The nonlinear reality of breast reconstruction, survivorship, and reclaiming choice after cancer
One of the things not talked about enough in breast cancer survivorship is how nonlinear reconstruction is.
I was diagnosed with Stage 3 ER+/HER2- IDC on October 10, 2023 and began chemotherapy on October 27, 2023.
After 15 rounds of ACT chemotherapy (Doxorubicin + Cyclophosphamide + Taxol) — including an allergic reaction that moved me to Abraxane — I rang the bell on March 15, 2024.
On April 23, 2024, I underwent a unilateral mastectomy. My left breast remains untouched.
I did not get to keep my right nipple.
At the time, survival was the priority.
And honestly, I was grateful to be alive.
But grief can coexist with gratitude.
Both can be true.
My reconstruction process began the same day as surgery with the placement of a tissue expander that was filled weekly and remained in place throughout 33 rounds of proton radiation at NY Proton Center from October 24, 2024 through December 10, 2024. There was a 5 month delay in starting radiation as I was fighting with my insurance to cover proton as that was what I wanted. I won after 5 months of denials.
Then came six months of skin healing at the December 2024 proton treatment conclusion.
On June 10, 2025, I underwent my final exchange surgery which included scar tissue removal and fat grafting from my inner thighs for contouring around the implant as nothing is left after a mastectomy.
I ultimately chose a silicone implant over saline simply based on personal preference in feel. One thing I learned during reconstruction is that both implant types (that I was given) were contained within silicone.
Overwhelming? I know.
And through all of it, I was grateful to be alive.
But I also missed my nipple.
Those feelings can coexist too.
Then on April 6, 2026, RmonyCare appeared on my LinkedIn feed and introduced me to something I genuinely did not know existed: custom silicone removable nipple prosthetics through what they call the Areola Protocol.
And what struck me most was not simply the prosthetic itself.
It was the return of choice.
No pressure.
No expectation.
No singular definition of what reconstruction “should” look like.
No requirement for me to make a decision about permanent tattoo after decision burnout.
Just choice.
Fluid and changeable choice.
The ability for ME to decide what felt right for ME after so much had already been predetermined.
I share my timeline and details because it reminds us healing is rarely linear. One of my mistakes in my process is that I would get married to the plan, and then when things changed I would have a hard time. So I learned so just flow.
There are many decisions.
Many pivots.
Many emotional, hormonal, physical, and mental layers to rebuilding after cancer.
And I think women deserve to know the options available to them.
Not because there is one “right” reconstruction path. Right doesn’t exist.
But because choice matters.
RmonyCare thank you for the work you and your husband are doing. You are changing lives, giving back confidence, fostering healing, pouring into emotional wellbeing, and quality of life for so many women.
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RmonyCare
Stage 3 ER+/HER2- IDC survivor.
2 years out.
Still healing.
Still becoming.
