lucky stars and crescent moons.

"...now if you have a mastectomy- you will get an implant. NO woman leaves my o.r. without reconstruction... (an implant)".

this is a quote from my (female) surgeon in may of 2000 following my diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in-situ/non-invasive breast cancer. she suggested that we move forward with conservative breast surgery (lumpectomy) followed by radiation treatments instead of a mastectomy. she explained that a mastectomy was, in her opinion, an "extreme" alternative in my situation. she left behind a beautiful post-lumpectomy crescent moon shaped scar in the upper/outer quadrant of my right breast. the radiation treatments that followed left behind a shrunken, unnaturally firm breast supported by permanently tender and fragile muscle and ribs.

however, i thank my lucky stars that the unavoidable mastectomy that eventually occurred in my life came four years later- at the hands of another surgeon. an incredible supportive surgeon who removed my moon and pulled my skin tightly and beautifully against my core for me as to say "now and forever i will live within this vessel AS IT IS".