How to Manage the Agony of Physical and Emotion Issues After a Mastectomy

During Kim Harms’s cancer treatment, her middle son became seriously ill and was ultimately diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Many days, Kim felt as though she were drowning. With both conditions bringing lifelong challenges, she learned to thrive and live fully amid ongoing suffering. 

Kim Harms is a wife, mom, two-time breast cancer survivor, author, and library assistant. She holds a degree in English from Iowa State University and brings more than two decades of professional writing experience across a wide range of publications. 

Kim's interview will help you find hope in hard things and to thrive while in the midst of long-suffering. 

Whether it’s yours or a loved one’s, a cancer diagnosis changes everything. It stops you in your tracks as you put everything you have into fighting for life. It can feel isolating being thrown into the unknown chaos of treatment.

But you are not alone.

With uplifting stories from dozens of women who have been where you are, Carried Through Cancer provides emotional and spiritual support, encouragement, and community in its true stories of God-filled moments within the hard and heartbreaking road of cancer.

God meets some people in their fear in the exam room and others in the shower where the flowing water drowns out tears, but regardless of the location, this 70-day devotional demonstrates that God shows up when people reach out to Him, and He is there to carry you through your story.

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Whether facing mastectomy and breast reconstruction due to a cancer diagnosis or a genetic predisposition to the disease, the process is filled with uncertainty, difficult questions, intense emotions, and life-altering decisions that must be made in quick order.

In Life Reconstructed, Kim Harms details her own experience, the experiences of others, plus extensive research, delving into the physical, emotional, psychological, and relational aspects of mastectomy and breast reconstruction, featuring:

• input from medical professionals,
• a detailed look at the distinct differences between breast reconstruction and breast augmentation (It’s not a boob job!)
• practical advice for decision-making, self-advocacy, recovery, talking with your children, a return to intimacy, and more.

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There are Good Days and Bad Days and Many In Between When Fighting Cancer

Cancer is a club you never want to belong to, but you find the most amazing people when you do. Erica Campbell has a group of women who bonded over their breast cancer journey.

Together they know what it means to face illness head-on -- to confront mortality, search for strength, and build the resilience required to move forward.

As a breast cancer survivor who also lost her mother to the disease, Erica speaks the 'vocabulary of cancer' from multiple perspectives. In her debut memoir, The Mastectomy I Always Wanted, she pairs honesty and vulnerability with practical, compassionate guidance for anyone navigating the mastectomy experience.  

You Are Not Alone

At first it may feel like you are walking this path by yourself, but in time you will attract the people meant to support you and walk beside you. It may take a while, but some people care and want to help. Be intentional and rigorous in seeking out those you need. Knowledge is power, and community is contagious.

Small Steps Create Hope

“Sometimes during my journey, I allowed myself 24 hours to fully feel sadness or grief. After that, I made myself do anything that felt like the next right thing. Even tiny actions—brushing my hair, taking a walk around the block—gave me a sense of accomplishment. When self‑pity crept in, I quieted my mind and listened for the small inner voice guiding my next step. I learned that even the smallest amount of patience and progress can create hope.”

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An instant Amazon Best Seller in Breast Cancer, General Women’s Health, and Genetic Health!

In this breast cancer book for women, Erica Neubert Campbell shares an intimate and encouraging story of her double mastectomy journey. This is a powerful companion guide for women navigating the choice to have a mastectomy or a lumpectomy. Empower yourself with this supportive resource to build trust and resilience–from the day you are diagnosed to the moment you realize: “I got this.”

Choosing a mastectomy is more than losing your original breasts. It is about the power of self-discovery, personal choice, and mindset. In this book you will learn that removing fear is just as important as removing cancer. Women and caregivers will understand that a double mastectomy is an outer journey of physical change and an inner journey of mental strength.

“Are you okay with seeing my breasts?”

Before her double mastectomy, a friend showed Erica her reconstructed breasts—and it changed everything. This rare moment of vulnerability allowed Erica to visualize the future and shift to a more hopeful perspective.

Erica now pays this act forward with a candid and uplifting portrait of the mastectomy journey.

Whether you are making your choice following a breast cancer diagnosis or a discovery of the BRCA gene, this mastectomy memoir will encourage you to trust yourself, accept your new body, and build resilience through tough times. Caregivers will gain a deeper understanding of the emotions of the diagnosis that are otherwise hard to describe.

In this resource, discover:      

• Empowering mastectomy book for women recently diagnosed with breast cancer or carrying the BRCA gene      

• Over fifty candid photos of the mastectomy recovery experience      

• Honest and authentic emotions around the challenges of a breast cancer diagnosis      

• Inspiration and tools for building strength in the double mastectomy journey      

• Insights for breast cancer caregivers, family, and friends—granting them the power to support their loved one with compassion and understanding

Erica Neubert Campbell, breast cancer survivor and longtime cancer advocate, shares this mastectomy memoir to provide healing and hope. The Mastectomy I Always Wanted is a must-read for women who are determined to rebuild their lives stronger than ever.

If you’re seeking a source of breast cancer inspiration as you explore a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, read this book.

Connect with Erica Here

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