When mom-of-three Jai Eastwood discovered she had cancer in both breasts and would have to have a double mastectomy, she was terrified. But she’s now feeling more beautiful than ever, and decided to celebrate that in a stunning photoshoot.
Photographer Jai discovered small tumors in her left breast, and her right breast was also at risk, so she opted to have a six-hour surgery to remove both breasts followed by four months of chemotherapy.
Despite being offered reconstructive breast surgery at the same time as her mastectomy, Jai refused.
“It would be a constant reminder of what I had lost,” she explained, “You can’t pretend these breasts are yours.”
Now, two years post-surgery, Jai says she feels more confident than ever: “I feel so attractive and feminine.”
“I told everyone I wasn’t having reconstructive surgery, but people still asked me why,” Jai recalls, “One friend even asked me what size my new boobs would be.”
“It made me feel so angry, as if losing my boobs was losing my femininity.”
But Jai admits the journey wasn’t easy.
“I felt like a boy for the first year after my surgery with no hair and boobs, but now I feel fabulous.”
And she hopes her glamorous photoshoot will inspire hope in other women facing the same situation.
“I want other women to see what they might look like if they don’t have reconstruction and not to fear it.”
While Jai isn’t critical of women who do choose to have reconstructive surgery after a masectomy, she simply maintains it wasn’t for her.
“In the flesh, they’re not pretty,” she admits, “It’s not something I wish I had, but I still feel great.”
“And I don’t hide it. When I wear a vest, my ribs stick out further than my concave chest, but I straighten my back, broaden my smile, and we are back on track.”
