Breast-Implant Patient Responds

Perhaps in a two-hour interview it is difficult to highlight the most important parts of a person’s testimony. At least I feel that way from the article Dianne Klein did on breast implants and her interview with me (“Breast Implants: Taking Risky Road to Higher Self-Esteem,” Nov. 24). Realizing it is a reporter’s prerogative to pick and choose what is crucial to that person’s story, I feel, as a breast cancer patient who had a mastectomy and later chose breast reconstruction, that I had much to offer in the way of helping people understand the positive picture, but that story wasn’t told. Since one out of nine women will get breast cancer, there’s a great life out there with or without reconstruction. I’ve had it both ways.

Dianne says, “Johnson says her reconstructed breast, after two uncomfortable years of wearing a prosthesis . . . has restored her old happy self. Now she carries her ‘before’ and ‘after’ breast photographs in her purse.”

First off, those two years were not physically uncomfortable beyond some hot, sweaty days, but it was more the daily reminder when looking at the scar--of cancer and my brush with mortality. Second, I keep those pictures in my wallet because I am a volunteer for the American Cancer Society and the Breast Care Center in Orange and my willingness to show them has not been easy. I did show them to legislative aides on Capitol Hill to shock them into seeing what a mastectomy looks like and what an implant can do. Her wording made me feel like an exhibitionist.

LOIS JOHNSON

Tustin