Clea Shearer Instagram – This is a difficult post to write because this is not the outcome I envisioned for myself. I’m currently recovering at the hospital after an emergency surgery that I prayed I wouldn’t need.
My double mastectomy was exactly 3 years ago (April 2022), and for the last couple of years, I’ve battled issues and complications with my right breast. From the lack of skin I retained following necrosis, to the severe damage radiation caused to my breast and surrounding areas (both inside and out), I have fought and fought and fought to salvage what I could over the course of 8 surgeries. And today I lost the war.
I had no choice but to completely remove my right implant which means I’m right back to a post mastectomy state. I am flat on one side and will need a prosthetic. After a 3 year journey, I can’t quite put into words how traumatizing this is for me.
A couple of days ago, I woke up to find my incision was leaking heavily. I was out of town on vacation, so my doctor instructed me to continue bandaging it, and I would have to have surgery as soon as I got back to Nashville. And then he said what I was dreading to hear, “we’re not going to be able to save this implant.” I would need to have it removed, give the breast several months to heal, and only then could I move on to the latissimus flap surgery where they take skin and muscle from my back for a full reconstruction.
So here I am post surgery, bandaged to high heaven, drains inserted, and in a lot of pain. I’ve been warned that this will be significantly worse than my previous surgeries, and I can already tell that’s true.
Also different from my previous surgeries: I’m devastated and feel a sense of anger. I’ve fought so hard over the years and now I’m right back at square one. I’m sure those feelings will fade, and I’ll get through it like I always do. But today I’m allowing myself to just be upset. Tomorrow is a new day, and we’ll see what it brings, but I know for sure my journey has shifted. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming along with me.
🩷 xo, Clea | Posted on 16/Apr/2025 07:25:07
