Breast Cancer Issues | Bilateral Mastectomy & Reconstruction - 3 Months Post Op

[melissaparker19]

thanks alot for the video. im going through radiation at the moment for stage 3 breast cancer. i had a left breast masectomy but couldnt get immediate reconstruction. wow it takes a whole year to be finished with the process!! im 27 so i will be looking to get that side as normal as possible after treatment is over.

[mariacappers07]

Hi - have been through exactly the same as you - have got my expanders in and am ready to go back in for the silicone implants to be put in - they look fab though am so pleased - but not the most comfortable of things to have. I hope my implants look as good as the expander - mine are similar size to yours xx just feel more like a woman again !!! BC is the absolute pits xxx take care Maria xx

[sbeard793]

I admire your strength and positive attitude. I was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer on November 28, 2011. I had my first chemo treatment on January 27, 2012. I have opted for a double mastectomy due to genetics. I'm a single woman & of course I'm worried about how I will look once it's done. I'm almost resigned to the fact that I'll be alone the rest of my life. Don't mean to sound depressing. Did you go through chemotherapy? You have beautiful hair, and I'm hoping not to lose mine

[cervezero11]

You are a strong woman!

[NINJAFORCE]

@CourageIsMyStrength, thank you so much for posting this video. You really truly have extraordinary heart and soul in you. ;)

[ibederping]

@CourageIsMyStrength *Applause*

[etolle40]

Brave. Thanks for sharing! All the best.

[1THEASSASIN]

Anything that are not kill us,will make us stronger...u are a very tough woman...I love how u talk..no matter how u look,what is more important is who we are...keep it up!!u are amazing!!!

[novayaoiwolf]

thank you so much for posting your videos youve realy helped out my friend leah who had breast cancer since she was 17 now 20 and you realy gave her a more positive outlook on life god bless you

[henndri]

CONGRATULATION ...... THANK FOR SHARING ..... BLESS FOR YOU

[fingerboy18]

You're beautiful! Both mentally and physically.

[olivelevel]

I think it looks good. Hang in there.

[allxw]

Wow... it really helped me understand what my mom is gonna have to go through, and it really changed the approach I have towards all that. I've passed from trying so hard to get what kind of surgery my mom is gonna have to face, to fully understand it. You really made a difference. Thanks a lot.

[rmjohnson2591]

You are amazing!! You're a very beautiful lady both inside and out. Having the courage to go online and post this information for all to see and learn from is awesome.

God bless you for sharnig!!

[ginagina8989]

you are beautiful!

[mabalsitche]

@CourageIsMyStrength I have been watching your videos. I am impressed with your recovery, and the reconstruction process. I just have a correction about the Alloderm. Alloderm isn't fake muscle. Alloderm is actually skin. It can be taken from a cadaver, or a pig in some cases. The skin cells are removed, and it allows your own tissue to basicly take it over, grow it's own cells, and veins through it making it a natural part of your body.

[wolf0531vf5]

good luck and Thank you. ♥

[daveroller]

You look beautiful. Thank you for sharing your experiences on YouTube. I know something about having one's life turned upside down by a physically disabling event because I became paralyzed below the arms 10 years ago. I wish I still looked good like you do, but paralysis does things to the body that can't be corrected even cosmetically. But I'm lucky that my wife married me in spite of it all. Anyway, I just wanted to wish you the best of luck and tell you what a catch you are.

[TheMamabear54]

I have non invasive breast cancer but due to suspicious calcifications elsewhere in my breast I will be having a mastectomy with reconstruction. I watched your video and realized I can do this. Your bravery and courage has given me the courage to face my own operation. Like you I'll cry and scream "Why Me?" but I have to remember one thing: I'll live to tell my story. Thank you Courage and please keep us posted on your progress.

[ginny495]

thank you for giving me the information and hope I needed to get through this process. I have been looking at your videos for the past 3 months as I go forward. I can't tell you how important this was to me and I will never forget your help.

[stephyboyha]

good luck

[8ringsofshaolin]

life goes on it is not what injured us that detemines what and who we are but how strong we are to continue.

[TH3D0CTOR]

So brave - good luck

[ifoundsage]

Courage - I know this video will provide strength and hope to women who have undergone mastectomies and reconstructive surgeries. You are absolutely beautiful!!!

[allxw]

@ifoundsage not only to the women who are gonna have to face this surgery, but for the people around them that feel helpless.

[3CooperBoys]

You are absolutely gorgeous!!! Your beauty & sexuality oozes from you like honey from the comb... please don't ever think that your breasts have anything to do with how womanly and intoxicating you are. You mentioned that your new parts are "not WHO you are", and I agree, but your entire body is truly not WHO you are. You are unbelievably attractive, sexy, intelligent and so caring... I only wish I could be with someone as purely beautiful & irresistible as you! Thank you. ♥

[Markglass1234]

You are such a Beautiful woman :) Keep Strong!

[danielolaf87]

@CourageIsMyStrength Haha! That was a good reply to a hormone-raging little boy. But I must say that your courage is highly commendable, you definitely give hope to other women going through breast cancer. Keep up the great work!

p/s: you are one very beautiful woman indeed ;o)

[vith26]

Gud luck sis! ;)

[SeanMacCloud]

Good luck, girlie.

[simeklaba]

GO GO Strong women! God Bless!

[terys59]

thankyou so much for your video. Its strange to see someone whose breasts look just like mine. Ive just had my implants put in but because of the radiation damage the right breast is going to grow out of shape..will this ever end.

[maciekfajny]

I found your video accidentally...And you are so beautiful, you are so strong.. I just admire..

[whydye316]

I am thrilled to find this video since I am 24 and just had bilateral mastectomys last week, I will eventually be going through the reconstruction process and can't find a whole lot of current info about it! Thank you so much for being brave enough to do this!

[12casti]

I'm writing these lines with tears in my eyes.

I don't know exactly what to say other than I admire your courage.

I got the feeling of "it's not fair" but while I heard you talking I felt your courage. I wish you happiness. I hope you meet a great guy, that is you are still single. Being a beautiful and courageous girl I'm sure that won't be a problem.

May God bless you with a big and healthy family. Go on fantastic woman!!

[TheJLicemen]

Amazing, thank you for this, my sister has cancer.

[lou4tea]

wow you look amazing its great technology tday how the hospitals cam make up new breasts xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[optimus75]

God bless you sister your brave and an inspiration!

[amin2850]

It is a very natural and emotional video.

I believe that if it was me i would not chose to do these serial surgeries, specially you such a nice beautiful hot chick.

i'd like to date you love

[Shelama]

I'm male with peripheral involvement in breast CA pathology & surgery, including SQ mastectomy & reconstruction. Yours is a marvelous video & presentation. For the excellent medical-surgical aspects, even more so for the extraordinary & genuine personal aspect & sharing. It brought tears, not just for your CA & surgery, but for your beautiful honesty, warmth, and femininity. I know much more now about previously unseen patients, and where to refer friends & family. Thank you, and be well!

[barrywalstead]

I just watched this video, and it was great to get a firsthand account of how the reconstruction process is working for you. My wife is still going thru chemo, but around the middle of February she will be undergoing a bilateral mastectomy, and reconstruction.

Right now she is trying to decide whether she wants to go with implants, or opt for PIEP reconstruction, and info like you share is helping with that decision.

Thank you.

[ethan999oz]

I really think you're an amazing woman. My finance's been frequently been going for breast cancer check ups and it really takes the life outta me even though no detections have been made. I can only imagine what thousands of women go through everyday. Your story is an inspiration to us all. God bless you :)

[zeid67]

i knee for your strength i was touched when u said its not part of my body, have faith in god some how u restored my faith in god thank you

[a1scooter1]

Go girl. Your a beautiful woman. Keep on keepin on. Every woman that has to go through what you have, needs to see this.

[akwolfsong]

You are so brave.

[namestable]

nameste

[nalekka]

bless your heart i admire your strength

[breathingwater76]

Thank you for posting this. I hope your recon went smoothly. I had a single mastectomy in March and my recon in Sept. Doing the nipple next month! I posted a video of shaving my head for chemo & photos of my new chest after the mastectomy, but no video. You are very brave & very beautiful & well spoken. Did they take out the scar tissue running from the foobs to your arms? It was nice having that removed. My boobs don't match tho since one is partially real. But at least I am alive! Cancer sucks

[TheREALCita]

My friend ....lonelygal4u ... had HER2 Breast cancer and did the rexpander (she had one on her back ) All the best to you !

[getwise13]

May God always be with you!!!

[rddbba]

actually thank you for showing us. Your breast looks beautiful. Mine are natural large no cancer on Mine thank God but my pectoralis muscle after breast feeding 3 are a bit stretched with exercise though it can be lifted somehow but aging won't help. I am sorry you being so young had to go through such painful inplants but I am glad you have them better than nothing. May God keep you well always whoever you are

[axeshred]

Wow, you are so beautiful! : )

[badluckshadows]

wow, so beautiful and strong

[merlinandbear]

You are beautiful.

[packymck]

Bless your heart......you're such an inspiration!

[hecgre]

My name is Hector from Buenos Aires, I think youre really a very courage woman.

I wish you the better in your life, sincerely. Hector.

[diamond2458]

I saw your video and I think you are very brave

do not be sad to that you've had or has become, but you know that a woman can survive her and I think you're very strong and you must be I wish you all happy and takes good care of you and may God be with you

[dragonflywhisperer1]

My best friend and my sister both are breast cancer survivors. Thank you for the courage to post this video. It will mean a lot to so many.

[Hammersch]

WOW! love this girl!

[EternalSleeper118]

I watched your vids a few days ago. Your story moved me. Your courage and strength are absolutely amazing. I'm a 30 year old man that had an accident that almost cost me my right hand. I pretty much cut it off. I've had sergury three times on my hand and today was my third. They used the aloe derm treatment on the tendons in my wrist to reduce scar tissue adhesion . I know this is in no way a comparison to your situation, But thanks to you, I've got a more positive out look with my injury.

[CourageIsMyStrength]

@EternalSleeper118

Thank you so much for writing. I'm so sorry to hear about your accident. I think we all go through these things to help others, and your story touched me and I am thankful that you wrote to me. I hope your surgeries are going well, and that you are healing as great as possible. Thank you and take care.

[intrigantearsenico]

@CourageIsMyStrength I am watching your videos and I really understand your decision. I am a 26 years old guy but I am a scientist for this reason I understand how important is the decision to go throught a mastectomy ( bilateral mastectomy). I am very impressed by your strong and your committment to help other people to understand why and how. I live every day studying science thinking at people like you, I will do my best to help ( i hope ). thanks

[motherspreciousgems]

As a survivor myself, the general public should know that the skin and the new "shape" has no feeling. It is numb. It will never feel the touch of another person. It cannot respond to stimulation, even a tattooed nipple has no feeling. For many women is causes a huge loss sexually and this is often misrepresented or diminished by doctors. They are proud that is looks good, but don't tell you this very sad piece of truth. Very informative and tastefully done video, so thank you for sharing!

[ChristinefromLA]

I have so much respect for you. This must've been so hard and the fact you can talk about it the way you do (so frankly) makes this a lot less scary for women who are about to go through it themselves.

[CoolHotJus]

Hey, Courage!!! Do you plan to get your body painted to show how you survived breast cancer?

[CourageIsMyStrength]

No, I race cars instead!

[Flame30689]

@CourageIsMyStrength Out of curiosity, what kind of car racing? sorry it's off topic, but i'm kind of a motorhead.

[lovellyjuliechavez]

WOW! You're beautiful hun!! The boobs look great as is, but I'm sure you're gonna get even better and softer ones. I'm not quite sure what mastectomy is about, but I can see that a lot of ppl are encouraged by you ;)) I wanna get breast augmentation, to fill in my shirts and bras, but kind of scared. I'll be sure to check your page out ;)) God bless~

[paulvchataway]

Your A very brave lady

Thanks for the education your a very lovely lady

Wooo for all you have been through and you seem very much taking what you have and not only making the most of it but your willing to help others by sharing your experience.

All the very best

Paul

[jimnwashington]

You are a beautiful women and hang in there. My wife had this done four years ago. It is great you have the courage to do this video.

[JanMSco]

Such courage to make this video and share it with everyone. It's obvious you have helped other women with a similar experience. It also educates those who don't have first-hand experience. Thanks from women everywhere!

[rubinszi]

You’re AMAZING! I’m so grateful that you have had the courage and strength to share this. I’m going to have to have a mastectomy in the next weeks and seeing your video has giving me hope. THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!

[JohnboyBassin]

I just want to say that you are a beautiful woman, and this has done nothing to change that. In fact the way you are handling it just goes that extra step to show your inner beauty as well. It is now September, and I am sure you are gearing up for your implant swap, so I wish you the best on that! Please stay strong, we are pulling for you!

[ursulalawless]

you said like a normal woman,you are a normal woman,great to see a normal woman embrace changes,and it is part of you,you give courage to all us woman,thank you,and by the way you look great!!!!!

[islandgal78]

Hi Courage,

I'm due to have a bilateral mastectomy in a few weeks, just watching your strength and optimism through this video gives me hope. I wanted to know, nipple reconstruction is not done at the time of surgery? The breasts stays that way (like yours in the video) for a few months before it's done?

[CourageIsMyStrength]

there are nipple sparing surgeries that allow you to keep your nipples, but drs have different opinions about that. mine doesn't do that surgery because so many breast cancers start in the nipple. if you have expanders, you can't have nipple reconstruction at the time of surgery because they will be cutting that same incision open again to remove the expanders and put in the implants. then they allow swelling to go down and fat transfers before the nipple is put back so that it will look best.

[CourageIsMyStrength]

sorry for the brief answer, only so many characters allowed. feel free to visit my site and contact me through it. the reply won't let me type my website, but you can find it on my youtube channel. thanks so much for writing, and good luck with your surgery!!

[rubikin1]

Very informative.I think theylook great!

I wonder if she had previous radiotherapy?

It doesnt look like it.

Im having lat dorsi breast reconstruction tomorrow,and its good to get an idea of how it might look.

thanks for you video.

[CourageIsMyStrength]

No radiation, this was a preventative surgery before cancer. I knew that it would be harder after having radiation, so to prevent cancer and the treatments that follow, I decided to have surgery before it could happen. Best wishes on your surgery, I hope you heal quickly.

[derekarthurburke]

Awesome strength and attitude. I watched this because a good friends' sister is going through this now and shows a similar attitude.

BTW, not to be crude but you are totally hot!

[ashlow1980]

wow! there is big improvement! u look great! take care u too:)

[brandondcox]

Ok first of all, that girl is very brave to go online and tell her story. Second, she is beautiful, and as a single guy, I would date her in a heartbeat. It's easy for me to live with my disability because no one can see the tatianium plate in my head. I'm sure this girl has cried many times over what has happened to her boobs. I hope she knows that shouldn't shed one more tear, because she is one of the most beautiful girls I have ever seen.

[vikula1]

Thank you for posting this!!!! I am getting the expander put in just day after tomorrow, and was looking for someone like you!!

[Cristina7876able]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I wish you the best.

[terryliciareed]

Take a piece of that "stitch" that didnt absorb to an independent lab, see what kind it is. Please. For your own peace of mind. I'm so sorry you are hurting but I do applaud your courage. You are young, beautiful and I can see why you would want to endure all the pain. I wish you didnt feel you needed to though, because you ARE beautiful,with or without breasts. But I believe I can understand your 'why'.

[deZengo]

I pray for the day when women realize they are beautiful despite a missing breast or two. We are trying to create a movement of women who are fearless enough to NOT hide their disease through additional surgeries / implants etc.. I applaud your bravery to present your self and changes for the world to see. We believe that many women feel forced to have these surgeries just to "fit in" and feel beautiful again! And of course, not everyone can afford the costs to have these procedures done.

[cbielstein]

Good for you to share your experience and smart move if you had a risk for getting cancer. I'm a 3 year surviver and it's not a fun thing to deal with but I thank God daily that He has blessed me with the good outcome that I have! I highly recommend the book "Knockout" by Suzanne Somers, there is a lot of good nutritional info that can be helpful to fight cancer. God bless!

[shadowolverine]

hey, you are really beautiful as you are. keep the size, and your face is awesome...

[thegentleman90]

You're one courageous woman! And you are very beautiful!

[realar]

You still look great! Recovery is important.

[Greenfeenz]

You are so coureagous. If I would be a girl an have the same situation id probably give up lol.

[marisie79]

Thanks for share. XXX from Spain

[hqdoanfamily]

Thank you thank you for your video and explanation and comparisons. I didn't realize that you are going through this right about the same time. My bilateral surgery was done on March 26th, 2010 and am going through the expansion - and I just had my first chemo. Since stopping this process I am encouraged to see what is ahead...you are beautiful and your quiet strength is helping me immensely...THANK YOU FOR YOUR POST!

[PPocket]

You look great and thanks for sharing the process and the feelings

[JKKJ12]

Another very moving video hun! I see what you meant now when we spoke,about the stiches coming through. Looks very sore. I wish i had the nerve to make a video where i speak,but i sound awful! LOL.

love and (((hugs)))

Kay

[anm30]

Thank you for sharing!!! I'm so glad to hear that you are healing well and feeling better! I'm sorry about your stitches though, you will be in my prayers! Take care~