This weekend, in a sea of 90,000 participants at the Voltaren City2Surf, Robyn Smith will take to the streets of Sydney with a powerful and personal message. The Canberra mother of three plans to run the 14-kilometre course to Bondi Beach topless, with the words “Flat out for funding” painted over her mastectomy scars.
Smith’s run is not just a reflection of her own battle with inherited cancer but also a campaign to raise awareness about the often-overlooked choice of going flat after a mastectomy. Currently working with Inherited Cancers Australia, the 46-year-old aims to collect essential donations for the organisation. She draws inspiration from Louise Butcher, a UK flat advocate who has previously completed marathons bare-chested to represent women living flat.
Smith’s journey began in 2012 when she discovered she was a carrier of the BRCA2 gene mutation, which significantly increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. With a family history of cancer, including the loss of her mother and grandmother to the disease, Smith opted for a mastectomy and subsequent breast reconstruction. However, she faced challenges, having been primarily informed about reconstruction options while the choice of going flat was barely discussed. Following her implants, she experienced debilitating symptoms attributed to breast implant illness, which led her to have them removed. Once she decided to “go flat,” her health remarkably improved.
Her experiences underscore a concerning gap in the education provided to women regarding surgical options following mastectomy. Research indicates that about 20% of women are not informed about the option of going flat before surgery, and another 18% only hear about it after inquiring themselves. Smith advocates that going flat is as valid as reconstructive surgery and highlights that many women lead fulfilling lives after choosing not to undergo reconstruction.
In addition to promoting the flat option, Smith’s run is a heartfelt tribute to her family members who did not have the same choices available to them. She expresses gratitude for having access to the information that previously eluded her relatives.
Moreover, this endeavour serves as an urgent call for support for Inherited Cancers Australia, an organisation that has yet to receive federal funding, despite its crucial role in providing support for families at risk of inherited cancers, impacting one in every 400 Australians.
Smith’s standout statement, both literally and figuratively, aims to capture the attention of corporate sponsors to secure funding for the charity. As she prepares to run, she carries two messages: one is literally on her chest, while the other represents the cause she is fiercely advocating for. Through this bold action, she hopes to inspire change in how women are informed about their choices post-mastectomy.