![]() Women have thanked me for my bravery and advocacy. I’ve received thousands of comments and messages, most of them overwhelmingly positive. How could I help other women when I was laid up in bed, exhausted from chemotherapy? How could I possibly make a difference while I walked around my house, topless, trying to air out my chest radiation burns? From the comfort of my own home or treatment center, I was able to create images that absolutely made a statement. There were times during my breast cancer journey that I have felt powerless. Insulin pump✔️ hat✔️ scars✔️ #mastectomy #everybodyisaswimsuitbody #breastcancersuvivor #flatchest #whitesugarbrownsugar #type1diabetes ♬ Body – Megan Thee Stallion All of my appeals were successful and TikTok reinstated my videos. And I’m happy to report that, eventually, TikTok agreed. I wanted to show what breast cancer treatment and recovery really looks like, in all its messy, complicated glory. Though I appreciate every dollar and every bit of awareness raised to fight this disease, the tendency to “pinkwash” and simplify the battle many of us face is disheartening. Breast cancer battles are often reduced to pink ribbons, especially in October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It might sound strange, but I felt that when my posts were removed, I was clearly doing something right - and different. I want people to see my chest and take action. I was absolutely posting for attention - intentionally. Yes, I was topless, but my chest is not sexually suggestive or scandalous. Each time, I would upload the post again and publish, while also appealing the decision to remove the post. My posts were flagged, reported, and taken down more times than I can count. I also wanted my audience to understand that young women can and do get breast cancer. My goal was to post videos and photos for the purpose of encouraging women to do their breast self-exams, get their mammograms, and make healthy life choices. I wasn’t going to filter and edit my images to make cancer look better or different than it was. Three of my topless videos - the ones you see in this article - went viral, and I took pride in being completely authentic about the difficulties of fighting cancer. I welcomed all reactions because my entire goal was to bring awareness to early detection, breast implant illness, and young women who can get breast cancer (despite many of us thinking we’re immune). People were intrigued, horrified, and inspired. ![]() ![]() The likes racked up, and the comments poured in. My topless videos and photos quickly gained attention on social media. I also decided that it was time to show my flat, scarred chest to the The Magic Bomb (Questions I Get Asked) – Hoàng Read I started filming videos of myself at my treatment center, getting infusions or waiting in exam rooms. Despite my appearance, including an obviously flat chest, I decided this was the best time in my life to be more active on social media, because I knew that authentic, non-filtered images can have a profound effect on viewers. I looked like a cancer patient - because I was a cancer patient. Because my breast cancer was HER2+, I also had a year of infusions of a well-proven drug called Herceptin.ĭuring my journey, I would joke that I looked like a swamp monster. I also had four heart scans, several CT scans, numerous labs, and plenty of exams. After my chemo, I faced thirty-three rounds of radiation to my chest wall. The other side effects were controllable with medication, rest, and hydration. The post-op nurse asked me if I was ok, and I said, “I am so happy!” 2021 : got rid of my #breastimplants, fought #breastcancer, and healed from #breastimplantillness TY for the support! #whitesugarbrownsugar ♬ abcdefu – GAYLEĪfter my implant removal, as well as surgery to remove the mass in my chest wall, I proceeded with treatments. There was nothing in the way, nothing to weigh down my chest. As soon as I woke up from surgery, I could take a big, deep breath. I know it’s hard for some to believe, but the day my implants came out was one of the best days of my life. I was facing breast cancer for the second time in four years. Around that same time, I felt a mass in my chest wall above my right implant. However, about three years after my surgery, I started getting sick and sicker.īy the time I explanted (aka had my implants removed), I had 29 symptoms of breast implant illness (BII). I figured it was happily ever after from there. I had a direct-to-implant mastectomy and no other treatment. In fact, I’ve battled breast cancer twice in my 30s. Nine percent of breast cancer patients are under age 45, according to the CDC, and I’m one of them.
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