AN art exhbition with a difference is currently in Yorkshire.

The Boudica Tour: Women Reconstructed is an exhibition of nude body sculptures of women after breast reconstruction surgery

The tour aims to raise positive awareness of living with breast cancer and to encourage patients newly diagnosed with the disease to investigate the treatments and operative choices open to them.

It celebrates the fortitude of 28 amazing women, including two from Yorkshire, all of whom have undergone mastectomy and reconstruction and who, in order to help other patients, have bravely posed naked for the book which inspired this exhibition.

Each body cast illustrates the truly empowering stories these women have to tell.

The tour, sponsored by Mentor Medical Systems, was inspired by The Boudica Within a book written by consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon Elaine Sassoon – an internationally renowned surgeon and pioneer in breast cancer treatment and reconstruction.

"Breast reconstruction will not replace a woman's breast but can go a long way to restoring her sense of femininity, her self-confidence and possibly putting the 'cancer episode' behind her.

"Breast reconstruction techniques have come on in leaps and bounds in the last few years and the standards keep improving.

"A real choice is now available to women, but they need to be informed and made aware of the choices".

The Boudica Tour will be at Artco Gallery, 1 Meanwood Close, Leeds, LS7 2JL www.artco.co.uk until Oct 4. Visitors can purchase copies of Elaine Sassoon's book The Boudica Within from her site www.boudicawithin.com. Fifty per cent of proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to the charity Breast Cancer Haven which open its new centre, the Leeds Haven, later this month.


'I appreciate everything and don't take anything for granted'

Sue Marris

Sitting in front of a consultant as he is delivering the results you really do not want to hear, I remember feeling a bit numb. It didn't sink in until I arrived home and had to tell my family and friends I had to lose a breast. "I will be fine" I kept saying.

True to my word, here I am, after a mastectomy in 1996, and a lumpectomy followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy in 2001.

In 2005 I decided to have a reconstruction, I'd thought about it for a while and had been to my surgeon years before to discuss the options, but with so much going on in my life at that time, family accidents, breakdown of marriage, looking after my dad – he had a mastectomy when he was 80 years old. He came through that OK, but slowly deteriorated over the next couple of years and I sadly lost him in 2003. However throughout all the turmoil the previous years have thrown at me, I am now beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel.

I have a super new boob courtesy of Professor Simon Kay. So no more chicken fillets. My reconstruction was the best decision I have ever made, I opted for fat from my tummy as I didn't want any silicone; I wanted it to be all me.

Along my journey I have experienced so many emotions, met so many lovely people to share our ups and downs with. I am a much stronger person through it all, appreciate everything around me far more and never take things for granted. When Professor Kay approached me to see if I would participate in the Boudica Tour I didn't hesitate.There is so much help out there and you can come through it feeling more beautiful or handsome than before!


'surgery gave me my life back'

Sarah Alger

I discovered a lump in my left breast, which concerned me enough to prompt me to get it checked out. I was told was non-malignant. I went home and didn't think about it again for some 18 months, when I noticed some dimpling where the lump was. My GP referred me to the hospital where I had all the usual tests. The results were that cancer had been found. When the consultant told me I would have to have a mastectomy, I was completely numb. I think I had thought of all the things connected with having cancer, chemo, radiotherapy, hairloss – even death! Strangely, I hadn't even considered having my breast removed.

I just wanted it over and to get the cancer out of me. My consultant had assured me that my prognosis was extremely good. To me, I was losing part of my body, my womanhood. I was offered reconstruction at the time of my mastectomy, but felt that I needed time to come to terms with my new body. After about 15 months, I began to think again about reconstruction. I was happy wearing the prosthesis, but it never felt right. My consultant referred me on to Prof Simon Kay, who took me through the procedures. At the same time, he introduced me to two lovely ladies who were at different stages of reconstructions. It was brilliant meeting these women – it made my decision really easy.

I have never regretted having my reconstruction. It gave me my life back and made me feel like a woman again.