Kourtnii was faced with a DCIS diagnosis at the age of 26. She wanted a double mastectomy without reconstruction but repeatedly received intense, paternalistic pushback from the surgeons she consulted. Ultimately she had to have two separate mastectomy surgeries and didn’t get the aesthetic outcome she wanted. She does not regret her decision to stayContinue reading “Kourtnii’s Story: I Struggled to Get the Flat Surgery I Chose”
Category Archives: flat denial
Dee’s Story: I Wish I Opted Not to Reconstruct
After her breast cancer diagnosis, Dee reconstructed with textured implants and had them for twelve years before one ruptured, resulting in multiple complications. She learned about BIA-ALCL and breast implant illness after the fact, and explanted only to have her surgeon intentionally deny her the agreed upon flat closure. Dee suffered greatly because of herContinue reading “Dee’s Story: I Wish I Opted Not to Reconstruct”
Melinda’s Story: Intentional Flat Denial 10yrs Ago
Melinda was 60 years old when she learned she had breast cancer for the second time, and decided to have a bilateral mastectomy with no reconstruction. However, her surgeon had other ideas and said that going flat was “a bad idea.” Melinda was never satisfied with her closure. Ten years later her dermatologist confirmed thatContinue reading “Melinda’s Story: Intentional Flat Denial 10yrs Ago”
Fiona’s Story: I Instantly Knew I Would Stay Flat
Even though Fiona knew immediately that she wanted to stay flat after her mastectomy, she met with pushback at every turn. Her surgeon required that she have a psychological consultation before agreeing to remove her “healthy” breast. She was treated as “less than” because of her decision to go flat. She was not given anContinue reading “Fiona’s Story: I Instantly Knew I Would Stay Flat”
Survivornet: “To Reconstruct or Not”
Read Kathy’s experience with cancer and making the choice to go flat only to be intentionally denied by her surgeon in 2003.
Feature Friday at Surviving Breast Cancer.org – “Going Flat”
Feature aboutgoing flat, flat denial and #aestheticflatclosure at SurvivingBreastCancer.org
Why I Advocate for Aesthetic Flat Closure
ReThink Breast Cancer has just published our guest post about aesthetic flat closure! Canadian advocacy organization ReThink Breast Cancer focuses on the needs of young women facing breast cancer in their legislative and other advocacy initiatives. They also publish thought-provoking blog posts from survivors, thrivers, advocates, and providers on all things breast cancer-related. They justContinue reading “Why I Advocate for Aesthetic Flat Closure”
Advocating for Women Who Choose to Go Flat After Mastectomy
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) just published our guest post about aesthetic flat closure! Many thanks to the good people at NCCS for helping spread the word about aesthetic flat closure! Every woman facing mastectomy deserves full and fair disclosure of all of her reconstructive options, and for her choice to be respected.Continue reading “Advocating for Women Who Choose to Go Flat After Mastectomy”
My Body, My Choice: Aesthetic Flat Closure After Mastectomy
Our Bodies Ourselves published our guest post about aesthetic flat closure! Thanks to Our Bodies Ourselves for helping spread the word about aesthetic flat closure! This pioneering organization has worked to promote women’s health and bodily autonomy for decades. Every woman facing mastectomy deserves full and fair disclosure of all of her reconstructive options, andContinue reading “My Body, My Choice: Aesthetic Flat Closure After Mastectomy”
What if I want to go flat, but my surgeon wants to do “skin sparing”?
Tell your surgeon you want an “aesthetic flat closure” as defined by the National Cancer Institute – and make sure it’s recorded in your medical record. It’s a positive thing that your surgeon is using the term “skin sparing” with you. This means that they are doing the right thing in being clear and honestContinue reading “What if I want to go flat, but my surgeon wants to do “skin sparing”?”