and journeyed from devastation to resilience, I know you will be better prepared for the mastectomy experience as a patient, a doctor, a caregiver, a friend, or a family member. As you read about life after breast cancer, you will realize the need to listen to their fears, concerns, and discussions of their options. Above all, they need to know that you are there with them. A line from an old movie goes something like this: "Do you know what was worse than going to the dark side of the moon? It was going there alone." When confronted with the devastating discovery of breast cancer, every woman needs information about her options. But even more, she needs to hear: "You are no less a woman. You are not in this alone - I am here with you." The book illuminates the world of mastectomy patients through their innermost thoughts, allowing the reader to feel their devastation and marvel at the ways they created resilience.