Breast Cancer Bodies

Thousands of Australians are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Many will lose their breasts to surgery. This is about three survivors and the scars they're lucky enough to live with.

Breast Cancer Bodies

SARAH

"My name is Sarah, I’m 37 years old. I had a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction using my latt muscle."

"I needed to go all the way, I needed to have breasts, I needed to have nipples, I needed the whole thing."

"If you look close up, they don’t look real, they don’t feel real, they’re hard, they’re cold, I’m completely numb in my chest area."

"I live with this everyday and I will for the rest of my life. I have these scars, I have these boobs that aren’t real so unfortunately I think the body image will stay with you. It’s just part of who you are and part of the new you."

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MARK

"My name is Mark Foster, I’ve just had my 78th birthday. I had a total mastectomy of the left side."

"I’m slightly apprehensive about showing my body… if others wince and say I wonder what the matter with him is, well that’s their problem."

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TINA

"My name is Tina, I’m 37. I’ve had a bilateral mastectomy and I don’t plan to have a reconstruction."

"i know my mum didn’t want to see it because she felt it would upset her… I’ve shown it to a few friends but yeah so I’m a little bit nervous about this. "

"I remember as soon as I woke up after the surgery… when I did open up my pyjamas and had a look, I remember thinking, that’s okay, I can deal with this."

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