Pink is the New Black

Okay, I just feel the need to warn you that this post may contain a bit of over-sharing.  But, lucky for you I am drawing the line at showing disgusting pictures of myself for now, because trust me, I have them.  I've always been an over-sharer.  I don't typically get embarrassed easily and I wouldn't consider myself very modest.  What little modesty I did have totally went out the window after 3 beers with the whole breast cancer thing.

You probably think "Pink is the New Black" is about all the pink breast cancer goodies I have gotten along the way.  While I am incredibly appreciative of those gifts, you'd be wrong.  Today we are going talk about...  Ready for this?  Nipples.  Go ahead and say it.  Nipples.  Did you smile?  It's okay, it's one of Mason's favorite words, too.

I've probably shown my boobs more legitimate times in the past 3 months than I did during my 4 years of college.  I'm flat out (flat, get it?) completely comfortable with doctors or really anyone else looking and touching my breasts now.  Not only have I been desensitized to their exposure socially and mentally, but since they are nearly completely numb I don't even have the physical sensation that I am being exposed.  For example, the other day I was eating a cookie my friend Brooke brought over and I look down and notice a big piece had fallen on my boob.  My first thought was "Yay, more cookie for me!" but my second thought was that it was strange to find a piece of cookie there and have been clueless.  How long had it been there?  Could anyone else see it?  So, I ate my new found treasure and went on my way...

I had a nipple sparing mastectomy, meaning I got to keep my nipples.  Since my mastectomy was done with prophylactic intentions, I was willing to take the 1% risk increase of cancer to keep my nipples.  Once I received my breast cancer diagnosis, I asked my surgeon if he thought I should have my nipples removed during future surgery and he said it wasn't at all medically necessary.  For women who do choose to keep their nipples, I believe they actually take a small shaving of the internal nipple tissue during the mastectomy to test for any gnarly cells just to be safe.  For women who do have their nipples taken during the mastectomy, there are several reconstruction options: they can actually grow a nipple, like Frankenstein of something, or women often opt for tattoo options of either a realistic looking nipple, or something artistic like tassels.

Okay, I'll get to the over-sharing part because I know that is the only reason you have spent the last 2 minutes reading about nipples:  Today I noticed my nipples were completely pink again, opposed to the black they had been for the past 6 weeks.  It was scary.  Remember the story where they scared Mason?  If not you can read it by clicking here.  Basically, your nipples (not mine anymore) have a rich supply of blood and nerves fed to them, that is why they are so sensitive.  So much tissue is removed during the mastectomy that it really reduces the blood supply to your nipples and necrosis (when you skin dies) often occurs.  It didn't hurt, it just turned into basically a giant scab.  Well, recently the scab has fallen off to reveal beautiful, pink nipples!  This bit of normalcy was very welcome after a month that has been anything but normal.