Luan Lawrenson-Woods
Life after breast cancer & reconstruction
Home of Rewritten Me - Australia's podcast about reconstruction after mastectomy. And BRA-va Art - the global campaign to raise awareness of reconstruction.
In 2017 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was devastated when I was told I needed a mastectomy. I had no idea about the different types of reconstruction and didn't know anyone who'd had a reconstruction.
Hearing about the different reconstruction options gave me hope that I could be 'me' again, and in 2019 I had a DIEP flap reconstruction.
You can listen to my full story in the first episode of Rewritten Me..
Deciding what reconstruction is right for you can be overwhelming, the medical terminology can be confusing and it can be just plain scary. And lonely - but you're not alone.
I've created a range of free evidence-based and evidence-informed resources that support and empower people who are considering their reconstruction options after breast cancer surgery so that more people in our breast cancer community can feel confident in their choices.
That includes Rewritten Me, Australia's first podcast about reconstruction after a mastectomy that I launched in 2022. On Rewritten Me I talk to leading breast and reconstructive plastic surgeons and healthcare professionals. I also talk to people who've had reconstruction and who generously 'share it forward' to support others.
We're all here to help people who have breast cancer surgery make an informed decision that take account of their personal needs and hopes, immediately and into the future so that they can have a say in how they re-write their story after a mastectomy.
Luan xxx
Advocacy work
As a breast cancer patient I needed to advocate for myself throughout my treatment and reconstruction surgeries. I respectfully challenged, curiously questioned and strategically 'hustled' for what was right for me. It's not easy, especially when there's an inherent vulnerability brought about by the terror of a cancer diagnosis combined with the power and knowledge imbalance of the patient/doctor dynamic. It was hard, but it was also a learning, and that's what I'm here to share.
I advocate for informed question-asking, shared decision-making and self-advocacy to reposition the patient in the true centre of patient-centred care. I take creative approaches to (re)engage communities and facilitate equity of access to free evidence-based health information to raise awareness, educate and empower.