There are many groups of survivors who share a common bond: survivors of violence, survivors of war, survivors of trauma in many forms. Breast cancer survivors are known for their unity, support, and activism. Some may call it politics, but whatever else the movement to battle the disease is, it is strong and it is gaining ground. The movement is born of common experiences and distilled in empathy and courage, for who knows better than those who have been there?

Survivors face more than possible recurrence. As research and awareness gain ground, recurrences lose ground. Two of the largest questions facing survivors are those of body image and, in the case of those who were in relationships, the survival of marriage or significant partnership.

Reconstruction is, for many women, a factor. In a survey circulated among three groups (an online e-group, an awareness campaign group, and an exercise group) women were unsurprisingly torn on the issue. Among those who had opted for reconstruction following mastectomy, the great majority, when asked if they favored reconstruction, answered "uncertain." Many women expressed disappointment at not being made aware of how painful most reconstructive procedures are. A respondent commented:

If I had known how painful this was going to be I would have done things differently.
I might not have decided NOT to have the surgery, but I definitely would have
waited. My body was still in shock, and the pain of reconstruction was worse than
the actual mastectomy and [chemotherapy]...

Other women expressed similar experiences with pain, complications, and a feeling of further invasion on their bodies. Some expressed guilt at giving in to societal pressure to look more ideal. Certainly the issue is complex, so it seems fitting the reactions among these women were, as well.

Still other women found that they became more aware of their bodies, perceptions of it, and feelings of inadequacy. These were not only women who opted for breast removal without reconstruction. Many spoke of feeling a sense of removal from their body. One woman expressed this as a betrayal:

It was as though my body turned on me. I felt I could no longer trust my breasts. Like
I was a woman who had breasts that might threaten my safety. I began to hate them,
and hate the pressure I felt to save them, and hate myself, too. I was very confused...

This same respondent spoke of her marriage ending shortly after she beat the disease. Surprisingly, many relationships don't survive the disease even when the woman does. According to Dr. Ahmed El Anjanar, an endocrinologist who treats many women following their surgeries, "it may be that men have a hard time showing support when they, themselves, are afraid. It may also be that women who suffer breast cancer become much more sensitive about their bodies. My guess is it is a combination of both, and counseling is recommended."

Yet all of the women surveyed agreed almost unanimously (72 of the 78 who responded) that they have become stronger, better people as a result of beating breast cancer. Most found themselves somehow involved in fund raising or awareness activities. Others commented on new friendships formed, old ones solidified. A 12 year survivor from Cambridge, Massachusetts called her cancer "the greatest gift [she] ever received," noting that although her marriage ended and she suffered greatly, she was "stronger, wiser, and blessed with a group of women in [her] life [she] could never imaging living without" as a result of her struggle.

Then, of course, there are those who lose the battle. They grow fewer as a result of the strides made by survivors and supporters. In 1972, when one of the first comprehensive studies of the disease was done, 1 in every 5 women was projected to be diagnosed in her lifetime. Today the numbers are 1 in 8. The figure is still staggering, but it is also shrinking, and survival rates are extremely high. Perhaps most encouraging, the numbers for women 40 to 60 have shrunk to 1 in 26; for women under 40 only 1 in 213. Researchers feel that the greatest reason for this is awareness. Perhaps the words of Kathleen Pettridge, who died in 1998 after battling breast cancer for 2 years, sum it up the best. "I am losing my fight, but I have helped to make ground, and as long as I can say that, I won."