Boobies, Fun bags, puppies, girls. There seems to be a
strange obsession with nicknaming breasts. Often men are seen with their mouths
hanging open at the sight of a huge rack.
Throughout her adolescence *Dolly had had big breasts. She
wasn’t afraid to show them off. Low cut shirts and bras that pushed her boobs leaving
little to the imagination. Dolly’s older
relative *Elizabeth had always been surrounded by top heavy women such as her
mother. Elizabeth never was ‘gifted’ in
that department. Her brothers constantly
teased by chanting she was as flat as a board. To hide her insecurity she often
wore padded bras and stuffed them with tissues. Even know her breasts are a bit
of a touchy subject.
Dolly grew up and had a thick bottom and a busty chest. While Elizabeth had curves, her boobs were
small in comparison. Dolly unconsciously
flaunted and flirted with her body as Elizabeth hid behind bulky sweaters. Men
would talk to Dolly but their eyes would be fixated on the mounds underneath
her shirt.
One day the Dolly announced she found a lump in her breast.
It had been there for months but she thought it would just disappear on its
own. Everyone tried to make her feel better and that it was probably a cyst or
benign tumor. Fast forward a few days later and discovered she had breast
cancer at 29 years old.
Over the past few months she had undergone chemo treatments
and it was as if someone sprayed Pepto Bismol everywhere. Everything was
adorned with pink ribbons, ribbons, shirts and shoe laces in support. Someone even
shaved their head to make her feel better for losing her hair.
Today Dolly is having a double mastectomy after a few rounds
of chemo. She is in good spirits despite losing her breasts. I suppose if I was in the same situation I
would just be happy to be alive. Only it is hard to lose something that is a
symbol of womanhood no matter how big or small they may be. Breasts make women
feel sexy to the opposite sex. Breasts are also a source of nourishment for
babies. The painful part is not having
the opportunity to one day nurse a baby.
All wasn’t lost. After Dolly’s diagnosis a few others found lumps
in their breasts and don’t know what to do. Dolly provided guidance and most
importantly an example of hope as a survivor of cancer.
In the weeks to come she will undergo breast reconstructive
surgery. Everywhere around her will be covered with sprays of pink flowers and
well wishes. When this all said and done
she lost her breasts but not her life.
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