photos in the New York Times -- but those aren't so exuberant, so I'll bet you're thinking of Deena Metzger.

    http://www.deenametzger.com/images/IMAGE_Warrior3.jpg

    You're right -- that is a gorgeous photo!  I feel great looking at it -- thanks for starting me on the Google search that found it!

    Sorry I don't have recommendations for clothes...  will keep looking.

    Best,

    Ann

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  • Jenniferz
    Jenniferz Member Posts: 541
    edited February 2008

    eiepb,

    There is site http://www.breastfree.org that has all sorts of links to places with bathing suits, bras, prothesis---whatever is needed, there seems to be a link!!  I found my favorite bra there.  And these people are very easy to work with.

    Jennifer

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  • eiepb
    eiepb Member Posts: 6
    edited February 2008

    This IS the photo!  Thank you so much!  It just makes me so happy and feel so strong~!

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  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited February 2008

    Thank you SO much for posting that photo.  It captures the sense of relief and power and freedom and ... oh, I don't know, maybe optimism, that we all want to feel.  The woman looks so incredibly healthy--it's such an inspiration.

    otter
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  • AnnNYC
    AnnNYC Member Posts: 4,484
    edited July 2011

    eiepb and otter,

    I KNEW this was the photo in question once I saw it, and it made me feel so good I had to post the whole picture, not just a link!

    This photo was taken in 1978 -- I am not sure of Deena Metzger's age, but she is still going strong thirty years later!

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  • Dragonfly92127
    Dragonfly92127 Member Posts: 106
    edited February 2008

    What an empowering photo - Thank You!

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  • inspiewriter
    inspiewriter Member Posts: 876
    edited February 2008

    Never saw that before!!

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited February 2008

    On, my goodness! That's the picture that my prostesis fitter had in the fitting room, and when I walked in it was so startlingly positive and expressive it made me cry. Very moving. Thanks!

    (Odd, but you know, the way I remember it, she was standing on a hilltop -- but I think that's just the feeling it gives you...) 

    Binney 

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  • geebung
    geebung Member Posts: 1,851
    edited February 2008

    That is such a wonderful, powerful and encouraging photograph! Thank you SO much for posting it.

    gb 

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  • nowwhat
    nowwhat Member Posts: 50
    edited February 2008

    Awe inspiring!  Thank you! 

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  • geebung
    geebung Member Posts: 1,851
    edited February 2008

    I just googled Deena Metzger and I found a really interesting article about the photo. The writer includes another photo by Jo Spence (who also had bc) and discusses that one as well. The paper is called "Palimpsest of Breast: Representation of Breast Cancer in the Work of Deena Metzger and Jo Spence". If any of you are interested in reading it the link is: http://www.temple.edu/gradmag/fall98/schaick.htm

    gb 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2008

    OH SHOOT...the link won't open for me! I'd like to see that too!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2008

    OOPS, K got it, what a stunning tasteful work of art!

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  • AnnNYC
    AnnNYC Member Posts: 4,484
    edited July 2011

    Hi Jane -- I also put the link to that Palimpsest paper right beneath the photo in my post near the top -- but I guess the photo draws all the attention!

    Ann

    EDIT in 2011: the old link I mentioned no longer works, so under the photo is now a link to Deena Metzger's site, and here is a link to the Palimpsest paper :

    http://www.temple.edu/gradmag/volume1/schaick.htm

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  • geebung
    geebung Member Posts: 1,851
    edited February 2008

    That pic sure did take all my attention Ann! Thanks - sorry to double up. It sure was an interesting article. The photos were so different to each other and had such different things to say but all the meanings were just so relevant. I love reading critiques of works of art - love writing them too.

    gb 

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  • eiepb
    eiepb Member Posts: 6
    edited February 2008

    Hi all,

    Check out Deena Metger's website at http://www.deenametzger.com/ and click on the Tree Poster link to see the verse that goes with the photograph~

    eiepb

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  • AnnNYC
    AnnNYC Member Posts: 4,484
    edited February 2008

    Hi Jane -- sorry I didn't see your post earlier!  I'm glad you mentioned the paper!  I guess what I should have said is, "yes, isn't it interesting?!"  I did like the "property of" photo too, though, as you say, an entirely different mood.

    eiepb -- I have finally retrieved what was a vague memory in response to your question about clothing design. 

    Darya, a board member from Toronto, posted about this last August -- she has been designing clothes for herself about which she said: "Basically the shirts take the asymmetrical body as a given. They seek to flatter and 'work with' the asymmetry. They use the idea of 'one' rather than 'two'."

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  • Mary-Lou
    Mary-Lou Member Posts: 2,230
    edited February 2008

    I'm going to post this for myspace sisterhood. I started this page for our sisterhood.

    My link is in my signature.

    THANKS

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  • AnnNYC
    AnnNYC Member Posts: 4,484
    edited February 2008

    Hi Mary Lou -- that was quick!  I just went to your Myspace page -- it's beautiful!

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