Regaining a Sense of Self Through Reconstruction
- Singer and actress Alicia Witt, 48, gave a memorable performance on “The Masked Singer” as Dandelion, an experience that came shortly after she underwent reconstruction surgery for breast cancer. She described the experience as a “lifetime high” and a great way to celebrate her reconstruction.
- Breast reconstruction surgery is an option for women after going through a mastectomy for breast cancer treatment. The reconstruction process can happen at the time of the surgery to remove the breast or later on.
- Plastic surgeons can reconstruct your breasts with implants or with your own tissue taken from some other place on your body (known as a flap procedure).
- Breast implant surgery is a significantly simpler process than a flap procedure, and therefore the recovery process is much quicker, but the results may not look or feel as much like natural breasts.
Witt, 48, led a private cancer journey until roughly two years ago when she began speaking publicly about it after being inspired by the likes of actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus and journalist Katie Couric. The “Chasing Shadows” singer called her experience in the singing competition “a lifetime high” — and its timing couldn’t have been more appropriate.
“I had just come out of breast reconstruction surgery that very day. I was coming out of my anesthesia, and I was so groggy I wasn’t even quite sure if I had seen the email right. The next day, I was a little bit more coherent. I was like, did I get an email from ‘The Masked Singer’ last night? It felt like divine timing,” Witt told People Magazine.
Witt went on to compete as Dandelion on season 9 of the reality TV show, where she would wear a mask while performing. Although she would go on to be eliminated from the competition, the experience was greatly cherished.
“It makes me so emotional just thinking about the feeling of connecting with that audience without being able to see them and without them being able to see me. It was utterly magical for me,” Witt said.
“I was 100 percent healed by the time that I taped these episodes. That was amazing to celebrate my reconstruction in that way because it was kind of a tight-fitting costume,” Witt said.
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Helping Patients Better Understand Breast Cancer Treatments
More on Alicia Witt’s Cancer Journey
As noted, when Witt was first diagnosed, she kept much of her cancer journey private. Choosing whether to share a diagnosis is a personal and emotional decision many cancer warriors make. It’s important to remember to do what feels right for you.
Witt shared her diagnosis a couple of months after she completed chemotherapy before undergoing a mastectomy. She revealed the news in a heartfelt Instagram post that shows her hitting a gong, signaling the end of chemotherapy.
She admitted after she was diagnosed, she looked at breast cancer survivors actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus and journalist Katie Couric for inspiration.
“They’re both out there thriving and working. When I chose to share it, I thought, I really want to let other women know, all of the women who are going to hear that news, just let them know: don’t go to the worst-case scenario in your head. The truth is, most of the time, you’re going to be all right,” Witt said.
Witt said her diagnosis changed her outlook on life, including her drinking habits. She says since alcohol can be a risk factor for cancer, she’s reassessed how much she drinks.
“That’s a big thing that is a risk factor for getting a diagnosis like this. So that’s a choice I’ve made,” Witt said.
Breast Reconstruction: The Basics
“Breast reconstruction is a restoration of a woman’s form and her sense of self. A lot of breast reconstruction is trying to erase the trauma of the mastectomy surgery, putting cancer behind a patient, saying this is in the rearview mirror, and putting her back on track,” Dr. Andrea Pusic, chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Brigham Health previously told SurvivorNet.
WATCH: Breaking Down Breast Reconstruction Options
Plastic surgeons can reconstruct your breasts with implants or with your own tissue taken from some other place on your body, such as your back, your abdomen, or your inner thigh. Reconstruction that uses your own tissue is called a flap procedure. A flap can produce breasts that look and feel more natural than implants.
Like natural breasts, they can also change as your body changes. For example, they can get bigger or smaller as your weight changes. However, not all women are eligible for this surgery, such as those who smoke, have poorly controlled diabetes, circulation problems, or connective tissue disorders. Luckily, there’s another option.
Breast implant surgery is a significantly more straightforward process than a flap procedure; therefore, the recovery process is much quicker. However, implants won’t look and feel as much like natural breasts. As you age or gain or lose weight, the implants will stay the same, which could make them look less natural over time.
Implants can sometimes leak or burst. In this case, you would have to have them replaced. When choosing implants, women will then need to decide whether they want saline or silicone ones.
The main difference between the two is that saline is a sterile saltwater-filled implant and typically requires less monitoring since it’ll be pronounced if it starts leaking. While silicone implants usually feel better and look more realistic, they require more surveillance during an MRI. Additionally, if the silicone leaks, it doesn’t jeopardize your health but will need to be replaced immediately.
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