PHOTOS ⟩ Life after cancer: Breast reconstruction helps women 'become women again'

For many women, overcoming breast cancer is not the end of their struggle. The physical and emotional toll of the disease and its treatment can linger, impacting their sense of self. For Laura Markkula, a 41-year-old from Finland, the journey back to feeling whole involved traveling to Estonia for a specialized procedure.

Markkula had already endured four surgeries before deciding to seek help in a private clinic in Estonia. She arrived in early June, driven by the hope of finally addressing the physical changes wrought by cancer and its previous treatments. Her experience highlights a common challenge faced by survivors: the lingering psychological impact of the disease, even after remission.

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Every time I look in the mirror, I think about cancer. It's been over four years.

"Every time I look in the mirror, I think about cancer. It's been over four years," Markkula shared, illustrating the persistent mental burden. Her decision to undergo further surgery underscores the deep desire many women have to reclaim their bodies and their identity. Breast reconstruction is presented not just as a medical procedure, but as a crucial step in the healing process, helping women "become women again."

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become women again