Forum Discussion
Good-bye boob photos - your ideas?
I've spent a month wrestling with the information about DCIS, and my decisions about what to do next.
Starting with a flyer for the BCNA, given to me by BreastScreen NSW, that seemed to indicate that DCIS is not straight-up, bald-faced cancer.
I spent the first 2 weeks after diagnosis trying to get my head around concepts and terminology. Is it life-threatening? No. Does it mean you're more likely to get invasive cancer at some point? Yes. Can you sit on it, and see what happens? Yes, if you like playing Russian roulette.
The next 2 weeks making appointments with specialists...
Starting with a flyer for the BCNA, given to me by BreastScreen NSW, that seemed to indicate that DCIS is not straight-up, bald-faced cancer.
I spent the first 2 weeks after diagnosis trying to get my head around concepts and terminology. Is it life-threatening? No. Does it mean you're more likely to get invasive cancer at some point? Yes. Can you sit on it, and see what happens? Yes, if you like playing Russian roulette.
The next 2 weeks making appointments with specialists...
A breast surgeon: get it out.
A plastic surgeon: we have marvellous folding tables and can recreate your boob from other bits of your body. For my A-B cup delights? No thanks, way too much hassle.
A doctor who has had a bilateral mastectomy: you don't want to deal with radiotherapy and chemo, get it out.
My doctor friend who uses complementary therapy: it's about survival, and you're young with a lot of stressors in your life, get it out.
A breast surgeon and top-level researcher: we can't force you to do anything but getting it out is the best idea.
And so the expert consensus, even though I feel fine, I am potentially fine, and I may remain potentially fine, is that I should cut out my very small boob - including the 6.1cm of low-grade DCIS - and get on with it.
So that is what I've lined up for later this month, even though a vain and fatalistic version of myself is writhing around inside me, clammering for attention so I can hear it scream STOP.
On the pro-mastectomy side:
And so the expert consensus, even though I feel fine, I am potentially fine, and I may remain potentially fine, is that I should cut out my very small boob - including the 6.1cm of low-grade DCIS - and get on with it.
So that is what I've lined up for later this month, even though a vain and fatalistic version of myself is writhing around inside me, clammering for attention so I can hear it scream STOP.
On the pro-mastectomy side:
- I'm small-breasted so this is not such a big deal in terms of lop-sidedness
- Survival, maybe
- I can take up archery with fewer complications
- Maybe it's time to go #braless4ever
On the con side:
- Survival, maybe
- I can take up archery with fewer complications
- Maybe it's time to go #braless4ever
On the con side:
- I'm cutting out a boob
- Scars, pain and zombie-time
- Dressing myself might be a bit of a nuisance
So you see, there are more pros.
Anyway, as part of saying goodbye to my booby, I've planned a pre-surgery photoshoot. Candid, B&W, naturalistic in my home. Does anyone have any ideas for poses, props and backgrounds that would work? Or good places to look for inspiration?
I've tried Google-Imaging but I don't like to spend too much of my life scrolling through porn sites... which is what happens when you search terms like topless, semi-nude, female body art. B) :s
Thanks in advance!
- Scars, pain and zombie-time
- Dressing myself might be a bit of a nuisance
So you see, there are more pros.
Anyway, as part of saying goodbye to my booby, I've planned a pre-surgery photoshoot. Candid, B&W, naturalistic in my home. Does anyone have any ideas for poses, props and backgrounds that would work? Or good places to look for inspiration?
I've tried Google-Imaging but I don't like to spend too much of my life scrolling through porn sites... which is what happens when you search terms like topless, semi-nude, female body art. B) :s
Thanks in advance!
21 Replies
- @Friedeggs
On the positive side, I had no pain or zombie time after a mastectomy (large boob), dressed myself after 2 days in hospital, and went shopping after 5. There are definitely more pros. Good decision, look forward rather than backwards! - @Friedeggs, I had a BMX and I didn’t really have zombie time, was up and about pretty quickly and Panadol did the trick after a week. I hope you come out of it really well. One thing I felt in absolute buckets was an incredible sense of relief and there has not been one second in the last 12 months where I questioned my decision. I look at things in the rear view mirror, but I am firmly focussed on the road ahead. Enjoy the photo shoot and I hope you get some good ideas from everyone here. Take care x
- Yeahhh
I set up a Frueda Carlo themed head wrap with beads and colourful shawl .so I had a few risque pics and printed pics myself at Office works With 10 years as a mono boobSurgery was easy..... think I missthe red hair more than the boob🤣 - Hi @Friedeggs,
That sounds like a very stressful time for you.
This breast stuff is a bit insidious. You can feel ok without knowing you have breast cancer until you arent. I didnt have dcis but its still cancerous right? It just hasnt busted out of the duct yet. 6.1cm is something that needs dealing with and you have made a very positive step.
I didnt have a professional shoot. I did take photos. More as a reference point to compare with "the good one" later on if i had concerns. When i look at these photos now it makes perfect sense that there was cancer there and i only feel relief.
I think its a great idea to get a photo shoot if it helps you. There is a sort of grief attached to this situation andxwhatrver you need is good.
Hugs x - Hey! 😁
Try this site, it looks good:
https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/notputtingonashirt.org/2020/12/13/before-your-surgery-memorializing-your-breasts/amp/ - @Friedeggs I had a new bra I hadn't worn as yet. Before surgery I had adult daughter take a photo of my boobs in my new bra. I was a 20dd and like my boobs. This photo helped me mentally because I knew I would never look like that again. After surgery I was happy I had the photo. It definitely helped my mental health. Good luck with your decision and photo shoot.
- Thank you beautiful, strong ladies. For your stories and ideas. 🙏🏻😍💐
And cheers @FLClover, I'll check out the links! 💓 - It was my brother who suggested I take a couple of Before & After pics, @Friedeggs ..... so I did!! Nothing fancy ... just me & my phone ..... But mine was quite minor surgery, compared to what a lot of you have had done .... so well done YOU xxx
- @Friedeggs did you end up doing your photo shoot?
I'm 29 and have just been diagnosed with a 7cm high grade DCIS and will need a mastectomy, I'm also small busted but at 29 am not ready to be flat just yet so I'm getting a small implant reconstruction.
I'm in Melbourne and am looking for a photographer before my surgery in a few weeks - I didn’t do a photo shoot and wish I had.
So I can’t help you with an actual photographer.
There was a breast cancer surgeon in the UK diagnosed with breast cancer who did a blog and then wrote a book about her experience and she had a photo shoot which was very good.
All the best.
🌺
