The lovely Giuliana Rancic is recovering fantastically well from surgery less than a month ago. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer, underwent lumpectomies, and decided against radiation in favor of a full double mastectomy. This way, the Rancics can proceed with their plans for a family sooner rather than later, and Giuliana and her doctors can feel more confident that every last bit of cancer has been eradicated from her body.
A double mastectomy is a scary decision on so many levels. First, it’s major surgery, which is serious bidness no matter what part’s getting cut and stitched back together. Plus, a mastectomy — like any operation that’s meant to fix something, such as bypass surgery — may or may not work. And then of course there’s the fact that a mastectomy removes a visible part of a woman’s body — part of her shape, part of her mental picture of herself.
For me, it wouldn’t be about my breasts per se, but about the wholeness of my body. I wouldn’t want to lose my breasts any more than I’d want to lose my leg or my sight. But given the choice between cancer and a mastectomy, I’d gladly go under the knife.
Giuliana courageously asserted that she didn’t care about how a mastectomy would affect her career, noting that “if I ever have a job that is defined by my breasts and some gorgeous gown then I’m in the wrong business.” Which, much as I’d love to hang onto all my body parts, made me do the slow clap.
What I’m not so sure about is the new view she’s taken of religion. Giuliana and Bill Rancic have been regular churchgoers all along, but “it never meant as much as it does now.”
I sort of get this. Circumstances definitely affect the way we see the world and how we cope with it. I know I look at things differently now that I’m pushing forty with three kids and a mortgage payment I worry about making every month. Conversely, I’ve never been diagnosed with cancer or had a terrible car accident or lost a child. Maybe such a tragedy would push me toward religion.
On the other hand, I always wonder how those who’ve been struck by tragedy reconcile those events with religion. I almost expect God to smite me for being a heathen, but if I were devoutly religious, I might be like, “WTF, God? Can’t you go after somebody who doesn’t believe in you?”
I know, I know — mysterious ways and all that. Still, I’d be pissed, and I wouldn’t blame Giuliana Rancic for being pissed too. Obviously she’s a much classier lady than I am.
About Julie
