Up this week we sat down with Jaclyn, as they explained to us their inspiring story of going to in to get a breast reduction to help relieve some back pain. After going through some general screenings before following through on the reduction surgery, the doctors found something considering. Jaclyn had the BRCA1 genetic mutation, and was told they should get a preventative mastectomy just to be safe.
You might recognize Jaclyn from our website, as they were one of the models from our most recent photoshoot. Read along to learn all about their diagnosis, journey and how they found their way to AnaOno and joining the Never Alone Community.
Bianca
How did you discover you were predisposed to breast cancer?
Jaclyn
"Originally, I actually wanted to get a breast reduction. I went to a plastic surgeon, and he had brought up how I had said, I felt a little sore on my left side and he was like, “Do you have any breast cancer risk in your family?” And I said, “Yeah, my grandma had breast cancer and pretty much every person on my dad's side has had some form of cancer” and he was like, “Hmm. Well, I'm going to send you to get an ultrasound and to talk to your gynecologist first. And then, if that's all clear, then you can come back, and we can go over the next steps for reduction surgery.”
I went to the gynecologist and had an ultrasound and everything. I also qualified for a free genetic screening service because I'm Jewish and had breast cancer risk in the family and they were like, “Okay, so your ultrasound looks fine, but come in and let's talk about these genetic screening things that you've done.” And I was thinking, oh they just want to talk about how it works and everything because the whole process was fast. You sit, watch a video, spit in the tube and that was that. I had no idea that there was really much more than that. I didn't really think anything of it, but when I had to push the appointment out a little farther, my doctor said, “No, it's really important that you come in”, I was like, hmm. When I went in, they told me that I have the BRCA1 genetic mutation, and I was like, “Whoa, hold on, I was not expecting this.”
When they told me that the way to prevent breast cancer would be a mastectomy, right off the bat, I was like, Fine. I'm gonna do it because I do not want to do the MRIs and everything like that, which I wound up having to do an MRI anyway. MRIs make me really really anxious. I have to be medicated for those. So, I made the decision to have the double mastectomy very quickly and they said, “You know, you should probably tell your family because I was the first one to find out.”
I sent out an email to my family. My sister got tested, my parents got tested, and we figured out who it came from - it was, you know, a specific parent and it sort of just opened up the branches of the tree so to speak. Everybody else started talking about it and becoming more aware and those that wanted to get tested did and those that didn't, didn't and that's their choice. "
Bianca
How did you come to the decision to do flat closure? What did they offer to you as an option?
Jaclyn
"I was really fortunate. My surgeon handed me a booklet that had pretty much every single type of surgery that they could possibly do - she was incredible.
She talked me through everything, she sat me down and said, “These are all your options. It's a very difficult choice. It's highly personal. You should make the option that feels best for you.” She was open to my questions about flat closure because I was like, oh, I had no idea that this was an option and then when I looked it up more, she had another consultation with me afterwards to discuss what I was thinking she did say, Are you sure? Just because you know, she doesn't have a lot of people say that they want to go flat immediately, and I decided really fast.
That's what I wanted to do after talking to other people about it. She was like, “Great, if that's what you want, show me pictures of what you're expecting, and I support you.” My favorite thing that she said was, “You know, if you wanted to go down to Miami and go topless on the beach, you could do that” and I was laughing so hard. I love my surgeon so much; she was great about it, and I really think it was a combination of her receptiveness to my choices and her positivity and the community that really stuck with me and helped my decision solidify."
Bianca
What was the most difficult part of your recovery?
Jaclyn
"I have cervical dystonia; which is a movement disorder that impacts my neck muscles. Sleeping on my back is very difficult because my head naturally wants to go to one side. So, when I was sleeping on my back, I had to be propped up with all sorts of pillows surrounding me. I wasn’t able to sleep, and I had to sleep propped up like that for a good six weeks or so before I felt comfortable going back. On top of that, I had a little bit of complications with bleeding. On my left side, I had a hematoma. I'm an easy bleeder, so I sort of wasn't surprised that it happened, but it was like a huge bruise. It was really gnarly to look at for a while there.
The anesthesia made my POTS symptoms much worse. So, my blood pressure was bottoming out and I couldn't stand up without help for a while. I had to have extra fluids and just some extra care. Thankfully, my husband was able to work from home for quite some time to help me out around the house, especially with the kids and the dogs and everything because it took a while for me to go from laying back to sitting up to standing."
Bianca
So, you mentioned your husband and my next question is, how has all of this affected your relationship with him?
Jaclyn
"I was really scared at first because I knew that I was going to go flat and I was afraid of how he would feel about it and I kept asking him over and over again. “Are you sure that it's, okay? Are you sure that it's okay because like I mean, you know, its boobs let's be real like Boobs are nice” and so, when he kept saying “It's your body, it's your decision and whatever you decide is what I support” I was like, okay. It was really hard to believe him that it was really okay.
When the surgery happened, he was so supportive with everything. Every time my ace bandage would slip a little bit, he would fix it up for me and he would always be the person that stripped my drains. He would take the cotton padding and make sure it was where it needed to be. I just remember when I was still afraid of looking at myself, because it kind of makes you feel a little light-headed. He was just like, wow, you look beautiful, these look great.” I was like, “You are the best person in the world, that's why I married you.” I feel like the positive environment that we fostered together really helped both of us heal through this because I no longer look like the person that he married, but I'm still the person that he married and I really appreciate that he can separate that."
Bianca
Is there any advice you would like to give someone who may be reading this, who is about to undergo the same surgery and/or journey that you’ve been on?
Jaclyn
"I would say, if you are able to, to really think through all of your options and inform yourself to the best of your ability. Make sure that you're making the right decision that's for you and not for anybody else. That's the most important. There were a lot of people that would say things to me like, what does your husband think or, how does somebody else feel about it? But it's not up to somebody else - it's up to you and for anybody listening, it's up to you and if you want to do something that somebody else doesn't agree with, it's not up to that other person to dictate what you do with your body. If you don't feel comfortable with your surgeon’s opinion on what they’d like to do, I know not everybody has the privilege of surgeon shopping, but if you’re able to, you should seek multiple opinions because this isn't a decision that should be taken lightly and it really does impact your life on multiple levels - you should feel comfortable every step of the way."
Bianca
Now, beyond surgery. Has your relationship with your body changed at all? And if so, how?
Jaclyn
"Absolutely, before surgery, the reason I wanted the breast reduction was because I was really not feeling my body. I had breastfed two children - my boobs didn't look the way that I wanted them to look, and I was just feeling really down on myself. I had already been feeling some dysmorphia surrounding my body as it is. It was sort of both related to my gender and also how I look at myself in the mirror - it just didn't feel connected. I thought that If I took this step for myself, it could really improve both how I felt physically (not having that weight on my chest literally is good for my dystonia) but also mentally. The source of that irritation for me is now gone and I have never felt freer in my life since removing my boobs.
When I look at myself in the mirror and I feel like I'm not restricted physically, it also helps me not feel restricted mentally. I can just be topless whenever and I don't have to worry about what's going on here *gestures to chest*, because there's nothing there to worry about anymore. Instead of wearing those baggy T-shirts all the time, I'm just like, okay. Tank top no problem. Tight shirt, no problem. I just feel like there's so much more freedom. In fashion, in self-expression. I wasn’t confident like this before surgery. It really boosted my confidence."
Bianca
How has your relationship with clothing changed?
Jaclyn
"Before surgery, I had one breast that was larger than the other. So, a lot of button-ups never really came together properly. My T-shirts were always stretched out so you couldn't really see what was going on. Sizing was always very odd for me. I struggled with bikinis massively because nothing really held me up where I wanted them to be. Now I don't have to worry about a bikini top if I don't want to. Everything fits a lot better. There's a lot of clothing that I kept from when I was a teenager that I didn't really want to let go of, and now I can wear again because they fit now. So, a lot of old band T-shirts and stuff - it feels like a revival, a fashion revival."
Bianca
How did you first hear about AnaOno and what was the first product that you purchased?
Jaclyn
"I think the first time I heard about AnaOno was on Instagram, actually. I have a lot of bras. I always say when you go flat you don't ever really want to wear a bra again, but AnaOno bras are actually so comfortable that I wear them all the time. Like if a shirt is seen through, I'll wear it as a layering piece. Or if I just want to wear shorts and one of the longer bra styles with a light coat over it, I'll just wear that out, like, it's a shirt and they're so freaking soft. It's the best. I told my mother-in-law who had breast cancer about it. I also told my other mother-in-law who had a breast reduction because it works for people with all different patterns of scars and everything, so they don't irritate your chest and that's like my favorite thing."
Bianca
If you could describe AnaOno in one word, what would that word be?
Jaclyn
"That's tough because there are so many but I think really foremost, it would be inclusive, which I know y'all strive for and I appreciate that so much because like I said, I've recommended AnaOno to so many people both in the breast cancer community and out of the breast cancer community because it's really for everyone. You don't have to have breast cancer to want to wear something that's really comfortable and doesn't irritate your body. I would even suggest AnaOno for people with sensory issues because the texture is so comforting that it wouldn't irritate people. It’s great for all sorts of chest types, whether you have one boob or multiple or not - it’s great for everyone."
Bianca
What did it mean to you to participate in our photo shoot
Jaclyn
"I tell everybody about this when they ask me about my experience - It was honestly the most positive and uplifting experience that I've ever had in a community like this. I was so nervous when I walked in because everybody was already in the groove and doing their own thing, but to be welcomed in so fast and to feel like I belonged was really amazing. Everybody was so sweet and really helpful, and it just felt really special and comforting. But also empowering. It was just. Every good thing that I could say is how I feel about it."
