Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women. During the month of October, awareness is centered on the many survivors and stories of courage of those that have been victim to the scary disease as well as bring awareness to the cancer. A breast cancer survivor has posted candid pictures of her chest following radiotherapy treatment showing the almost always grim reality of living with breast cancer.

Jenn Alter, from Saint Louis, Missouri, posted the images on her Tumblr blog, Pushing in the Pin, with the striking caption, “Here’s your f****** breast cancer awareness.”

The graphic pictures were taken after the 36-year-old underwent 35-days of radiation treatment in 2013, which left her with severe burns, red scars, and broken skin. The images were meant to remind people about the realistic nature of the disease and really ponder on those social media campaigns that seem to sensationalize the efforts of Breast Cancer Awareness month.

IMAGE SOURCE: DAILYMAIL

IMAGE SOURCE: DAILYMAIL

Alter hopes the images bring awareness to the fact that “breast cancer isn’t sexy” after controversial campaigns like #NoBraDay received considerable backlash from critics for encouraging women to abandon their bras for a day to raise awareness for breast cancer.

Alter wrote, “It’s not about saving the boobies. It’s not about no bra day, which is really just an excuse for women to post sexy pics of their nipples pressing through their clothes. It is scars, nausea, pain, bald heads, burnt skin, and broken hearts.”

IMAGE SOURCE: DAILYMAIL

Since posting the images, despite some negative responses, Alter says she has received an overwhelming response, with many commenting the pictures have “changed the way they look at breast cancer and cancer awareness in general.”

Those images are a very real reality that should be considered. Remember as we celebrate those who have survived the cancer, we need to remember those who continue to struggle.

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