Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
It’s thrilling to feel attractive again after my breast surgery
Cancer mum’s joy as post-op lingerie model
BREAST cancer survivor Rachel Tink looks superglam in a fashion shoot that helped restore her confidence after a double mastectomy.
The mum was picked as the face of Debenhams’ Postsurgery lingerie range after the Mirror invited readers to share how cancer had affected them. Rachel, 38, said: “I couldn’t believe it. The pictures are fantastic.” She was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer five years ago after finding a lump. Rachel said: “Four family members were all diagnosed in three years. As a result, I was pretty keen on checking myself.
“I was given the devastating news I had been diagnosed at the age of 32. Having supported my mum, I asked if I could have a bilateral mastectomy.
“I couldn’t stand the thought of it coming back.”
The diagnosis came soon after she married her partner of 10 years, Eddie, 39, and they were keen to start a family.
Rachel said: “I underwent IVF days after my mastectomy, equipped with drain bags, a very swollen chest and a bag of needles.”
She fell pregnant naturally, giving birth to Rapha in August 2016 and Luca in April last year.
Just four months after having Luca, she took part in the photo shoot which was “empowering”.
Rachel added: “The very best part is I can support people on the same rollercoaster journey.”
Susie Calvert, director for lingerie at Debenhams, said: “We were overwhelmed by the women who entered.”
The Debenhams Post-surgery lingerie range is on sale now. Fifty pence from every product sold goes to Breast Cancer Now. See debenhams.com/lingerie/mastectomypost-surgery.