The beauty of scars: David Jay's 'honest' portraits of imperfect beauty. I found myself very moved by the short video.
I will warn you now that most of the pictures are graphic and some people could find them disturbing. They might also be deemed to be Not Safe For Work.
I often look at myself in the mirror before I have my shower and try and see beyond my scars. When I had my breast removed I felt like a pice of my womanhood had been taken away and that I would never feel the same about myself ever again. When I started chemo and lost all my hair then I thought I looked like some sort of frreak. But you know what. I am still me. I am Boo and I have a husband who loves me for who I am not for what I look like. I have two wonderful children who have had fun painting my bald head and making fun of my false boob. I have friends who give me hugs when i need them and I am now, 7 years down the line, able to talk about my experiences and how I feel about myself. I want to thank you for putting this video up and showing people. As I try and remind myself, there IS beauty after breast cancer and chemo. Noone can take away from us who we really are. Sorry to hijack your thread Paul, but it is important also to let people know, that those of us who have had cancer, the fear doesn't stop just because we get the all clear, it doesn't stop just because our hair grows back. We still get scared, and personally, I hate to even check the good breast. Breast cancer ISN'T pink and fluffy. I urge every single one of you out there that reads this thread to check yourself...even if you are like me, and scared to do it you MUST. Don't be afraid either, because you can't hide, if you find something then go and get it checked out. Thanks again Paul...think I needed that.
@steampowered you rock.,,,you always share the coolest stuff Paul! @huvesaker your words touched me because I am your sister .We are strong and beautiful!!! Thanks for sharing!
@huvesaker Bravo. You are so brave and I love how movingly you have written about this. I agree wholeheartedly. My Mum was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was 13 and died at the age of 43 when I was 18. I have had annual mammograms for ten years now and obviously check myself regularly but was stunned when my sisters told me they didn't check. We've all since had scares but luckily we are all ok. I truly admire your words and hope you live a long and fruitful life without any more scary moments xx
@steampowered Thanks for sharing this. I love that it includes the fact that men can also get breast cancer. It's something that needs highlighting. Both my Mum and my maternal Grandfather had it so I can relate to this so much xx
@huvesaker - Bravo, Boo! So proud of you for speaking out so movingly! And to Paul @steampowered for sharing this video. I am an ovarian/uterine and thyroid cancer survivor. I have many scars from 13 surgeries. It's been a journey I would not have chosen and started when I was 29, a healthy vegetarian runner. My life changed, but I did survive. I am always in awe of people who emphasize the beauty in scars and survivorship. I am not so brave as to show my scars but I am a chair on a relay for life committee and volunteer as a patient advocate for women with gynecologic and thyroid cancer.
I love this poem by Kathy Cawthon of 'The Cancer Crusade'
I have cancer...
but cancer does not have me.
Cancer is not who I am.
It is only a bend in the road that is my life's journey...
an unexpected detour in my path.
It is a lesson in the cosmic schoolroom that is human existence.
So I will pause to rest...
and heal...
and study the lesson...
before I move on to my life beyond cancer.
I will not give in to fear,
and I will not be discouraged by setbacks.
Setbacks are only opportunities to review the lesson.
I will not be ashamed of my scars.
My scars are the brushstrokes in the masterpiece that is my life.
I will be thankful for the many blessings cancer has brought into my life:
People I never would have known,
love that I had never been still or quiet enough to witness,
humility I needed,
strength I thought I had lost,
courage I never knew I had.
I will remember that I can still have fun and that it's okay - even healthy - to be silly.
I will remember that to find the joy in rainbows...
I must endure the rain.
And I will remember always that while I may have cancer...
cancer does not have me.
@jankoos Wow...great poem...I always tell that to people...Cancer does not have me....I am not a VICTIM...but I have the scars. I use my knowledge, and my feelings to help others who I meet just starting out on this journey. I work in the operating room, and on those days when I am in a room performing mastectomies, I try to meet the women and talk to them and encourage them.
Do I worry still...of course I do....but it does not rule my life.
Cancer does NOT have me! @steampowered Thank you so much for sharing this...it was very moving and reminds us that it is not the box, but what is in the box that is important.
New Year's Eve I was told I had breast cancer so I partied the night away in denial. I have had the operation and done two rounds of chemo. Just want to share something I have identified as a helpful suggestion hoping it might help others and posted a week ago on my project:
I don't know if I mentioned in previous posts that I was between mammograms when I discovered the breast cancer lump.
I have been using a bath louffa for a few years so had not actually "touched" skin to skin and done the soapy breast examination. When I did put aside the louffa, the lump was very obvious.
Joan, who I spoke to this week, said she had a similar experience. She dropped her louffa on the shower floor and couldn't be bothered picking it up. She lathered up and found her lump as well.
My suggestion is - put aside the louffa, facecloth, whatever you use and once a month, lather up and examine your breasts, especially between mammograms.
And guys, if you are reading this...do I have to spell it out!
@lynnb@mzzhope@huvesaker to my amazing 365 support team...you ladies are so kind and gracious in sharing your experiences. I hope I get to do the same for someone one day 😍
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@huvesaker your words touched me because I am your sister .We are strong and beautiful!!! Thanks for sharing!
@cgarner @kimshawball @bobfoto big huggly hugs to you all
I love this poem by Kathy Cawthon of 'The Cancer Crusade'
I have cancer...
but cancer does not have me.
Cancer is not who I am.
It is only a bend in the road that is my life's journey...
an unexpected detour in my path.
It is a lesson in the cosmic schoolroom that is human existence.
So I will pause to rest...
and heal...
and study the lesson...
before I move on to my life beyond cancer.
I will not give in to fear,
and I will not be discouraged by setbacks.
Setbacks are only opportunities to review the lesson.
I will not be ashamed of my scars.
My scars are the brushstrokes in the masterpiece that is my life.
I will be thankful for the many blessings cancer has brought into my life:
People I never would have known,
love that I had never been still or quiet enough to witness,
humility I needed,
strength I thought I had lost,
courage I never knew I had.
I will remember that I can still have fun and that it's okay - even healthy - to be silly.
I will remember that to find the joy in rainbows...
I must endure the rain.
And I will remember always that while I may have cancer...
cancer does not have me.
My scars are the brushstrokes in the masterpiece that is my life
appeals to the artist in me...hahaha
yes - My scars are the brushstrokes in the masterpiece that is my life - my favorite line as well! :-)
Do I worry still...of course I do....but it does not rule my life.
Cancer does NOT have me!
@steampowered Thank you so much for sharing this...it was very moving and reminds us that it is not the box, but what is in the box that is important.
I don't know if I mentioned in previous posts that I was between mammograms when I discovered the breast cancer lump.
I have been using a bath louffa for a few years so had not actually "touched" skin to skin and done the soapy breast examination. When I did put aside the louffa, the lump was very obvious.
Joan, who I spoke to this week, said she had a similar experience. She dropped her louffa on the shower floor and couldn't be bothered picking it up. She lathered up and found her lump as well.
My suggestion is - put aside the louffa, facecloth, whatever you use and once a month, lather up and examine your breasts, especially between mammograms.
And guys, if you are reading this...do I have to spell it out!
@lynnb @mzzhope @huvesaker to my amazing 365 support team...you ladies are so kind and gracious in sharing your experiences. I hope I get to do the same for someone one day 😍
My mammograms came back "normal" .My doctor found the lump during a routine check up.