For those of you wondering why I’ve been missing in action over the last year, it’s because I’ve been pouring my heart and soul into @theprevivor - a health platform designed to arm women with the information they need to advocate for themselves, before, during and after mastectomy. I went public with my decision to undergo a preventive double mastectomy 7 years ago (wow times flies!). At the time, I NEVER could have imagined that my story would reach over 30 countries and 500 million homes. I have been so incredibly blessed to be able to share my mother’s legacy with the world and to spread the message of the importance of preventive healthcare. Over the last 7 years, I’ve been contacted by women all over the world, bravely sharing their mastectomy journeys. However, it didn’t take long before a sad pattern emerged: women were not being informed of their choices for genetic testing, surgery and reconstruction. Mastectomy had become an assembly line - one option, one result, without taking into account the unique needs of each individual woman. My heart ached hearing the gut wrenching stories of women being denied access to skilled physicians - being bullied into surgeries that weren’t right for their bodies - being made to feel that beating cancer “was a privilege” and told they were being greedy for wanting to look normal again after mastectomy. This is not a joke... this is not an isolated incident... this is something that happens every single day to women undergoing mastectomy. I couldn’t stand by and continue to listen to these women who were being denied the ability to feel whole again. This is where The Previvor was born. My hope is that women are able to utilize this platform to educate themselves and be put back in the driver’s seat for their healthcare choices. Exactly 1 year ago, I registered www.ThePrevivor.org and I can’t believe that I am saying this, but The Previvor is LIVE. . . . . #theprevivor #previvor #mastectomy #breastreconstruction #selfexamgram #breastcancer #breastcancerawarenessmonth #breasties #scarsarebeautiful #scarsaresexy #breastie #brca #brca1 #brca2 #feelitonthefirst