Celebrating Survivorship – Breast Cancer Survivor Turned Wonder Woman
Surviving breast cancer often means marking important milestones with celebrations that take many shapes.
Some breast cancer survivors are quiet and introspective on the occasion, remembering the struggles and triumphs of diagnosis and treatment. Others celebrate with family and friends, hosting parties and enjoying meals together. Still others seek adventure and travel, fulfilling those bucket-list wishes with a knowing sense of urgency.
Breast cancer survivors know all too well that life is short, full of unexpected challenges. One thing we’ve learned is certain: celebrate life and appreciate the little joys and victories.
Breast Cancer Survivor Embodies Wonder Woman
Celebrating her 3rd year cancer-free, April Radford seized the opportunity to embody the confidence and strength she has gained from her breast cancer experience. A normally shy and modest woman, April pushed herself way out of her comfort zone with a photoshoot intended to empower herself and other survivors to see the power in living each day to its fullest.
Photographer, and longtime friend to Radford, Rob Migliosi (Instagram @RobMigliosi) had imagined a stylized photoshoot of a Wonder Woman. He even had the costume ready. But the inspiration didn’t move forward right away. Migliosi later shared with Radford that it just never felt right. He wanted the shoot to be meaningful.
Then, one day Migliosi saw a social media post by Radford, jokingly comparing herself and her cancer journey to Wonder Woman, and Migliosi knew this was the right opportunity for his vision. It didn’t hurt that April Radford had similar looks to Linda Carter.
Approaching Winter, Radford agreed to do the photoshoot, but in the following Spring. She was excited to celebrate her 3yr breast cancer survival and the impending photoshoot gave her the extra nudge she needed to work on getting fit again. Treatment for breast cancer, after all, often leads to weight gain and hormonal changes that make losing that weight difficult.
April recalls that her breast cancer diagnosis and breast cancer treatment left her feeling defeated at times, sad & depressed, but also encouraged by friends and family who showed up to support her, some as caregivers, along the way. There are so many ups & downs for each breast cancer patient and survivor.
Ultimately, Radford shares,
“Pieces of your former self come back along the way, and then there are setbacks. It’s like taking 1 step forward and 2 steps back all the time.”
The same is true for many women and men who go through treatment and recovery from breast cancer. We all seem to experience numerous challenges and victories.
The morning of the photoshoot, April went to Kreashenz Salon in Wilmington, NC. With hair by Noelle and makeup by Jacey, April left the salon feeling truly beautiful. It didn’t hurt that she had the Wonder Woman tiara crowning her head. Still, she felt nervous on the way to the photoshoot. Not yet ready to reveal her inner Wonder Woman, April wore a dress over the costume and waited to don those high heels once the shoot got going.
Many breast cancer patients experience some long-term impacts from treatment. Among them is peripheral neuropathy, which can cause pain and numbness in the feet and hands. Lots of breast cancer patients share that high heels are a thing of the past for them, opting for more comfortable footwear that won’t exacerbate the neuropathy pain.
When she arrived on location, April stayed in her car until Migliosi arrived. Feeling shy and reserved, she stepped out of her car and Migliosi exclaimed “Take off that dress!” so she’d reveal the costume and show off her inner Wonder Woman. That was the first of many moments that day when April would feel more confident in her skin. She says there were moments where she thought “this just isn’t me,” but as the photoshoot went on, and Migliosi helped her relax and laugh, she grew more comfortable. By the end, April said “Can’t I be Wonder Woman all the time?!”
We sure think so!
April, and many other women and men who go through treatment for breast cancer, emerge from treatment changed. Some changes are positive, like embracing each moment and taking less for granted. Other changes are challenges, like the way breast cancer impacts our confidence and self-image. One thing is sure, the treatment journey shows us all what our bodies are capable of and where some of our physical boundaries are. And it surely affects those we love as much as it affects us.
April shares some great words of wisdom for every Wonder Woman that comes after her, “It’s ok to be scared, sad, angry,” she says.
“Cry if you need to. Scream if you need to. But never give up on yourself.”
She also encourages others to use “whatever weapon they have at their disposal: faith, family, friends, humor.” She recalls how faith and humor helped her and her husband get through this. “Laughter is great medicine,” she shares.
That’s great advice from one real-life Wonder Woman!
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