A Langford woman who twice survived breast cancer is using her experience to advocate for body positivity.

Tina Martel beat breast cancer twice and made the decision to undergo a double mastectomy. While for many women, a mastectomy B次元官网网址� or the removal of a breast B次元官网网址� is necessary, for Martel, it was a choice.

After putting her body through the ringer with lumpectomies, chemo and radiation during her first stint with cancer, when she was diagnosed with contralateral breast cancer four years later, she really evaluated what was in her best interest.

Contralateral breast cancer is a rare form of breast cancer that develops in only 11 per cent of patients. It occurs when the patient develops cancer in both breasts.

With the onset of her diagnoses, Martel decided to go ahead with another lumpectomy, which is when a lump with cancerous cells is removed from the body.

READ MORE:

However, after months of follow-up appointments, biopsies, ultrasound and mammograms, Martel said her mental health was in decline. This was the final push she needed to seek out what it would take to have a double mastectomy.

After speaking with her doctor and doing research online she decided it was the right choice for her.

B次元官网网址淚 was not crazy about the idea of implants, I never have been,B次元官网网址� Martel said. B次元官网网址淚 just think that putting a foreign substance into your body is probably not, ultimately a good idea.B次元官网网址�

She was deterred from getting implants because of the common occurrence of failure or implant rejection, as well as the need for more surgeries.

Instead, she opted for an esthetic flat closure, which provides patients with a flat chest that has minimal scarring.

After her surgery, she thought about perhaps a chest tattoo or maybe prosthetics, but neither was for her.

B次元官网网址淓ither I am going to accept the fact that IB次元官网网址檓 flat, which is what I am, or why did I do all of this?B次元官网网址� Martel said.

When looking into how to dress a flat body, Martel was appalled.

All the advice she was seeing was how to cover up flatness rather than celebrate it.

B次元官网网址淪o itB次元官网网址檚 OK for me to go flat but I have to hide it so the rest of the world is not offended by it? I just went forget it, IB次元官网网址檓 going to be really bold about this,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 going to show women what it looks like, IB次元官网网址檓 just gonna make a statement and whatever happens, happens.B次元官网网址�

So she started her Instagram account called Not In The Pink which, in part, aims to raise awareness about how common breast cancer is as 1-in-8 women will develop it in their lifetime. But she also wanted to inspire women to be themselves B次元官网网址� unapologetically.

B次元官网网址淚 thought IB次元官网网址檓 just going to be what I am B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檓 a flat woman. This is OK, itB次元官网网址檚 doable and I know lots of women who are doing this,B次元官网网址� Martel said.

Among her thousands of followers, Martel finds people who have experienced breast cancer, but also people who just want to celebrate diverse body types.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 room for all of us,B次元官网网址� Martel said. B次元官网网址淲e can be fluffy, we can be slim, we can be large-breasted, we can be flat. We can be whatever we want to be or need to be. Being held to this one notion of perfection B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 absurd.B次元官网网址�

As well as engaging with the community she has created through her social media, she is currently competing in the Fab over 40 contest to shine a light on beauty of all shapes and sizes.

While Martel advocates for women who decide to go flat, she said getting implants or wearing prosthetics is for some people, but urges women to have all the information before they make a decision. She also emphasizes the importance of knowing your body and participating in routine check-ups.

Both times she was diagnosed, she caught the cancer by feeling for lumps.

She worries now that for the two years that COVID-19 limited many forms of testing, women have gone undiagnosed.

She also wants people to know that while there are certain risks that can increase the chances of developing breast cancer, it can happen to anyone.

B次元官网网址淔or me, it is simply education at this point B次元官网网址� know your body, know what itB次元官网网址檚 supposed to be doing, do your due diligence in checking and understand that this is not something that might happen,B次元官网网址� Martel said. B次元官网网址淭his is something that is going to happen to one of your friends in your group of eight.B次元官网网址�

ALSO READ:

hollie.ferguson@vicnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .