blog | Amanda Hagley

Why I Had a Mastectomy at 21

I was 21 years old when I had a mastectomy. I had just graduated college a week before the operation and, no – I didn't have cancer.

Cancer isn't a pink ribbon

During breast cancer awareness month the iconic pink ribbon does a lot to raise awareness around the disease and fundraising causes, but...

Yes, they're fake conclusion

Start from part 1. Seriously, you’re about to have no idea what I’m rambling about otherwise. It’s been a year I know, I know. This blog...

Yes, they're fake part 5

Three months. Three more months of these damned expanders and the worst of this journey will be behind me. They're an inconvenience, but...

Yes, they're fake part 4

I’m almost a month out from my surgery and currently undergoing the reconstructive phase of my prophylactic bilateral mastectomy. Aside...

Yes, they're fake part 3

Then… It’s been almost five days since I underwent surgery at The James Comprehensive Cancer Center for my prophylactic bilateral...

Yes, they're fake part 2

Emotional update So I finally graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree in strategic communications and a marketing minor. Now it’s...

Yes, they're fake part 1

First and foremost Before I really get into this I'd like to proactively address a few common responses and comments of confusion I get...

It takes a little darkness

I live in Ohio and, for those of you who don’t know what Ohio weather is like, imagine a temperamental teenager, going through her...

Growing up village

I come from a small town, a village actually. Carey, Ohio. Population 3,663. There was never any shortage of cornfields or small town...

When I say farewell to Athens

When I finally leave this oasis called Athens, there will surely be some form of departing words. We’ll walk at graduation. We’ll hug and...