getting to know you

2nd self
Originally uploaded by oskarmilde.

Thanks to Flickr I know fascinating things about people I've never met. This from oskarmilde, a breast cancer survivor:

In December, I had a prophylactic mastectomy and TRAM flap reconstruction. The surgeon replaces the missing breasts with stomach fat, so besides new breasts I got a tummy tuck too. An abdominal muscle is rerouted to supply blood to reconstructed site. August 2002, I had a mastectomy and radiation to take care of some genetic breast cancer.

I waited 3 years before deciding to go through with the reconstruction. It was scary and psychologically tough, but well worth it. I would recommend it to anyone who needs it. For those of you who don't, refrain from telling those who do how lucky they are to get "free plastic surgery".