Cece's Story
by Cece
April Contest Winner

I know my story is different than the rest I have read. I know that my doctors think my surgery was just for "vanity". Maybe it was in their eyes, but in mine, it was a life saving procedure.

I had never thought about breast augmentation, but had nothing against it. I was pretty pleased with the size that I was. Then came the diagnosis of breast cancer. I thought that I would "get by" all right with a small lumpectomy and a small scar, still looking all right to me, and I did right after surgery. Then came radiation and the slide down hill to the destruction of my breast, my self esteem and my feeling of wanting to live.

Because of the destruction of my breast as a result of radiation following a lumpectomy (significant loss of volume they call it), I appealed to my insurance to authorize reconstruction surgery. Reconstructive surgery is a federal mandate after mastectomy, not lumpectomy.

According to the first two plastic surgeons that I contacted my options were limited. I could have either a heavy prosthesis to augment the damaged side making me appear "normal" when clothed, or I could have the normal side reduced greatly. I could not face being subjected to having the normal side reduced by half and the "promise" that I would look "acceptable" clothed (which means not acceptable to me or anyone unclothed).

I have no tactile sensation on the radiated side and could not imagine losing the tactile sense on the normal side too. What I wanted was augmentation to the damaged side to restore my normal size. In order to return my breast to its previous D cup size from the unbalanced look of the small B cup I had shrunken to, I had to appeal to the Tumor Board of the hospital. I needed documentation and letters of reference from my doctors and hospitals to persuade my insurance company.

I had carefully documented the size and appearance of my breasts photographically prior to the lumpectomy. I presented the photographs of the post-operative, post-radiation condition. I was denied endorsement for the augmentation by physicians who considered my result "standard after radiation and cosmetically acceptable". Thankfully, the insurance company's assessment of the same information was more accurate and humane and they approved my implant augmentation to restore my former appearance.

This surgery has restored my self-image and my self-confidence. I no longer need to avert my eyes from my appearance when dressing. I can look forward to standing tall and "balanced" in whatever clothes I choose to wear. And I will be comfortable in my personal relationships with men. I am truly grateful for augmentation surgery and all the excellent information I received from your site.

On August 22, 2002 my life was taken away. On August 21, 2003, 364 days later, my life was given back to me by a fantastic surgeon; Dr Frank Isik, at the University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

Thank you so much for letting my story be told.

Cece