Elizabeth wrote these as her contribution to the project, her words provide an alternative route to access lived experience, and the artworks in the space.
The Image in the Mind of the Patient
We all have a mental image of ourself. How does that receive and absorb the intervention of cancer and mastectomy? Does the internal self-image change? Do we retain the original image; does a new one take over; is it some kind of hybrid? Do we consciously create a new version, and if so when and how?
The Image that the Patient Sees of Herself in Real Life
Every post-surgery patient has to confront herself in the mirror for a first time. By then we have made decisions – reconstruction of different kinds, or a fundamentally changed body with a scar or scars. These decisions are made for a wide range of deeply personal and mainly psychological reasons.
The Image that is Seen by Lovers and Partners
This is complicated. Our bodies have sustained massive change. We are fundamentally different. We may feel a loss of confidence. The situation is new and unknown. In what ways does this new body enter into an existing relationship? How does it affect the partner? Does s/he need help and support in accepting the change in the body and the person? What happens over time?
The Image that May or May Not be Available to the Rest of the World
Post surgery most of us choose to retain our existing clothing; both reconstruction and prostheses enable clothing to hang correctly. Athletes have done much in bringing prosthetic limbs into view, and we see people doing amazing things to change the perception of aids such as canes and wheelchair use. But the breast is most usually a private area and the rest of the world is largely unaware of the changed body. Within an all-female environment such as gym changing room it is possible to be naked without inviting any comment or discomfort – but would settings such as an existing nude swimming beach be secure and comfortable? Post-surgery tattooing is an interesting and creative response that brings the patient strongly back into a current body presentation. Some game-changing women have designed and made post-surgery clothing that responds to the new body and reveals and celebrates it. There is a great opportunity for underwear design to embrace this sector and provide positive innovative designs that work well for post-mastectomy patients, and offer new design approaches. Let us reposition the post-surgery body as an achievement, something to be genuinely celebrated. We don’t need to hide or feel embarrassed. There is a real lack of positive images of breast cancer. The work created by the ‘Empowered Journeys’ participants makes a vigorous, honest and valuable contribution.
These words are accredited to Elizabeth Lydiate.
© Elizabeth Lydiate, 2024
Empowered Journeys 