#Mental health and breast health

[excomingback]

Can Stress Affect Breast Size? Unveiling the Connection

Have you ever noticed your breast size changing when you’re stressed? I’ve been through it, and it isn’t easy. This issue isn’t talked about openly usually. But it’s important to discuss how stress affects our breasts. Let’s look into how our mental health can change the shape and size of our breasts. My journey with changing breast sizes made me see them differently. They’re not just body parts;…

[gatekeeper-of-witchcraft]

correct me if I’m out of line bc I’m not a detransitioner, but I hate hate hate how common arguments against transition/“in defense of” detransitioners is “they can’t have kids!” or “they can’t breastfeed!”

why should mitigating harm always come down to what a woman can do for a potential child (or a man’s ability to father children)? why isn’t it enough to keep HER from harm? it’s just prioritizing women as broodmares all over again. why isn’t it enough to keep HER from chronic pain, heart and blood pressure issues, incontinence, necrosis, limited mobility and death?

[kaoimcat]

Minha personalização!?

Lockscreens

Ser for salvar, segue e curta !

[its-hai-time]

Damn this sucks. I'm gonna throw a sinner into the pits of hell.

[sydsliftingface]

Hey guys! Top surgery is really hard! I find a lot of people sort of skip over how difficult major surgery is to go through because of course it’s worth it but !!!!!! Please!!!!!!! If this is a process you are considering going through PLEASE do all of your prep and research and be very prepared to go through an ordeal fr. This is no joke.

[lalaartistry]

Counting

I used to count the minutes to when you’d leave, The seconds would tick through my head As you’d run your fingers through my hair once more. Our bodies lost in my sheets Tangled and twined together With a lover who wasn’t really mine. I'd hold onto the hours, Head against your chest counting each heartbeat, Remembering your every breath. Our moments were growing shorter. Less and less each time Still, I held the rope of hope, Fraying more every time you left. We Twist it more, Slowly tearing it apart. Each time you’d pull me back, underneath my sheets we'd go, You, consuming my body once more. Parts of you wouldn’t remain In this bed with me. Night would fall, the sun would rise, you’d think I was asleep, kissing my cheek before leaving once again, laying alone in this bed I count each step, you take   until the house falls silent. I begin to count the days waiting for that The next phone call. Waiting for you to say Just one more time That’s all.

A Poem By- Helen Lorane

[transgenderteensurvivalguide]

how do I get top surgery if I’m not non-binary/transgender?

like. I’m fine with how I am. I’m agender, but I don’t mind being perceived female. but I would like to not have boobs.

thanks!

Lee says:

Just to define some terms for folks who may not be as familiar--

The word "non-binary" is an umbrella term that is inclusive of (but not forced upon) anyone who does not fully identify as solely male or female 100% of the time. So if you're agender, you can call yourself non-binary if you want to.

Similarly, the word “transgender” is an umbrella term that is inclusive of (but not forced upon) anyone who does not fully identify as the gender they were assigned at birth 100% of the time. So if you're agender, you can also call yourself transgender if you want to.

You don't have to identify as non-binary and transgender if you don't want to, but both terms are labels that you are more than welcome to apply to yourself if you find them useful when seeking surgery.

I am genderqueer, and I also identify as non-binary, transmasculine, transgender, and transsexual. During my medical transition, I was very open about my identities to the mental health providers who wrote my letters of support for gender-affirming surgery, and I didn't have any issues getting my surgeries as a result of my gender identity.

Unfortunately, I know that there are many therapists and surgeons who aren't particularly knowledgeable about gender-expansive people and that can result in more gatekeeping when trying to access gender-affirming surgery for some folks with less luck than I.

Location can also influence this-- I live on the East Coast so I had more options than someone in a rural area of the South, for example, so I could be pickier and had more choices of providers to see.

It's still possible to get surgery, but it can just be a little more difficult which means you have to be a self-advocate and fight for what you want, which sucks but you gotta do what you gotta do to get the care that you need.

Research Surgeons:

Start by researching surgeons who specialize in top surgery or chest masculinization. While many surgeons have experience with binary transgender men, it's essential to find a surgeon who is understanding and respectful of your reasons for wanting the surgery.

Reading posts on Reddit and joining top surgery Facebook groups is a good way to learn from and connect with former patients who have had surgery with that surgeon is really helpful in getting information about what their experience was like.

Some surgeons do not require a letter of support from a mental health provider, removing a requirement that can be a barrier for some people seeking surgery, but that can mean that your insurance will not cover surgery as having a letter of support is often a requirement from insurance companies.

Insurance companies will only cover top surgery if it's deemed medically necessary, which means you need to be diagnosed with gender dysphoria and/or have back pain related to your chest size and/or need a preventative double mastectomy for cancer risk.

If you're pursuing surgery for what insurance companies would deem purely aesthetic or personal reasons, you might need to pay out-of-pocket, so if the reason you don't want to have boobs is because of gender dysphoria then focus on that when you're speaking to your providers.

2. Research mental health providers:

Local LGBTQIA+ community centers often have resources and lists of affirming therapists in the area. They might also offer support groups or counseling services directly.

If you're comfortable, you can also ask friends, family, or members of local or online LGBTQIA+ communities for therapist recommendations.

Once you have a list of potential therapists, contact them and ask them about their experience with agender clients, their approach to therapy, whether they are willing to write a letter of support for top surgery and what their process is for that, and any training they've had related to gender diversity.

Ensure that the therapist is licensed in your state and look for reviews or testimonials about them online-- multiple bad reviews from trans folks about them is a big red flag.

If cost is a concern, inquire about sliding scale fees, insurance acceptance, or low-cost therapy options. Some therapists offer reduced rates based on financial need.

And yeah, if you really want to you could just straight-up lie and tell them that you're a binary man and say what you think they want to hear since it's not like they can peer into your brain to see that you're actually agender. But if you have to tell the therapist and/or surgeon that you're a binary trans man to get the letter/get the surgery date then maybe those aren't the providers who you really want to be working with anyway.

So I personally wouldn't recommend just outright lying to them, but I do recommend being thoughtful and strategic about how you present yourself. Don't start off by saying "I’m fine with how I am, I don’t mind being perceived female, and I’m not non-binary/transgender." That doesn't explain why you need this surgery.

Instead you should say that you're [transmasculine/agender/applicable label] and you've been out for [insert number of years], you feel that the next step in your transition is top surgery because you know that would be happier without breasts because having them makes you feel [insert specific unhappy feelings] and that affects your life in [insert ways that it affects you] and you've felt this way about them for [insert] number of years and you're confident that this is the right choice for you and will put your on the right path for your future, etc.

We have a post on getting a therapist here, and our top surgery page has more information on the general logistics of seeking top surgery because it's pretty similar process regardless of your specific gender identity.

It's essential to make decisions that align with your comfort, well-being, and identity, and only you can decide what labels you want to present yourself with. If you are well-informed, have a support system, and choose a therapist and surgeon who respects and understands your reasons you will end up finding the right path for you.

Good luck!

Followers, feel free to add on with your experiences if you identify similarly to anon.

[goodvibrationonly]

[queenbellasexy]

Sun kissed 🥰 …living my life in my own lane

[danieyells]

Felt a bizarre little sense of discomfort seeing a character with my deadname is aroace (whereas ordinarily i would either be happy or indifferent) so today is perhaps going to be a sensitive day

[shannendoherty-fans]

Published Aug 1, 2024

The Cancer Community Says After The Loss of Shannen Doherty, It’s Important To Keep Going- A Legacy of Bravery

The 'Beverly Hills, 90210' star candidly shared about her day-to-day fight with metastatic breast cancer up until the end.

By Marissa Sullivan.

An Inspirational Icon

The loss of Shannen Doherty, who died on July 13 of stage 4 metastatic breast cancer at age 53, affected fans and loved ones from around the world, and the cancer community was hit particularly hard by this profound loss.

The Beverly Hills, 90210 actress gave people hope, and despite her passing — which can be especially devastating for other late stage survivors, it’s important to keep going in her honor and not give up that hope that she instilled.

After the death of a loved one or someone you looked up to, it’s key to remember that grief may look different for everyone. The stages of grief are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These labels help us frame and identify what we may be feeling. These stages can also occur in any order.

As far as your own cancer journey, don’t give up. There are more and more options becoming available for patients to manage symptoms of advanced stage disease, and it’s best to talk about specific treatment plans and what is best for you with your own doctor.

The loss of Shannen Doherty, who died on July 13 of stage 4 metastatic breast cancer at age 53, affected fans and loved ones from around the world, and the cancer community was hit particularly hard by this profound loss.

The Beverly Hills, 90210 star gave people hope, and despite her passing — which can be exceptionally heavy on other late stage survivors, it’s important to keep going and not lose faith in your own journey.

Doherty was over four years into her advanced stage diagnosis and had gained a powerful voice in the health space with her Let’s Be Clear podcast, holding nothing back as she aired out past personal struggles in her career and love live, and candidly spoke of her day-to-day fight.

Actress Shannen Doherty became a household name after starring in hit shows like ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ and ‘Charmed.’ “This is what I am currently facing. #cancer #life,” Doherty captioned what would be her last video post.

The day the world woke up to the tragic news, comments came pouring in on Instagram for the late pop culture icon.

“Rest in peace. I’m donating to metavivor today in your honor,” one fan commented, while actress Selma Blair shared: “Thank you for showing us how to keep going.”

CEO Alana Stewart — who runs the Farrah Fawcett Foundation in honor of her late best friend’s cancer mission — wrote, “God bless you, you’re an amazing inspiration.”

How to Cope After Losing a Loved One to Cancer

After the death of a loved one or someone you looked up to, it’s key to remember that grief may look different for everyone.

Everyone is entitled to their feelings, and yes, the emotions are real, even if you consider yourself “just a fan.”

The stages of grief are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These labels help us frame and identify what we may be feeling. These stages can also occur in any order.

The time it takes to navigate these stages can also vary, so giving yourself grace and patience is essential while navigating your feelings.

“It often gets better over time, but on certain days, it can look like depression, and on other days, people look perfectly normal and can function,” Dr. Scott Irwin, a board-certified psychiatrist and Director of Supportive Care Services at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, previously told SurvivorNet.

‘Grief Comes in Waves’

Dr. Irwin added that grieving people are coming to terms with “the change in their life; the future they had imagined is now different.”

SurvivorNet also had a prior conversation with Megan Newcomer, who lost a close friend to metastatic cancer in 2018. She shared her unique way of coping with grief.

Newcomer’s friend was an athlete and soccer player, so to help her cope, she embarked on a marathon race in his honor, and advises others grieving to first “acknowledge your feelings.”

Shannen Doherty was a passionate animal rights activist. Courtesy of Instagram/Shannen Doherty

“Then, think about a way that you could honor the person through a mechanism that is meaningful to you,” she continued. “So that can be artwork, music, or developing a financial fundraising project. It could be something very simple, but I do think having it be intentional is what you’re doing to help honor this person.”

In a column for SurvivorNet, New York-based clinical psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin expressed that it may be helpful to remind yourself that these feelings are “meaningful yet temporary.”

“If you approach them with compassion, kindness, and eventually acceptance, you will come away from this period in your life more connected to your resilience and strength,” Dr. Strongin added.

Understanding Metastatic Breast Cancer

Stage 4, or metastatic breast cancer, means that the cancer has spread to distant areas of the body. Even though there is currently no cure for metastatic breast cancer, doctors have many options to treat this advanced stage of breast cancer.

Hormone therapy, chemotherapy and targeted drugs are all options to talk to her doctor about, depending on your individual needs. Sometimes surgery and/or radiation is considered as part of the treatment, but mainly it is important to focus on improving your quality of life.

Dr. Erica Mayer, a medical oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, says clinical trials have shown that hormone medicines are more effective when paired with targeted therapies. At some point, chemotherapy will be introduced. And according to Dr. Mayer, it’s delivered at a dose and schedule that’s as well-tolerated as possible.

“We are so lucky in breast cancer that we have so many effective and well-tolerated treatments,” Dr. Mayer previously told SurvivorNet. I’m so gratified to see that patients are doing better and living longer today with metastatic breast cancer than they have ever done before.”

Bottom line, there are more and more options becoming available for patients to manage symptoms of advanced stage disease, and it’s best to talk about specific treatment plans and what is best for you with your own doctor.

Treating Metastatic Breast Cancer

With metastatic breast cancer, the primary goal of treatment is to control its spread. SurvivorNet offers information about what those options are from targeted therapies to chemotherapy and when these various treatment options can be used.

We also provide information on new, exciting research that is currently being tested in clinical trials and information about when recently approved drugs, like immunotherapies, can be used.

For help finding a clinical trial that may be right for you or a loved one, try our easy-to-use Clinical Trial Finder.

While there have been many developments in recent years when it comes to treating late-stage breast cancer, which therapies can be used will depend on the characteristics of the patient’s cancer.

What are the treatment options for late-stage breast cancer?

“Metastatic breast cancer is a treatable disease,” Dr. Kenneth D. Miller, medical oncologist at the Alvin & Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore shared in a pior interview with SurvivorNet.

“Fortunately, we have so many new treatments for women with recurrent breast cancer and for many women who look at this as a chronic disease that they can live with — often for many years.”

*****

RELATED: ‘Stage Four Needs More’: Metastatic Breast Cancer Requires Dramatically More Research Investment’ Say Advocates Mourning ‘90210’ Actress Shannen Doherty

RELATED: For Patients, The Inspiration of a Famous Actress And Her Quest to Make Sure Her Affairs Were in Order — Mourning Shannen Doherty

RELATED: Crusading to Save Horses, Shannen Doherty Says ‘We Have To Speak For The Voiceless’

RELATED: ‘Not Done Living & Loving’ Said Actress Shannen Doherty– She Placed Hope In Experimental Drug Trials To Treat Metastatic Breast Cancer

[the-ace-with-spades]

*banging my head on the wall* why do I need so many medical reports and notes to get top surgery I'm paying for

[fandom-addict404]

Okay. I don’t know if I’m reading this wrong but I feel like Conrad and Susannah are very similar in a way that people haven’t been talking about: they are both very shut off people, with walls around certain things that they just don’t want to talk about.

For example, in season 2 episode 6, Susannah is in denial that her father was an “emotionally withholding prick” (Skye’s words) and shut it down when Julia told her in the flashback. Also, the whole plot in season one with her not telling everyone about her cancer coming back was less about having one last perfect summer and more about avoiding the fact that it won’t be the same and it will effect everyone and she doesn’t want to face that.

Though Susannah had only the best of intentions, this flaw in her personality clearly spread to Conrad and is one of the stems to his anxiety problem and was something I realized.

Please please give your thoughts. I love discussing this sort of thing with people.

[inmyhumours]

Someone may be sending the foulest thoughts my way, but I would still wish them well, tell them I love them, my heart falling from my chest, weighted with inexplicable care, tender, supple.

.

[workinprogress14]

My breasts have shrunk so much since my miscarriage and I’m so self conscious about it