This Mother’s Day Janice Jastrzebski Marks Two Years of “Kicking Cancer’s Ass” with Striking Mastectomy Photos

Today Janice Jastrzebski is celebrating an important milestone. On this day two years ago, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Seven days later she had a modified radical mastectomy.

To mark the anniversary of her diagnosis and to celebrate her victory in her fight against breast cancer, she recently had professional photos taken of herself clad in pink boxing gloves, the scars from her surgery visible on her bare chest behind the gloves acting as her own “red badge of courage.”

Last fall she shared the story of her battle against breast cancer as well as her truly stirring letter to cancer at the end of her battle on the Day Kimball Healthcare blog. She was also the featured speaker at Day Kimball’s Cancer Survivorship Day. Her powerful story has touched many across Northeast Connecticut since then. 

 

She has inspired us all with her positivity and strength,  and her willingness to provide the same to others facing cancer. And even before she had won her battle, her indomitable spirit touched many of the staff at Day Kimball Hospital during her treatment.

And so today, we all celebrate with her as she shares her powerful photos with the hope that they’ll continue to inspire others facing cancer to have hope, stay strong, and take heart in her message: get your boxing gloves on.

In her own words, Janice describes her decision to have the photos taken and her thoughts on celebrating the 2-year anniversary of her breast cancer diagnosis as a survivor:

“I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer on May 10, 2013. I had a modified radical mastectomy the following Friday, May 17. Dr. Baum did the surgery and he was excellent. He came to check on me the next morning. He unwrapped the bandages, I took a peek and I said, “Damn good job!”

Well, just recently I dropped off my two-year anniversary pictures to Dr. Baum, and again I said, “Damn good job!”

I chose not to have reconstructive surgery. I had a friend who had reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy 15 years ago or so, and she passed when cancer came back in her tissues. I just didn’t want to risk it. But what’s right for me is just me; everyone should follow their own feelings about their treatment.

I had the idea to do pictures with a bit of my chest and scars showing and I wanted to have boxing gloves on to show that I was a fighter, and I won. I was in the Cancer Center for a check-up and I asked my nurse, Sharon, if she happened to know where I could get some. Turned out she had a pair for kickboxing, and they were pink! So those are her gloves I’m wearing in the pictures.

And I think the pictures are gorgeous. I don’t think I have a picture of myself in my 20’s in my bathing suit, and here I am in my 60’s after a mastectomy showing my bare chest! It might be a little shocking to some, but I’m not ashamed of them. My 13 and 15 year old grandsons have seen them.

I know they say a lot of women feel like less of a woman after a mastectomy, but I didn’t. I never went through any type of any emotional tearing up about it. I looked at it as ‘I’ve already nursed my two kids, and that’s what I had them for.’  I don’t care about the cosmetic part. Even my husband says we have better things to do with our lives than worry about boobs!

I haven’t worn a bra in two years, sometimes a scarf, but that’s it.

When I got cancer, I didn’t know anybody to talk to – so I talked to everybody. I’m 61 and I’m still doing daycare, but if I’m not doing that one day, I’d come up there and just sit and talk with people in oncology.

The last two years have gone by fast, but then I think of all I’ve squeezed in during that time. And that’s why I wanted to have the pictures. Something for my kids, to say I’ve made it!

I got cancer for a reason, and I know I’ve done good with it. I love talking about it – sounds dumb – but so many people don’t.  It’s a bad word, I guess. But it shouldn’t be. I feel like it was my calling, and that I’ve done good with it. If I’ve helped one person, that’s what I was meant to do.”

 

Related Resources

Cancer Care 
Surgical Care: Breast Surgery
Breast Health Program 
Women's Health