Catherine Gigante-Brown

I’m sure you’ll find it a delicious and well-stocked place. There are just a few rules

Why, when I'm cool with being a salt-and-pepper chick, does it so clearly unnerve others?

Although America’s “lying in period” fell by the wayside in the 19th century with the disappearance of the frontier, it’s alive and well today in many cultures globally. Seclusion traditions where both mother and child recover and bond are still the norm in many cultures worldwide.

I sat obediently in her chair atop four ancient copies of the Yellow Pages. Crossing my fingers, I prayed Catholic schoolgirl prayers.

BCBs are loud and proud and refuse to go down easy. And quietly. We have things to say. We have things to teach. We still have life to live. And damn it, we are and we will. With one breast. With no breasts. With reconstruction surgery.

That’s the thing about being a breast cancer survivor — it’s always there: it never goes away. The scars, the fear that lurks in the back of your mind like a boogeyman. You’re going along nicely, living your merry life, and you’re fine, until you’re not.

Alas, I am the lone female in a house full of men. Only two men, but they take up a lot of space.

My husband and I agreed: raising a child with an independent spirit who made decisions for himself was a good thing.

You realize pretty soon that everything other than cancer — i.e. missing a train, being late to your dentist appointment — is no biggie compared to the suck factor of chemo.

I’m boycotting you until you start recognizing breast cancer survivors like me by carrying mastectomy bras.