“In that moment, everything changed”
Ash Davidson was diagnosed with breast cancer following their gender affirming top surgery.
10 days post-op, Ash had a phone call with his surgeon. The surgeon had found a lump during Ash’s top surgery and the pathology results had shown it was cancer. Ash’s elation with their new chest was quickly and painfully obliterated as they faced their diagnosis and a gruelling 8 months of treatment.
In this Medium article Ash shares:
“In that moment, everything stopped, everything changed. No longer was my story about gender transition and trans joy. It was all about cancer. Breast cancer, especially, is so geared towards women (with good reason), but as someone very early in my own transition, it brought on that familiar feeling of shame. My body had betrayed me again. Worse than ever before. While it’s true that the tumor was gone, I would have an uphill battle ahead of me. One that would bring me to my breaking point. One that I’m still working through today.”
You can also read more about Ash’s journey in the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences (JMIRS) in “I finished radiation therapy, now I can breathe”.
“The juxtaposition of tackling cancer treatment alongside gender transition is not a common situation. The challenges I faced as a result are unique. That uniqueness means that the experience is further alienating and isolating. Cancer treatment is degrading. It takes away your dignity. Add a layer of gender nonconformity to that experience, and the losses and isolation are further amplified. There aren’t many support groups out there for the transmasc individuals with breast cancer population.”
Ash has since become an advocate on the challenges queer people face during a health crisis. Follow them on Instagram, check out their website, or subscribe to their newsletter Transcer on Substack.
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