Bette Davis’ Pity For Me? (Cancerventures)

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“How beautiful you are, my darling!‍ ‍

Oh, how very beautiful!‍ ‍

Your eyes are like doves.”‍ ‍

Song Of Solomon 1:15

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(Cancerventures Book Excerpt):

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…As I was recovering from this cancer-related stuff: diagnosis, testing, surgery, radiation, fear, dread, and me-specific fussiness, I went down the YouTube rabbit hole: cute animals, BBC documentaries and Phil Donahue talk show episodes from the 1970s and 1980s.  

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One day, I happened upon a 1987 Donahue show featuring the Hollywood legend, Bette Davis. She was plugging her second memoir, “This ‘N That,” discussing her later years and health challenges; this included her Breast cancer diagnosis and her mastectomy. 

‍Well, now, my ears really perked up.  

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I felt she was quite nonchalant about her removed breasts. I don’t know if that was the elderly candor we often encounter from older people. I don’t know how much of it was just Bette being Bette. Whatever it was, she, indeed, spoke of how, because this happened later in her life, it wasn’t as difficult for her. She had already lived that part of her life in which beauty, glamour, romance, and relationships would have perhaps required more so her to have breasts.  

‍She insisted, now, as a person, in her 70s, she didn’t need them.  

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She also stated how she felt sorry for young women who had to go through the diagnosis and the mastectomy.  

‍So, would Bette Davis feel sorry for me?  

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Would she view me as this “young woman,” with, supposedly, so much 

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life ahead of her? 

I cannot say for sure.  

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Regardless, as far as (Hubby) goes concerning me now, post-mastectomy, of course, he’s tried to be loving, supportive… and complimentary.  

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He has helped me change my bandages and measure the drain output, post-surgery. He has seen enough of my mastectomy chest, walking around greasy, covered in Aquaphor, waiting to dry enough so I don’t ruin yet another t-shirt. He never has shown a look of horror or disgust. At least, I haven’t seen it.

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He seems unfazed…

‍ Amazon.com: Cancerventures: Tales of a Diagnosed Woman eBook : Cruse, Sheryle: Kindle Store