Why I went topless on social media after losing two of my breasts to cancer- Diana Awuor, cancer thriver speaks

 A scarred line cuts across her chest where her breast used to be, a reminder of the challenges she faced and endured since she was first diagnosed.

“I knew I had cancer through my last born, I struggled with breast feeding my baby because my milk ducts were blocked and I would pump so hard I dislodged it. This happened two weeks after delivery and the doctors said it was a normal thing. I was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma,” said the mother of three.

Six months later after moving from one health practitioner to another, and multiple tests, she was informed that she had breast cancer. According to Awuor who candidly talks about her cancer journey, she was angered by the health care system because of the lengthy process and how they ignored the signs in the beginning.

“The process was horrendous and traumatizing, I visited several doctors, and they somehow discredited the signs.  I was informed that the tumour was benign but the tumour had grown twice the size.  I looked for another doctor and after several tests and a biopsy, it was confirmed that I had heterogeneous breast cancer," she said.

Today, she tells women to always advocate for self, according to her by the time the tests and the surgery was done, the tumour was discovered to not only have estrogen receptors but had triple negative parts  which is considered very aggressive . She believes this would have been arrested earlier had it not been overlooked for a postpartum challenge.

“For most postpartum women, they will tell you it is a milk related issue, insist on a mammogram and biopsy, breast milk should not prevent any procedure from happening,” she said.

Awuor notes she did not know that she would be moved to show that scar on social media and in doing so, join the body positivity movement which encourages people to love and accept their bodies, regardless of their shape, size, or physical imperfections.

Today, going topless has become an integral part of her healing journey. “By the time I was going topless I had a conversation with myself and understood I was not naked. You are naked when there is a private part bring showed. Without the breasts there is no private parts on my chest. I had to be harsh on cancer the same way it was harsh on me and so I removed my ovaries too,” she said.

She adds, her beauty is not defined by her breasts, according to her, it is a mammary gland meant to feed her children.

“I discovered I wanted to show that scars and changes resulting from medical procedures should not be hidden in shame but celebrated as symbols of strength and resilience. Seeing my scar reminds me that I am still me and that cancer took none of my joy, or my innate ability to find and feel joy, away from me. My main goal is to motivate, empower, and help distigmatize cancer,” she explained.

Having a reconstructive surgery is not something she keeps at her back pocket as an option for the future.

“Being like this helps me to check myself and I do not want a silicone inside me because that means having another major surgery,” she said.

Dr. Diana Awuor is an assistant Director of student support at the University of Oklahoma. Through her cancer healing journey, she founded Mindful food Program and international Pleroma program. Through this program she offers food support, cancer education, healthy nutrition education spiritual and emotional support for cancer patients.

“My advocacy is all about empowering people. I first want them to know that living natural, healthy lifestyles can help anyone keep cancer at bay, or even heal from cancer. My social feeds include recipes for raw juices and foods, which can help overall health. Diet is paramount when battling cancer, I have a number of patients that I fully take care of and ensure they are feeding on proper diet,” she said.

“We work with needy cancer patients to help them thrive both physically, emotionally and spiritually. Cancer is very expensive, many of the patients I deal with come to me at stage four, some of them you walk their last journey with them until the end,” she added.