If your life has been touched by breast cancer in any way, be it a personal battle or something you've gone through with a loved one, you know how difficult it and truly challenging it can be. Facing breast cancer is likely one of the most difficult things a woman will do during her lifetime. My grandmother had breast cancer and died at the age of 46 when I was only three months old. Because of this, my mom and my aunts have always been very aware of breast health. As such, I've done quite a bit of reading on the subject and participated in a variety of charity events supporting breast cancer research...and I've noticed an emerging trend - many women are just as affected by the loss of their breasts and how it will change them as a woman as they are about ridding themselves of cancer in the first place. So, this hub is dedicated to breast cancer heroines and their boobs, as well as the details surrounding breast reconstruction after a mastectomy.

First of all, do your boobs define you as a woman?I had never really thought about that question until I was looking through some breast cancer material and I found a painting that a woman had done that was titled "Will he still love me without my breasts?" The painting depicted a woman, sitting naked on the floor, doubled over herself, in clear heartbreak . It was powerful and poignant. And it certainly made me think...

I began to consider what a major role my breasts played in my relationship with my husband and how they had actually formed my identity over the years. My husband, my soul mate, my hero, and a good Christian man is also what you'd call a 'boob man'...as I find most guys are...and well, he'd met his match when he met me. I became enthralled with him in high school and I didn't care who knew it. He was, to me, amazing. And, thanks in part to my, talent, in the chest area, I caught his eye too. My breasts played a major role in what first attracted the man I love...how can I deny that they are a very important part of my body? They are one of the premier reasons I feel feminine.

Not only that, but I 'blossomed' in middle school and didn't stop there...by the time high school came around...I was one of a few girls at my school known for having big boobs...if someone described me, my breasts were always included, it was like, "you know, that girl with the big boobs". Is that sad? Probably. But it's also very true. And until I really thought about it, I didn't realize how truly pivotal my breasts were in making me the person I am. In fact, I began to appreciate my boobs like never before...it was saddening (that my physical endowment actually defined me as a person) and empowering at the same time. So, I began to wonder...

What would I do if I were faced with a mastectomy?

Well, panic first of all...and then, just as I've done every other time I've faced tragedy, I would pull myself up by my bootstraps and do what had to be done...for the sake of my family and my life. Funnily enough, I don't fear death because I know where I'm going...but I do fear what my death would do to my husband and my babies...it's almost too much to think about...SO - I would do what I had to do...chemo, mastectomy, whatever the oncologists recommend...but then I thought - 'there's no way I could live without boobs'...So, I immediately began to research breast reconstruction and mastectomy.

I know, I know...it may seem a bit morbid - but I always feel better knowing there's a plan of action 'just in case'...sort of like having an escape route mapped out in case your house catches fire - I have a breast cancer 'escape route' mapped out in my head...

I have learned so much about breast reconstruction that I thought it pertinent to share...did you know that, if you have a mastectomy and you get implants that they will actually TATTOO your nipples back on?? I had always wondered about that.

I have to admit, this is probably a larger problem for women who face a single mastectomy. One natural nipple and one tattooed nipple (I don't care how good that tattoo artist is) can't look identical. Aside from that is the functionality of the nipple itself...obviously, tattooed skin doesn't 'function'. If I were faced with this hurdle, fully acknowledging my struggles with vanity, I would likely request a double mastectomy and double reconstruction just so my girls would be 'even'...

I KNOW- this is controversial...I'm just siting what I myself would probably do...many people ask, "Why would you put yourself through a double mastectomy if you didn't have to?" Well, because I know myself well enough to know that the psychological repercussions of having breasts that don't 'match' would be too much for me...Believe me, I thought long and hard about this.

The truth is, depending on your surgeon, reconstruction after mastectomy can produce amazing results. Many women elect to forego reconstruction for reasons of personal choice, money, and even as an empowerment...these women are heroes...but I fear I wouldn't be that strong. And, knowing my husband as I do, we'd happily go into debt for reconstructive surgery --- the good news is that most insurances will pay for the surgery if it's considered reconstructive.

You can find a host of photographs that are far too graphic for me to place here to give you some idea of what post-mastectomy breast reconstruction is all about.

And - too all of you BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS - I salute you, you are in my prayers, you are heroes!

If you want to learn more about breast reconstruction after mastectomy visit http://www.cancer.org

I would also like to urge you all to promote self-breast exams...THIS GOES FOR THE MEN TOO (men CAN get breast cancer)...It's also important that you urge those you love to perform regular self breast exams and keep up with the doctor's appointments...catching cancer early is one of the best lines of defense.

I am planning to do a future hub on cancer prevention diet and exercise...in the mean time, visit http://www.personaltrainyou.com