Caro- Chocolate cinnamon velvet Dec 2011, was ('Isis' May 06').

Caro was married in May 2006, in a lovely burnt orange Isis gown, and has returned to model this rich velvet corset just before Christmas, at her original wedding venue, Ramster House, Surrey. Details below....

'After being diagnosed with breast cancer two and a half years ago, I have had a fair bit of treatment and surgery – including a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction. In other words, I have had both breasts removed and rebuilt using a combination of muscles moved from other places, and silicone implants!

There is no doubt that breast cancer treatment is pretty brutal and it certainly takes its toll. Physically it is often uncomfortable, unpleasant and painful – but that is the side that is generally fairly easily dealt with. The psychological side of it however is far harder, with some women seriously struggling to come to terms with the dramatic and unwanted change in their body image. During the time I was in and out of hospital, I heard so many women saying that with the loss of their breasts came a loss of their feelings of femininity, their identity, and they were fairly sure they would never feel sexy again.

I am certainly not saying that I never had those feelings – or that it is something I don’t, on occasion, still struggle with. This was never my choice, and it certainly wasn’t what I wanted. However I had lost enough to the cancer to lose such a fundamental part of me as well, and so with a fabulous surgeon (the wonderful Mr Daoud at Frimley Park Hospital who I owe so much) I did everything possible to have breasts I could be proud of – even if they weren’t the ones I had lost.

One of my goals was to do a photo shoot wearing some of Janice’s amazing corsets to show off to myself, and to anyone struggling with a breast cancer diagnosis, that it doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to feeling unfeminine or unattractive – or that you will never be able to wear anything other than the dreaded mastectomy bras (yes, they try hard but they are just not sexy!). You can still look fabulous and as much of a women as ever – although in Janice’s corsets, it is very hard to look anything less!

Thanks to Janice, to Bob Atkins (photographer) and to Rosie who owns Ramster – the stunning house where the photos were taken. It was a lot of fun!' Caro x.

 

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