Sitting in a cafe in the high street, watching the world go by, I suddenly realised how many women have 2 breasts! In this new, single breasted normality, I found myself strangely surprised, and also aware that it was not appropriate to look at other women's breasts. Moving my gaze to my coffee cup, I reflected on my own new shape. At 58 and married for 31 years to a supportive husband, I do not feel that who I am, or indeed my femininity, is changed by my new shape. If anything I feel more feminine as I spend more time moisturising, taking more care over how I dress and with the onset of chemo, an upcoming half day of pampering and make-up.
I was describing this to my mum who had also had a mastectomy a few years ago. She laughingly said she often wondered whether, when she lay on her back in her yoga classes and her remaining boob naturally flattened, did her prosthetic stand up. I couldn't help but be drawn to look at women in town again on another visit. Did both boobs bounce as they walked? Not always. Were they women in the same situation as me? Possibly. I could hardly ask and again stopped looking, thinking it was as well I wasn't a man.
I began to notice how all the magazine pictures show double breasted women. But I don't feel abnormal. I'm the same me inside. Very few people my age carry no scars - physical and emotional. We all have stories to share (or to keep to ourselves). It's part of life.
