Last Race of 2022 - All the Feels

 

So many emotions yesterday - racing the inaugural #monarchtriathlon in Kingman, AZ. 

So grateful for @shestronginc for celebrating and honoring women who have braved cancer. This was a really tough bike course with 4000+ ft of climbing in 30 mph headwinds. I was honored to place third overall - and all day long thought “Take that, breast cancer.” It was so moving to see others out there on a similar journey. 

Thank you @brandy.ramirez for making this possible, for this awesome medal - with a removable charm, and to @runtrimagfor the beautiful #shestrong kit and cap.

@beewood17 you are the ultimate race volunteer and spouse support. So grateful today. 

#fuckbreastcancer #lobularbreastcancer#lobularbreastcanceraliance #triathletewithcancer#racingagainstcancer #racehardware #fuckmenopause#cancerdidnotbreakus#doublemastectomywithoutreconstruction#noboobsnoproblem #teamsfq #teamvpa #biscaycoaching

Monarch Triathlon - All Women, All Touched by Cancer

 Numbered and ready to race the inaugural #monarchtriathlon - thank you @brandy.ramirez@shestronginc for making this possible. 

Racing for all my cancer warriors out there, lost loved ones, and raising awareness for the @lobularbreastcanceralliance 

#lobularbreastcancer #racingagainstcancer#fuckbreastcancer #lobularbreastcanceralliance #teamsfq#teamvpa #biscaycoaching #teamshestrong#doublemastectomywithoutreconstruction#noboobsnoproblem #flatandfabulous #aestheticflatclosure#triathletewithcancer #vegantriathlete #hopingfornowind

The Grace Project - Healing Through Photography

The incomparable @charise.photography taking my photo for the 800 goddesses grace project. Around 800 women are diagnosed with breast cancer EVERY DAY in the US. She is documenting 800 survivors on their journey. 

So grateful for this incredible opportunity to be shown in my topless, breastless, scarred, post breast cancer body. So many women struggle after cancer treatment to find their beauty and femininity again - I'm so thankful for projects like this that remind us scars are beautiful too. 

Thank you @flat_out_love for making this possible, and to my friend @jeniferhughs for the hand-dyed from lichen pink scarf💕

Thank you as always to @beewood17 for being the most supportive spouse ever - scars and all. 

#thegraceproject #800goddesses #lobularbreastcancer#doublemastectomywithoutreconstruction#aestheticflatclosure #noboobsnoproblem #flatandfabulous#healingthroughphotography #breastcancerawareness#fuckbreastcancer 

@flatclosurenow @flat_out_love @notputtingonashirt

International Flat Day

 

#internationalflatday

Celebrating with my flatties on the worlds largest flat top mountain in Grand Lakes CO. Photographs with @800goddesses sharing scars, and tears. 

Time for aesthetic flat closure to be a routinely offered choice post mastectomy.

#aestheticflatclosure #notputtingonashirt #flatandfabulous#noboobsnoproblem#doublemastectomywithoutreconstruction
#fuckbreastcancer #flatisanoption #flatisachoice 

@flat_out_love @notputtingonashirt

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance

 

I had a less common type of breast cancer than the standard ductal/no special type: invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC).

It represents 15% of breast cancers, but only 0.5% of breast cancer research published annually. At that rate, there's little hope that if I have a recurrence in my lifetime that there will be a breakthrough to save me. 

LBCA - the Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance - is the only advocacy organization in the US dedicated to improving detection, treatment, and research into ILC. As a board member, I can speak to their efforts personally, and have seen the results of their grants, patient advocacy, and research agenda advance the cause immensely. 

I'll be racing my last triathlon of the year in Kingman, AZ on Oct. 22 (more later on that) - it's for cancer survivors, and I am raising funds for LBCA. Please consider a donation if you want to make a direct impact in the lives of lobular breast cancer patients. 

https://lobularbca.wedid.it

#invasivelobularcarcinoma #lobularbreastcanceralliance#lobularbreastcancerawareness #ihavelobularbreastcancer#thinkbeforeyoupink #fundraisingforresearch

Think Before You Pink

 #thinkbeforeyoupink …the concept that one can be thoughtful before buying a bunch of pink shit and breast cancer t shirts and ribbons. 

Thoughtful enough to make sure your well intentioned money is going towards real research, advocacy, and patient support. Thoughtful enough to donate to organizations with demonstrable records of making change in the lives of breast cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers. 

So think before you pink this October. I’m personally raising money this month for the Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance - the only organization dedicated to advocating for my type of breast cancer in the US. 

#breastcancerawarenessmonth #breastcancerisntpink#lobularbreastcanceralliance #lobularbreastcancer#doublemastectomywithoutreconstruction #flatandfabulous#noboobsnoproblem

A Record of My Suffering

One year and eight months ago I woke up without my breasts for the first time. This is a photo of the logs we kept of my wound output into my drains, and my round the clock NSAIDs. 

I had one of those drains in my chest for almost a month, dutifully recording my every drop of output. 

Breast cancer isn’t pretty, and it isn’t pink. It was a big surgery with a long recovery. I found these logs cleaning out my filing cabinet - and I threw them away, glad that chapter is over. But they are a reminder of so much loss, so much fear, and a lot of strength. 

#breastcancerawareness #breastcancersurvivior#fuckbreastcancer #doublemastectomy#doublemastectomywithoutreconstruction#noboobsnoproblem #aestheticflatclosure #flatandfabulous#breastcancerisntpink #invasivelobularbreastcancer#lobularbreastcancer #lobularbreastcanceralliance

Breast Cancer Awareness - In Case We Forgot

 

October is upon us - time for another onslaught of pink ribbons, fundraisers, and the triggering of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

Once you've had breast cancer, you are unrelentingly, constantly aware of it: my "treatment" might be just an oral pill, my surgeries might be over, but I am not free of cancer. I won't know for 20 years if my body is free of cancer, and I can say with certainty that my mind is never, ever cancer-free. 

So expect a lot of posts this month, and a lot of feelings. I'll try to limit the pink - it was never my favorite color, and now it is full of loaded associations. 

Today is Oct. 1, so #feelitonthefirst ladies - time for your monthly reminder to DO YOUR BREAST SELF-EXAMS. Get to know your boobs, so you can know if they are changing. I felt my own lump, that my mammograms missed, so I am forever grateful I did those exams. 

#breastselfexam #breastawareness #breastcancerawareness#fuckbreastcancer #doyourselfexams #breastcancerisntpink#breastcancerisntpinkandpretty #lobularbreastcancer#lobularbreastcanceralliance