Life after a mastectomy: navigating challenges, heralding new beginnings

When I meet a woman diagnosed with breast cancer, the first thing I notice is not fear, but determination. Beneath the disbelief, fear, and anger that follow later, lies quiet resilience. That strength becomes evident when we start discussing treatment options, particularly a mastectomy — the surgical removal of one or both breasts, either to treat or prevent breast cancer.

For most women, a mastectomy is more than just a procedure. It represents survival, and also a profound personal loss. The breast, associated with femininity, motherhood, and identity, holds an emotional significance that medicine cannot measure. When a woman agrees to part with it to save her life, she is making one of the bravest decisions imaginable.

source:thehindu.com