Thanks to everyone who sent me personal e-mails. The stories really touch me and I appreciate them.
They also point out what a big issue this is for women and how fearful many of us are. No matter the outcome, whether benign or malignant, we all have anxiety and fear when we're dealing with the possibility of cancer.
I was reading excerpts from Christina Applegate's interview on Oprah, where she talks about her double mastectomy. I wanted to send her a letter when I read about how sometimes she looks in the mirror and cries, because I so relate! No, I don't cry but sometimes people don't understand that a mastectomy is an amputation and even though reconstruction can make you look better in your clothes, you're stilling misses pieces and parts and it isn't ever the same again.
I also want to thank everyone for participating in the promotion. Prizes have been going out when people respond to my notice - if you get an e-mail from me, check to see if you've won, for heaven's sake! Mostly what I have are e-mail addresses and no mailing addresses and these aren't virtual prizes.