Christina Belding rejected the idea of undergoing reconstruction surgery and embraced her flat chest at 52.
One in eight American women is diagnosed with invasive breast cancer at some point in her lifetime. Experts believe that 276,480 women will develop invasive breast cancer. That’s not all. about 48 530 women will develop non-invasive breast cancer.
Patients diagnosed with breast cancer do chemo or radiation. Some of them also receive hormonal therapy, biological therapy, or surgery. In most cases, women undergo surgery and receive a combination with a few other types of therapies.
Christina Belding noticed a lump in her right breast. She didn’t even think that the small lump will force her to do a double mastectomy. Belding is proud of her decision to have both her breasts removed.
A double mastectomy saves Belding’s life
The mammogram missed Belding’s lump. A day before her 52nd birthday, the gorgeous lady had both her breasts removed. Belding opted for an “esthetic flat closure.” Patients leave the operating room with no excess skin.
Most women do breast reconstruction surgery. Belding decided not to do it over concerns related to complications.
“The boobs took early retirement. I’m glad they’re gone because I feel safer,” she said.
Reconstructive surgeries bring too many risks, and going under the knife again was in no way an option for the brave women. Belding is a strong opponent of sexual objectification of women’s bodies in society. Moreover, she likes herself better now.
A proud hero
Belding doesn’t miss her regular beach time. She is proud of her two scars. Those twenty-centimeter cuts are here to witness for her greatness.
“I’ve always felt fortunate with even all the traumatic things and the adversity that’s happened to my life, I see myself as a survivor,” Belding said.
Belding’s breasts have had a lot of fun in the past. They are retired now and Belding sees this as a big decision. It’s the best thing she could’ve done in her life.
“My breasts already had a good time, and more than enough fun,” she said in her interview Tuesday at Rainbow Haven Beach. “I’d sooner have a flat start than trying to reinvent the past with boobs.”
Belding uses her Instagram account to share photos of her flat chest. This is her way of inspiring women to stop worrying about their physical appearance and their “flat chest.”
Kids are really curious and they ask a lot of questions. That’s the main point. Belding wants kids to ask questions and talk about cancer. Cancer prevention is the only cure for the deadly disease.
Belding may be confident, but she stumbles over uncomfortable questions about her reconstructive surgery.
“They don’t ask, ‘Hey, was it scary having cancer? Are you worried you’re going to die?”
Most people praise Belding for her courage and her heroic approach. One man approached her on the beach and talked about her surgery. He had nothing but words for her decision and bravery. The man had lost his wife to breast cancer. The lady decided to receive treatment instead of removing her breasts.
Risks of reconstructive surgery
Reconstructive surgeries were not an option for Belding. She was convinced that the risks outweigh the beauty implants bring. Being healthy was her only wish and she was focused on removing the bad tissue from her body.
Many women get a “rubberized silicone filled with saline or silicone gel.” Sadly, this type of surgery may cause internal scarring, rupture, infections, or even hematoma. Hematoma is an accumulation of blood around the foreign body. Radiation increases the risk of these complications.
Types of breast reconstruction
- Implant reconstruction surgery
Patients finish the procedure in up to 12 weeks. The recovery time is much longer.
- Autologous tissue reconstruction
Surgeons take tissue from another part of the body and form it into a breast. It takes much longer to complete the process. The same applies to the recovery period. Patients may end up dealing with scarring, muscle weakness, or infection.
Women don’t need breasts to be women
Belding is proud of herself and she would never go the other way round. She encourages women to be brave and remove their breasts.
“It doesn’t need to be scary, and it shouldn’t. Having breasts shouldn’t … define who you are as a woman,” she explained.
Belding takes oral chemo drugs to lower the risk of recurrence. She feels really good at the moment and hopefully, she will never ever deal with the nasty disease again.
Source: www.cbc.ca
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