Part Four: The Mastectomy That Changed Her Life

This is the fourth of a four-part series about how breast cancer changed a woman's life. S.M. Jones is a former Wayne resident who still works in Radnor.

He agreed to go with her and whatever she wanted was acceptable with him.  The fact that she would be losing a breast didn’t bother him at all; he wanted her around and that’ all that mattered.

     They met with a plastic surgeon and chose reconstruction.  What surprised her most was the comment her husband said when the doctor asked if there were any questions.

     He didn’t care if she was reconstructed or not.  As long as she was alive and here, that’s what mattered.  His statement caught her off guard.

     “Really?”

     “Yes, you’re what’s important, not your breasts.  You are you, with or without them.”

     Surgery proceeded with no complications but did result with a thankful surprise.  When they checked the removed tissue, they actually found a third tumor that hadn’t even showed up on the mammogram.  The biggest shocker of all was that the third tumor was a different type of cancer.  She had three tumors and two different types of cancer in the same breast.  To this day, she never regretted having the mastectomy, especially now.

     Ten years later, she’s alive and well and living with two reconstructed breasts.  She chose to have the other breast removed as they were watching several questionable areas.  She didn’t want them to turn into cancer. 

She’s surprised though, when women question her about having a breast or breasts removed.  The biggest question reflects on what her husband said, and does she feel any less a woman? Of course not!  Having a breast removed to her is no different than losing a finger in an accident.   

     The only thing she’s lost is some flesh, blood and tissue.  She hasn’t lost any part of herself.  She hasn’t lost her soul.  Come to think about it, there is something she’s lost.  She’s lost the cancer.  She’s gained her life and plans to live a long and healthy one. 

     She gets check-ups every year and prays that it doesn’t come back somewhere else.  If it does, she’ll deal with it; but in the meantime.  She’s enjoying life with family and friends.

     In some small way, she hopes this information reaches that one woman who is questioning how to handle the terrible news of breast cancer.  Do what you have to do to live.  No one can take your soul, your being and your heart.  They are not measured by skin and tissue.

     Women, this is October, breast cancer awareness month.  Schedule your mammogram and do your self checks.  But most of all, tell your husbands to check themselves too.  Men can also become victims of breast cancer.