Fake Boobs and TSA

Well.... we went to New York City. It was to catch up with our daughter, Rebekah who had gone for auditions. The auditions were not successful in the sense that she did not get a professional dance job. But she did get more audition experience and took a couple classes. 

Anyway... So, we get to Dayton International Airport and go thru security. I'm thinking to myself, I hope I don't get stopped again like I did when we went to Florida. I was stopped in Columbus and again in Orlando. Well, I go thru the whole body scan thing and get stopped and pulled aside. She tells me just like they did before that she needs to pat me down and this can be done in private or in public, my choice. I just want to get thru. I say here is fine. But things are clicking in my brain now. This is what happened before. They had to pat me down before. Again, she tells me she is going to have to feel the area above and below my breasts. JUST LIKE LAST TIME!  I tell her, I have no breasts, these are prosthetics. She stands there with a blank look. Brad is laughing. Then of course, she has to check my hands to make sure I don't have bomb juice on them. I'm cleared. I'm not a bomber. Off to New York! 

We enjoy our trip.... blah blah blah... Then off to the airport to come home. So, we are at La Guardia. I tell the family, I bet you I get pulled aside again. Go thru the body scanner. This time I saw my body image on the screen. My breast area is lit up like the 4th of July! So again, I'm told they need to pat me down in the breast area and this can be done in private or out there. In the interest of time, I'm like, just do it here. I say again "I have prosthetic breasts. I've fought breast cancer this past year.". Oh ok... So, she begins the pat down. This time I did say to her, "My prosthetics are good aren't they? Feel real!" She DID smile at me. My family is smiling at me. I ask her, the TSA agent, "are my prosthetic breasts making the scanner go off?" She smiles again and says she doesn't know. Well, I need to know! This is my life! 

I look it up... YUPP! The prosthetic breasts are making the scanner light up and getting me a pat down every time! I found a few articles: 

• http://www.amoena.com/uk-en/your-lifestyle/traveling-with-your-silicone-breast-form/
• http://www.nbcnews.com/id/40278427/ns/travel-news/t/tsa-forces-cancer-survivor-show-prosthetic-breast/
• http://www.cancer.net/blog/2015-07/airport-travel-tips-people-cancer

Apparently there is a card that was developed at OSU that simply states I have prosthetic breasts so that I don't have to TELL the TSA agent. HOWEVER, they STILL have to do the pat down!!!! Regardless, I will have to be pat down each time OR I can put the breasts in the little tubs to go thru the scanner without me. Then they will ask me about the breasts and go thru THAT nonsense. Of course, I will also not have any breasts! 

Can breast cancer become more humiliating? It's not enough that I don't always feel like a woman and feel less than a lot. But NOW everytime I fly somewhere, I will be stopped, pat down and checked for bomb juice! Yes, you're right. I don't have to fly everywhere. But let me fill you in on another little gem I have from MY cancer. MY cancer was hormone driven. So, for the next 10 years, I have to take anti hormonal medications to help prevent the cancer from returning. The biggest risk to me with this medicine I am on, is the risk of blood clots in my legs. I cannot sit at a desk or in a vehicle of any kind for more than 2 hours at a time. What this means, travel wise, is that when I travel, we have to stop every 2 hours for me to get out and walk for about 10 - 15 minutes to prevent blood clots. I also take aspirin the week leading up to my trip and the week of my trip. AND.... I wear compression socks. (I am wearing those daily now anyway since I am working again) So, when I go anywhere, say for example, Chicago... We have to stop half way so that I can get out and walk for a few. We have been to Chicago in the last few months. Had to stop half way there and half way home. Stopping is much more enjoyable than getting blood clots. However, when we went to Florida, which would be about 15- 17 hours, flying seemed a much better option! We flew down in about 2 hours! If we had driven, can you imagine stopping every 2 - 2 1/2 hours?! It would take us 2 days to get there! New York is about 9 hours away. Again, how stinkin long would it take us to get there if we drove! So, we flew. 

You would think a year later, that saying to these women, I had breast cancer, I have prosthetic breasts would get easier. It is embarrassing and humiliating to stand there and say I don't have all my girl parts like you! These boobs that make me look like a woman aren't mine. It still hurts! It hurts to say I fought breast cancer this past year. Maybe at some point, it won't hurt anymore... I hope so! 

I had anxiety attacks the whole time we were gone. I think dreading going thru security again was part of it. I have continued writing my blog because there are still emotions that I am going thru one year later and there are still issues that come up that you don't always know about! I want others going thru this terrible fight to know what is ahead of you... forever! 

In other news, I see my surgeon tomorrow for a check up. Will keep you posted. 

I will also blog again soon about all the emotions still going on. It's hard. I pray that someday, it isn't hard. 

Love and peace my friends.