As we grow older, our bodies naturally evolve, but losing control over these changes can be tough to handle.
Danielle Moore, a 34-year-old mum from Bristol, experienced this struggle after choosing to have a double mastectomy as part of her cancer treatment.
Following the operation, she was subjected to online abuse, with some cruelly telling her she “looked like a boy”. But Danielle refused to let the negativity get to her.
Instead, she decided to take a bold stand and show women everywhere that it’s possible to feel sexy and confident after a life-altering cancer procedure.
Last year, Danielle made a powerful statement by posing topless for Page 3 – a decision she’s incredibly proud of. The shoot was part of the “One More Page 3” campaign, led by sex-positive adult film pioneer Erika Lust, which aimed to create the most inspirational and empowering Page 3 shoot of all time.
Danielle’s mission is to promote body positivity and normalise discussions around bodies that are seen as “different”. Through her Instagram page, The Boob Battle, which has amassed over 20,000 followers, Danielle shares her journey, thoughts and story, proudly displaying her body and encouraging others to do the same.
While it hasn’t been an easy journey, Danielle’s determination to spread positivity and self-acceptance is truly commendable.
In discussing her involvement in Erika Lust’s campaign, Danielle revealed: “It was a great campaign for helping raise awareness of breast cancer, but also in showing body diversity, which is such an important message. It really gave me a new level of confidence.”
Danielle has since been concentrating on her emotional recovery from cancer. She has sought therapy and put her mental well-being first over the last year.
Besides, she’s been cherishing moments with her family to forge heartfelt memories. She acknowledges that embracing one’s body post-cancer is “hard and ongoing” needing time to accept an unchosen transformation.
However, as days pass, it becomes slightly easier for her. Utilising her social platform, Danielle aims to promote a message that beauty transcends physical attributes and celebrates individuality.
“I’ve accepted that it is what it is and I can’t change it, which helps with the process,” she confessed. “My scars are a big part of me, and something you don’t often see on social media, as it’s usually a platform for showing just the ‘perfectly good bits of people’.”
She added: “I hope by showing it takes away the fear of cancer and also helps people not get sucked into the trap of feeling like you need to be perfect to be worthy.”
Danielle has opened up about the “mixed bag” of reactions she gets online, mentioning that despite negative remarks from “closed-minded people”, she receives overwhelming support and appreciation for not always looking “perfect”. She’s thankful for messages praising the visibility of diversity in appearances and imperfections.
With October serving as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Danielle is determined to encourage women to monitor their health closely. Diagnosed with stage three breast cancer at 30, which had spread to her lymph nodes, Danielle initially discovered a lump while breastfeeding her son in November 2020 but didn’t immediately consider it alarming.
Danielle stressed the importance of self-examination: “Check yourself regularly, to know your normal, so that if anything does change you can get to the GP. You aren’t checking for cancer, you are simply being in check with your own body to know what’s normal for you.”
“There are lots of obvious signs and symptoms such as a lump, nipple discharge, dimpling of the skin. However, there may also be some not so obvious changes.”
“That’s why it’s important to feel yourself regularly, so that you are familiar with how your body looks and feels.”