Any of us who has been on a cancer ward can tell you that there is a certain leveling of the playing field goes on. You find all kinds. Rich and poor. Homemakers, bankers, and yes, adults film stars.
Which is perhaps why a number of people in the SurvivorNet community recently pointed out the very candid way that the pornographic model and adult film actress Marica Hase has been dealing with her cancer. Hase, who’s starred in numerous explicit videos and was the first Japanese Penthouse pet, has been very public about her battle with breast cancer. Now, having undergone a mastectomy in Southern California, she says her insurance will not cover the full cost of her treatment and that she’ll be out of work for several months as she recovers. So Hase, 37, who plans to resume working as soon as she regains her strength, has turned to GoFundMe in hopes that her loyal and devoted fans will help pay for her treatment.
Read MoreSo far, Hase’s many fans have responded en masse. She’s already raised more than $47,000 towards her goal.
Hase’s case has gained prominence as she is a star in the adult entertainment world, but there are many less famous women who also undergo mastectomies. And many of those women then opt for breast reconstruction if it’s possible.
Dr. Andrea Pusic, Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital, discussed the benefits of reconstruction with SurvivorNet a few months back, noting that it’s a great way for women to regain their sense of self after dealing with breast cancer (Dr. Pusic was not addressing Marica’s case).
“Even if you didn’t have reconstruction, you had nothing, you will look fine in your clothes, but you won’t feel fine in your clothes,” Dr. Pusic said. “So a lot of breast reconstruction is trying to erase the trauma of the mastectomy surgery, putting the cancer behind a patient, saying this is in the rear-view mirror, and putting her back on track. I think that over time, with our different techniques of reconstruction, immediate reconstruction, all the new things that we’re doing, we’re just getting closer and closer to that goal of allowing a woman to have had the surgery, had all the cancer surgery, but be herself again.”
In Hase’s case, reconstruction is important for her career as well as her sense of self, due to her plans to resume her work acting in adult films — though she did say the surgery will keep her away for at least four months. “I love everyone in the industry and I feel like you’re family. And, family helps family,” Marica wrote on her GoFundMe page.
Breast reconstruction has become so sophisticated in recent years that it’s possible Hase could continue successfully performing in adult films for many years to come.
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