Christine Haveford
Jessica Florence has been to hell and back.
But by the grace of God, last week she was given the all clear after a three year battle with breast cancer.
Jessica celebrated the fantastic news with a topless photoshoot.
The aspiring architect discovered small lumps in her right breast in 2014.
She was sadly diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. Jessica suffered months of chemotherapy and then underwent the trauma of mastectomy.
But Jessica never gave up and endured radiotherapy and eventually had a breast reconstruction.
‘I started treatment in June 2016 and had six rounds of chemotherapy in six months,’ Jessica says.
‘Every three weeks I would go to hospital. I had to move home and give up college. ‘I had a list of symptoms that went on forever.
‘The chemo tears the stomach lining which caused a lot of discomfort. I have sensitive skin and was unrecognisable because of the open sores on my face.’
‘Having cancer is this burden, there are always doctor’s appointments to go to and you’re afraid you might not wake up the next day. I was the youngest at the treatment centre and I would always go for my treatment in my red lipstick and my heels.’
‘For every treatment I would dress up. I think when you look good you feel good. Your body can detect stress and it can make it worse.’
‘I tried to stay positive and to meet treatment half way.’ Going through a mastectomy wasn’t easy.’
Jessica struggled to feel like a beautiful in her skin, but thanks to support from friends her confidence grew daily. Empower bra would love to congratulate Jessica on such an accomplishment!
‘When you look at yourself you feel like what makes you a woman is your hair and breasts,’ says Jessica.
‘Aesthetically you do not feel normal, you feel handicapped. But I have a different perspective now and that is because of the support I’ve had.’
‘My breasts are not going to define me. I define myself as a woman.’
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