Embracing Your Body's Beauty Inside and Out
- “X-Men” actress Olivia Munn, 43, was diagnosed with breast cancer after receiving a ‘normal’ mammogram and testing negative for the BRCA gene mutation, which increases your cancer risk. Her treatment included a double mastectomy (removal of both breasts) and breast reconstruction.
- Munn admits coping with her new body after her double mastectomy has affected how she feels about herself.
- A double mastectomy is a procedure that removes both breasts. Some women choose this procedure to reduce their risk of cancer, especially if they have a family history of cancer or possess the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutation, which also increases their risk.
- A major health challenge that causes noticeable changes to your appearance can impact how you feel, physically and emotionally. Psychiatrist Dr. Marianna Strongin encourages cancer warriors to look at and appreciate the parts of their bodies that were affected by treatment to take back ownership.
She underwent treatment, which included a double mastectomy (removal of both breasts) and breast reconstruction, but she says coping with her new body is affecting her mental health.
Munn admits adjusting to her new breasts has been difficult.
“I didn’t want to have big breasts. You think, ‘I’m here.’ All I care about is that I’m alive and I’m here for my baby. But, putting that to the side, one day, people will forget or not know, or maybe I’ll never tell people that I had cancer, but they’ll look at me and go, ‘Oh, what a bad boob job,” Munn explained.
WATCH: Dr. Elisa Port explains what happens during a double mastectomy.
Making the decision to undergo a mastectomy can be an emotional experience for many women facing breast cancer. While the surgery itself may only take a few hours, the changes can be difficult to adjust to mentally.
“A double mastectomy typically takes about two hours for the cancer part of the operation, the removing of the tissue,” Dr. Elisa Port, Chief of Breast Surgery at Mount Sinai Health System, tells SurvivorNet. “The real length, the total length of the surgery, can often depend on what type of reconstruction [a patient] has.”
What to Expect from a Mastectomy
When you’re faced with possibly getting a mastectomy, many factors go into the decision-making process, such as the size and features of the tumor and your family history. Some patients may opt for a lumpectomy instead, which is when doctors remove just the cancer and an area of healthy tissue around it rather than the entire breast or breasts.
Some women decide to have their breasts reconstructed after undergoing a mastectomy and have implants put in right away, while others don’t have reconstruction at all.
Dr. Port added that most women opt to have some sort of reconstruction. The length of these surgeries can vary greatly. When implants are used, the procedure can take two to three hours (so the total surgery time would be around five hours). There is also the option to take one’s own tissue (usually from the belly area) and transfer it into the breast area during reconstruction.
WATCH: Regaining your sense of self after reconstruction.
Coping With Your New Body After Cancer Treatment
Munn shared that she is coping with changes to her physical appearance now. Cancer survivors often struggle with the changes others can see, whether temporary of permanent, like hair loss and weight gain. However, survivors also struggle with changes that may not be as obvious — such as infertility — and these can create body image issues and make survivors feel vulnerable.
One way to prepare yourself for possible body changes during cancer treatment is to understand that changes are possible but also, frequently temporary. This can also help build up your self-confidence. Your support group, filled with loved ones, can help you during this stage of your journey as well.
Helping You Manage Your Mental Health
Psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin shares with SurvivorNet some additional tips cancer warriors can explore to help manage the emotional toll body changes can have during treatment.
Dr. Strongin encourages survivors to take ownership of the part (or parts) of their body impacted mainly by cancer treatment. She says although they may represent “fear and pain,” they also represent “strength and courage.”
“Research has found that when looking in the mirror, we are more likely to focus on the parts of our body we are dissatisfied with, which causes us to have a negative self-view and lower self-esteem. Therefore, I would like you first to spend time gazing at the parts of your body you love, give them time, honor them, and then thank them,” Dr. Strongin said.
Dr. Strongin then suggests looking at the part or parts of your body impacted by the cancer or cancer treatment. She recommends creating a regular practice of accepting your body image because it helps you accept your cancer journey emotionally and physically.
“As you allow yourself to spend more time looking at all of you, you will begin having a new relationship with your body. It may not happen immediately, but with time, you can begin honoring and thanking your new body,” Dr. Strongin added.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you’re facing the option of having a mastectomy, here are some questions to consider asking your doctor:
- What can I do to prepare for a double mastectomy?
- What happens before and after the procedure?
- For reconstruction, what are the benefits of using implants over my own tissue and vice versa?
- What should I know about implants?
- What will recovery look like after the procedure?
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
ANSWER QUESTIONS
