Yahoo Canada Style Krista ThurrottYahoo Canada StyleAugust 28, 2018
A breast cancer survivor is going viral after posting a photo of her breastfeeding her 10-day-old son, proudly showing off her mastectomy scar.
Bo Smith from Sugar Land, Texas, shared the image to Facebook.
“Never be ashamed of a scar. It simply means you were stronger than whatever tried to hurt you,” she wrote.One breast cancer survivor’s photo is going viral as she proudly shows her mastectomy scar (Photo via Facebook)
Women bare their mastectomy scars for breast cancer awareness The 32-year-old was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer, an aggressive and rare form of the disease, three years ago.
“I can’t begin to explain how this feels everyday to be able to breastfeed my son, after losing one breast to cancer and being told I may not ever have this sweet boy in my arms,” she wrote.
“I am not ashamed of this body. This is what continues to remind me of how lucky I am to be here today.”
After discovering the lump in her breast just a month after getting engaged, Smith underwent extensive treatment to eradicate the disease.
“I still remember sitting with my oncologist as she held my hand and explained that there was only a 40 per cent chance of living to five years, and feeling so drained and numb that I couldn’t even cry.”
After undergoing chemotherapy, Smith had her left breast removed.
“I opted to keep my right breast so that I may one day have a chance to breastfeed my future children,” she said.
Pregnant breast cancer survivor shares powerful post-mastectomy photo
Two years after completing radiotherapy, Smith was officially in remission — but she also discovered the treatment had affected her fertility.
“I was devastated. My first words were, ‘My life is over. I will never be a mom’,” she told the Daily Mail.