since I’ve been having treatment I feel that I look at everyone’s breasts now and just wonder to myself - what could be/might be going on in there ? they’ll never just be breasts any more - does anyone else think this ?
I don’t think about other people’s breasts (and what could be going on) as such, although since being dx I nag every female family member/friend/colleague to check themselves and go for regular smears. I do feel differently about my own breasts now though. I think about what could be lurking there and I just don’t trust my body anymore. I never thought I was that comfortable with my body before but I very obviously was as now it’s the opposite. Daft I guess, but that’s how I feel.
Pat x
I look at other people my age (40) who have them on display now and i dont get whats attractive about them. I used to think I had great boobs (bit droopy but pretty good size) not I just think put em away ladies!
only time i wish i had mine back was on holiday. other than that I am really not impressed! I should love the one Ive got really. A friend of mine (who hasnt had cancer) told me a while ago that after my diagnosis she wanted to run round telling people that breasts were killing machines!
I’m not that bad
I’m the same as you Pat, I found a group on facebook that gave instructions on how to check your breasts and what changes to look for and sent a message to all my friends to check it out/join!
I’ve also stopped thinking about my boobs as sexual objects and I know my OH definately has - shame…
Katie
I never think too much about it tbh. Maybe it’s because I don’t do beach holidays so I’ve never really worn a bikini or swimsuit since my mid teens. I’ve also never been one for low cut tops or dresses as I’ve just never been comfortable dressed like that. I had a lumpectomy, but I’ve decided if this was to come back on the same side and I lost my breast I would not want a reconstruction.
I think I agree with you there cherub
I guess I must be even weirder then, because everywhere I look , tv, magazines, or everywhere I go, I see women with huge cleavages on show and I wonder to myself, where are all these large percentage of women who have, or have had BC and surgery, oh just me then?!?!
I know its really stupid as not all women with BC have a mastectomy, or maybe they all stay indoors,or dont go to the same places I do, ha!
Its been over a year since my surgery and Ive yet to meet anyone else who has had BC (apart from cyberworld), maybe I need to get out more?!
You must be very unusual in not knowing anyone else with BC. I work with only a small number of women but 3 of us have had treatment for BC and one is still undergoing it. My sister in law has had it and at least 3 of her friends too, and a very close friend of mine as well. I seem to meet people all the time, but I suppose some people just don’t like to talk about it.
Aside of an aunt who died 3 years ago,over 30 years after having BC, I had never met anyone else until my own diagnosis.
Me too Cherub, I hadn’t come across anyone who’d had bc before my dx. And apart from here and at clinic, still haven’t met anyone with bc.
Guess I’m not that unusual then
Actually, i did not know anyone with bc personally either. I have made lots of good bc friends (admittedly mostly on here) but also friendly with a few of the women I met on chemo. One tells me that everyone where she worked (7 women) all had bc! That is scary and makes you wonder…
Hi everyone
I didn’t know anyone either (although Mum died back in 1999 from BC related (pancreas)). I work with loads of women of all ages and they all knew about me but no-one came forward with any experience to offer advice etc and they are all lovely ‘open’ people - I don’t think they’d have kept quiet as they’re all very supportive. Strange, isn’t it? I remain grateful to many on here for the valuable experiences posted/tips/advice etc.
Oh and yes, I too ‘worry’ about other womens’ breasts (especially ‘breast confident’ women, which I have been). I wonder what the psychological repecussions would be and how they’d handle it. Fleeting thoughts but mostly want to shout from the roof tops ‘don’t get fobbed off by a stupid GP like I did!’
Lots of love. Cathy x