Reclaiming Your Worth: Navigating Dignity in the Breast Cancer Journey 

“We cannot thrive when we are victim”, thank you doctor!

I am 3 days post-op from a lumpectomy. My dignity was violated before the surgery, a general lack of compassion for what I was about to under go, no explanation of what they were sticking in me, clamping large blood pumping devices on my lower legs, cleaning out my nostrils, five people coming at me at once, no one explaining what they were doing or why. I have never been so frightened in my life. No one seemed to care about me. It was like pulling a number in a grocery store line, I was just another body passing through the OR. Somehow in my mind I thought that going to a Woman’s Breast Center for treatment meant that I would be surrounded by caring compassionate women, that was not my experience. Until seeing this video I was feeling that it was my fault, that my expectations were unrealistic. After viewing your video Dr. Griggs, I feel my dignity was most definitely violated and I have every right to my feelings. Your message could not have come at a better time for me.

Truly important discussion and information

Perfect timing for this post, thanks so much, let me share some experiences from breast cancer in the middle of the storm, Lost and blurred boundaries for the patient, people asking the most awkward questions, are you going to undergo lumpectomy or mastectomy, any plans for implants 🥹you will regret this, while as a patient I didn’t initiate to discuss it People suggesting energy healing in the middle of chemotherapy journey while many things are going wrong, accusing the patients that they need to do better and this cancer is related to traumatic experience we didn’t handle well People come to say it’s just your hair lost everything is going to be fine stop the drama, breast cancer is not only about loosing hair from chemotherapy it’s much bigger, people denying our boundaries and not respecting it

Dignity confusion is an endless state of mind when people start their talking to a cancer patient with ((since you got this cancer and ….. )) this usually followed by gaslighting, false narratives, boundary violations, pressure to answer confidential sensitive questions, and the list is endless….. we will stand up for ourselves, stay strong

Thank you, Dr. Griggs, for your very informative advice.

Amazing video. Thank you ❤

This post could not have come at a better time ... this past Friday, I had my Radiation Planning with my Radiation Oncologist and his team. While I have been in the trenches with mammogram, diagnostic mammogram, stereotactic biopsy, seed implanting (both sides), and then surgery, my dignity was always honored, unfortunately, this time the technicians treated me without dignity. My breasts were exposed without occasional covering, procedures were done without explanation, some hurt and then, without asking if I had claustrophobia, I was placed in a CT Scanner. I had to fight a panic attack throughout this procedure - I cried all the way home. Should I talk with the Radiation Oncologist about this, do you think?

I would appreciate very much any information with regards to oestrogen fed breast cancer and Aromasin treatment. THank you.

Can you please do a video about verzenio for early stage high risk of recurrence? I'm taking it and having liver issues. Not sure it's worth damaging my liver. Thank you!!