Double Mastectomy Breast Cancer Survivors Turn Models for Unisex Underwear Company

Play Out, the Underwear company used their gender-inclusive ethos to promote breast cancer awareness this year. The company features three breast cancer survivors who have undergone double mastectomies but have refused to get breast reconstruction as models. A cancer survivors support group called FlatToppers Pride, in partnership with Play Out aim to empower the underrepresented, flat-chested women.

One of the models, Melanie Testa, said that the way society reflects the image of scarred women affected by breast cancer, has a big impact on those who are newly diagnosed.

"Not all women choose reconstruction or feel that it will make them whole again. I choose to embrace my body as is and blithely proceed with grace and dignity. My hope is that other women will see these images in their time of need and that they will feel empowered and informed about flat reconstruction as one option among many."

The disease shouldn't be an assault on woman's gender identity, sexuality, femininity, body acceptance or self-confidence, said Testa.

"Breast cancer is a fact of the human experience. It is vitally important to place survivorship in the context of empowerment, said Jodi Jaecks, another model.

"I think that my natural androgyny and sexual preference have given me the advantage of self-acceptance far outside of cultural gender identification or definitive norms. This self-assurance informed not only my choice to have the double mastectomy, but the certainty that my choice would serve my self-confidence and strength moving forward in my life."

Source-Medindia