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LEAH JEAN COHN
Author
Big Ol' Lemonades: Breast Cancer at 30
The Book Gallery
This is the book I couldn't find at age 30 when I was diagnosed; written for those affected by breast cancer at a young age but also for those affected by trauma and on the path of healing. Enjoy this photo gallery of many of the experiences I mention in the book, and our future as it turned out.
2022
I ran my family out to the park in March 2022 to take some pictures for this book and my website because I was pregnant and didn't want to be "pregnant fat" in book and website photos later on. We lost that baby at 5 weeks, so these will always be my favorite photos of the little time we had with that babe.
June 2016
I was in the best shape of my life summer 2016 so I was taking all these bikini photos as a Beachbody Coach to help promote my business. After diagnosis a month down the road, I was so grateful I had taken pictures of my best body that I truly loved and worked so hard for the way it was before I had to choose to surgically mutilate myself as a life-saving measure. This is my favorite one - Palm Desert poolside in the smallest bikini I've ever owned. Wear the bikini ladies. You look amazing.
July 2016
Days before being diagnosed, I went back to school shopping with mom, going into the new school year at my new school thinking it was really going to be a wonderful year of change and newness. 4 days later that diagnosis sure proved me right.
July Diagnosis Day
I took this picture the day I was diagnosed. Not sure why. Felt like I needed a picture of my face going into this because I knew it would be different coming out the other side.
Not a morning person
Day 2 post diagnosis I realized I was having a horrible time getting out of bed, so I forced myself to take a "happy" picture to convince myself I should get out of bed.
July 31st 2016
I intentionally started taking pictures of my natural breasts when I was in bikinis as commemorative photos, already knowing before the doctors even gave me the choice that I would choose double mastectomy as part of my treatment plan. I didn't do a topless "remember my breasts" photo shoot - where would I even put those photos? I just did these to remember what I looked like in clothes.
August 2016
I still hadn't told many people about my diagnosis but I did start telling close family friends that we were with a lot, and people I knew might be able to help me/Chris during recovery.
The River
My last picture at the river with my natural breasts. I grew up going to the river so it felt somehow important that I have a picture there before surgery.
Early Anniversary Dinner
Chris & I went to our September 28th wedding anniversary dinner on September 10th with my surgery looming on September 15th. Our usual Roy's Hawaiian Fusion anniversary dinner.
The Day After
The day after double mastectomy in the hospital with Terri, my BFF angel nurse who took me pee pee for the first time after surgery and made sure that damn machine stopped beeping so I could get some rest. Get your people.
The Instagram Post 9/22/16
The image I posted with "The Instagram Post" on 9/22/16 when I publicly announced my diagnosis, surgery, and future outcome dreams.
Big Ol' Lemonades
The front of the card my dear friend Cara sent me when I shared my diagnosis and surgery with her. It reads, "If life hands you lemons..." on the front, and "make Big Ol' Lemonades" on the inside.
The Card
We roared with laughter at the inside of the Big Ol' Lemonades card, and obviously the joke stuck.
Recovering at Home
Our house looked liked Easter at Rotterdam after my surgery announcement on Instagram. Flowers showed up from every corner of the nation.
Recovery Week 2
More flowers
Recovery Week 2
And more flowers
Recovery Week 2
And more flowers. Our condo was 720 square feet. It was a lot of flowers in a small space but it was fun.
Off to Recovery Checkup
My 2nd post-surgery checkup without my drains in and feeling much, much better.
Recovery
This fountain sits outside the hospital I had surgery in, and taking this pic just a week or two after surgery by these words were especially poignant for me. The fountain steps read, "Discover, Teach, Heal".
Early October
Still recovering at home sporting my first pink ribbon for Breast Cancer Awareness Month which I still keep in my jewelry box as a memento.
On Wednesdays We Wear Pink
Happily, 2016 was a big year for Mean Girls shirts at Target, so I grabbed this tank and started wearing pink every Wednesday on my social media to help promote breast cancer awareness. Over time that's morphed into me just wearing pink on Wednesdays as personal reminder to myself of what I'm capable of, and on the 1st Wednesday of the month to remind other women to do their breast self-exams.
Out at lunch
Mom started taking me out to lunch when Chris was working too so I could get out. I took pictures basically everywhere I got to go during recovery. It meant I was feeling better.
Pink Ribbon Gear
That October I bought all the pink ribbon stuff I could get my hands on, from sources that were reputably donating to breast cancer research and programs or prevention, because I wanted to. It made me feel better, and like I was coming to terms with this part of my identity now.
3rd Wedding Anniversary
By our actual anniversary on 9/28/16, I was able to go out to dinner and walk around Downtown Disney a little bit.
Anniversary
We were just so happy to be back out and together with seemingly no complications after surgery.
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