Shera is a mixed-media artist and painter. She’s a flat-closure advocate and activist - often using her art and social media platforms to share and connect. Shera has been cancer-free for eight years.
00:00:00 Cancer almost not discovered00:13:59 Self-advocacy and multiple opinions00:23:35 Community support and masculinity00:28:09 Keeping cancer private00:32:35 Strength and vulnerability00:40:50 Navigating chemotherapy00:44:15 Mastectomy and reconstruction00:49:10 Second breast misdiagnosed00:57:00 When it all seems like too much01:05:35 Breast implants01:07:08 Colorectal resection01:11:41 Second breast misdiagnosed01:14:35 Very first infusion caused menopause01:21:35 Unseen struggles with cancer01:26:18 Breast implant illness01:37:03 Life without breasts01:44:40 Post-surgery intimacy01:51:40 Oncology phone calls02:02:34 Post-cancer limitations02:10:53 Committing to self-care