Why This Breast Cancer Survivor Chose "Flatness" After Implants

For Rosemary Carrera, a routine milestone turned into a life-altering diagnosis. At age 40, having just welcomed an eight-month-old daughter and feeling no symptoms, Rosemary went for her first screening mammogram. The results were staggering: doctors eventually discovered four tumors in one breast.

What followed was an intensive gauntlet of treatment that included a double mastectomy, chemotherapy, a hysterectomy, and radiation. Like many survivors seeking a sense of physical "wholeness" after such a grueling journey, Rosemary initially opted for breast implants. However, she soon discovered that the reality of living with them didn't align with the demands of her daily life.

Between the physical discomfort of the implants and the high-energy requirements of chasing after a toddler, Rosemary reached a turning point. She realized that her comfort and mobility were more valuable than the aesthetic standard she had initially tried to maintain. This realization led her to a second major surgical decision: to remove the implants and "go flat."

In this candid Q&A, filmed during the 49th Annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference, Rosemary shares the complexities of that choice. She opens up about the jarring—and frankly, outdated—comments she received from some medical professionals regarding her husband’s potential reaction, and the profound relief she found when her original plastic surgeon met her request with empathy rather than ego.

Her story is a powerful reminder that "survivorship" is not a one-size-fits-all destination. It is an ongoing process of reclaiming one's body and making choices that prioritize personal well-being over societal expectations.

Transcript

Can you walk us through the moment you decided the implants were no longer right for you?

After I finished with radiation, six months after that, I had the implants put in. And then, after a year, I decided to remove them and go flat, because I was just very uncomfortable for my lifestyle. You know, I'm trying to chase after a little one and walking, I could just feel them, and it was just very, very uncomfortable. They were beautifully done, and my surgeon was amazing, and when I made the decision to have them taken out, I actually went to see another surgeon, I cheated on him.

I went to see another plastic surgeon who was highly recommended. And so, when I explained to her what I wanted to do, she said to me, “Are you sure? You know your husband's going to leave you if you do that.” And I was like, “Well, my husband's going to leave me if I as miserable as I am right now, this isn't going to happen.”

So when I went to see my regular plastic surgeon, I explained to him that I wanted them out, and on the contrary, he was like, “I understand. Explain to me why. What are you feeling? And then we can see what we need to do.” And so, I explained to him the discomfort that I was having. He said, “It's common. It happens. We can have them out. We can do the esthetic flap closure, and then we'll make it so that if you ever want to bring the implants back and put those back in again, we can do that.” So it was a very different reaction from a surgeon. I was afraid to ask him to remove this, because I felt like I would be insulting to his work, because he's really, really wonderful, and instead, I got the most empathetic, empathetic response possible from him.

Transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

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