About Us

Our Founding Story

In 2020, Aesthetic Flat Closure (AFC) was defined by the National Cancer Institute to replace the term “no reconstruction” after mastectomy. This gave patients and surgeons specific language regarding surgical decisions while eliminating bias towards those that elect AFC (such as flat denial), or find it medically necessary to remove or forgo breast mound reconstruction.

The following year, patient advocates were denied the opportunity to present AFC information at a breast cancer event. This prompted hundreds of activists to walk in breast cancer events worldwide, often shirtless, to normalize having less than two breasts.

In 2021, Stand Tall AFC was born.

By raising visibility at walks, community resources, media representation, and outreach to the medical community, we celebrate AFC as a legitimate and healthy option after mastectomy.

The following year, this group applied to host a booth at the walk to share information on “aesthetic flat closure” — a recently defined surgical term by the National Cancer Institute which gave dignity and definition to the option of “no reconstruction”, which was often subjectively interpreted by surgeons. Shockingly, the breast cancer support organization rejected the idea of an AFC booth.

A call to action to action went out.

Within four weeks, 225 women with scars instead of breasts took to the streets of cancer walks across the globe. Some walked shirts on, many walked shirts off. Within two years, 1,500 people walked to support AFC as a healthy option. Tens of thousands more witnessed a groundbreaking activism when survivors modeled that it’s okay to have one or no breasts. We are still women. We are still whole.

This phenomenon of flat visibility as a catalyst for transformation repeats itself over and over again at breast cancer events. The presence and vulnerability of local teams touches participants in a way that is profound. In an instant: a breastless woman is transformed by representation, a child see someone who looks like mom, a husband asks where can he find tattoos for his wife who is home recovering from mastectomy

This is is why we walk.

Flat Visibility

• shows women are whole with or without breasts — take a look at these powerful videos!
• promotes body acceptance & dignity
• counters stigmas of shame, and updates well-meaning but harmful judgement from physicians, friends and family
• demonstrates AFC in real life, a contrast to the headless torso photos presented at surgical consultations
• offers an alternative path to wholeness for those suffering from “reconstructive burnout”, illness, or pain

Today, AFC and the going flat movement is normalized through community resources, media representation, the global body positive movement and outreach to the medical community.

FAQs

MISSION

We bring aesthetic flat closure (AFC) to cancer awareness events and transform perceptions about going flat after mastectomy through visibility, education and conversation.

CORE VALUES

• VISIBILITY — seeing women without breast(s) at cancer events destigmatizes the effects of mastectomy.

• DIGNITY — being whole is not dependent on breasts, hair or any body part lost to cancer or its prevention.

• EMPOWERMENT — inclusion at cancer events is healing for those with AFC as well as others impacted by breast cancer.

• INFORMED CHOICE — patients should be presented post-mastectomy options with parity which includes using aesthetic flat closure (AFC) to replace “no reconstruction”.

• INCLUSION — STAFC teams support patient rights to all post-mastectomy options including AFC, implants and tissue reconstruction.