1. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Fri, Sep 29, 2006, 1:46 am PDT

My husband has been supportive but not the way I was expecting him to be. Initially, he took it harder than I did...so I ended giving him support and comfort and told him I would be alright and that the Lord had and has a plan for me. It has been two years since I was diagnosed in september 2004. Initially, my husband was having a hard time because most of the women/couples we had met and had gone thru the process with chemo and all that, plus they were older than us and had already had children. I was diagnosed exactly when I was planning to get pregnant for the first time, I am not that young (39 now 37 then) but considerably younger than the people we met. The other thing was that we were both scared and he did not know how he was going to handle seeing me without my breast...radical mastectomy; by the way, I just had my reconstruction two months ago...I call them the "fraternal twins" because the new breast is a cup smaller than my other breast and the original breast. He also had a hard time seeing me suffer thru the chemo, radiations (my cancer was metastatic stage four to the vertebrae L-3). I had extensive back surgery to remove the cancer from my backbone...it had fractured and collapsed initially. Funny thing is that I also had my gallbladder out a few months after my back surgery last year. Four surgeries in less than two years is enough!!! Anyway, he found it too depressive to be in the treatment center with me. He went a couple of times but most of the time it was my mother-in-law who took me to the treatments. My mother lives out of town so she could not be there every other week to keep me company. She was there for all my surgeries though and took care of me the best she could. He,my husband, was supportive the best way he could be. I am just grateful to God that he never left me because not too many men can handle such situations. As a kindred spirit told me ( a lady that practices Reiki on cancer patients), that my husband loves me. No matter what kind of disease it is if there is no love the spouse will not stay. Cancer has strenghtened your marriage...she told me. I was very touched and ofcourse I cried. By the way, since you are mentioning in your column how wonderful it would be to see a woman with a reconstructed breast in a centerfold (that is what I understood) I thought to my self and told my husband. Why is it that on the medical/health/discovery channel on tv they always show breast augmentation/implants for these vain women who want triple xxx breasts but they never show what truly plastic surgery really is...the beauty of reconstructing someones' breast or showing how they graft skin to give someone who has suffered severe burns a more normal appeareance. I am disgusted when they show people wanting a little line less or a perfect nose. I think they should show the beauty of reconstruction on people that did not choose to have these deformities by illness...that is my opinion and I am entitled to it. Anyway, God bless, live, love, and laugh...be happy and Kuddos to all the supportive spouses!!!

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2. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Fri, Sep 29, 2006, 2:29 pm PDT

Wouldn't it be great to pick up a men's magazine and see an article on breast cancer in men? My father and brother both had breast cancer as have I. In our case it is genetic BRCA1 and 2. Genetic testing would prevent a lot of deaths as it can be used to screen those who are at high risk.

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3. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Mon, Oct 02, 2006, 7:34 am PDT

I think it would be great to have articles in mens magazines. It would help them stay aware of it and can only help them as well as help thier partner. Mens magazines can reach men in ways that no woman, or doctor can. IT can only be a good thing!

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4. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Mon, Oct 02, 2006, 9:44 am PDT

Kudos for you for this article! I was diagnosed at age 31, 6 weeks after the birth of my second child. I have undergone a double mastcetomy w/ reconstruction, months of chemo, and a year of Herceptin. My breast look unbelievable, and YES I would pose for men's magazine. We need to educate the public about reconstruction and what options are there. My husband calls me "Baywatch", cute nickname. Thanks again Danielle Pierce

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5. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Oct 03, 2006, 3:16 am PDT

My Breast Cancer left me without my Breasts and a boyfriend who couldnt face my new journey, but in some ways i am a stronger person because i have hope and belief that all matters of the heart when dealing with such a shock of why, that always believe in the power in yourself and that one person does not define who you are nor does my cancer. I live sronger now and thankful for each dAY AND COUNT MY BLESSINGS.

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6. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Oct 03, 2006, 2:42 pm PDT

yes I think they should

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7. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Oct 03, 2006, 6:09 pm PDT

I am a cancer survivor. I had a mastectomy in 1984 when I was 52 years old and now I am a young 74 year old. My husband was a tremendous support to me. He never let me feel less than a woman. I realized how blessed I was to have a husband who was compassionate and thoughtful and supported me 100%. I never felt that I was less of a woman because I had a breast removed. I would tell friends it was like having a tooth extracted. I chose not to have breast reconstruction because of my age and I was already married for 24 years. I would highly recommend younger woman to have reconstruction. I think they should have a woman who had a breast reconstruction be the model for the centerfold of a Men's magazine. Men should wake up and be more informed about such things. Thank God they have breast reconstruction and as time goes on there are more and more developments and improvements. Men's magazine and breast cancer awareness is definitely a MUST. God bless all the compassionate and supportive husbands.

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8. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Jan 06, 2007, 8:03 pm PST

i had bi-lateral mastectomy in 2004 at age 38. i went through reconstructive sugery after a painful stretching of my skin. here i am at 41 just days ago. husband left me after 12 years for a woman 20 years younger than i. he also left me with HIV. i look at myself as a survivor, but in reality i feel i will spend the rest of my days alone. one day at a time!! the serenity prayer has helped me through. i would pose for a magazine anyday and feel proud. hang in there ladies!! and GOD bless.

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9. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Jan 06, 2007, 8:03 pm PST

i had bi-lateral mastectomy in 2004 at age 38. i went through reconstructive sugery after a painful stretching of my skin. here i am at 41 just days ago. husband left me after 12 years for a woman 20 years younger than i. he also left me with HIV. i look at myself as a survivor, but in reality i feel i will spend the rest of my days alone. one day at a time!! the serenity prayer has helped me through. i would pose for a magazine anyday and feel proud. hang in there ladies!! and GOD bless.

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