I was diagnosed with breast cancer on January 10, 2017, and on the day before my 28th birthday, I had my left breast removed. I’m going to be honest: It’s taken me a while to accept and love my scars. It wasn’t until recently that I’ve been proud of them and able to show them off. I’ve been on a long, hard journey, and that came with a lot of self-love and healing. I also have an amazing support system behind me, pushing me to stay positive. I’ve accepted that I will no longer look down and see my breast, but a beautiful scar—a scar that saved my life. —Katelyn Broad
I found a lump in my right breast that was diagnosed as breast cancer in August of 2019. At the time I was also 15 weeks pregnant. To continue with my pregnancy and treat the cancer, my only option was to have a mastectomy. Losing my breast was really tough. I was embarrassed, I couldn’t bear to look at myself, and there was a period where I didn’t hug anyone in case they could feel the physical difference. But over time I have been sharing my story, and knowing that I am helping others who are in a similar position has been hugely beneficial. I have learned to love my scars, and I am so proud of my body and what it has been through. —Lizzi England
Jillian Kramer is a journalist who writes about health, wellness, science, and adventure. She taps into a broad network of doctors, scientists, and medical experts to write in-depth service articles for leading publications, including Glamour, The New York Times, Scientific American, Travel + Leisure, EatingWell, and Food & Wine.
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