Watch Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy

Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy is a 2006 movie based on Geralyn Lucas's memoir of the same name. The movie tells the story of Geralyn (played by Sarah Chalke), a young and ambitious television producer living in New York City. Her life is shattered when she's diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 27. Initially, Geralyn is in a state of denial and tries to hide her diagnosis from her colleagues and friends. But eventually, she accepts her situation, shaves her head in anticipation of losing her hair due to chemotherapy, and starts attending a breast cancer support group.

Through her journey, Geralyn meets and befriends other women battling the disease, and they bond over their shared experiences. While at the support group, Geralyn draws strength from a fellow patient Sheila (played by Lally Cadeau), who has already gone through a mastectomy and is now undergoing chemotherapy. Sheila encourages Geralyn to face her fears and urges her to stop being ashamed of her body and openly talk about her surgery.

The movie takes a peek at Geralyn's relationship with her boyfriend, Jeff (played by Jay Harrington). Jeff is overwhelmed with emotions but is supportive of Geralyn through it all. He encourages her to open up and talk about her experience and, in doing so, starts a dialogue within their relationship.

In preparation for her mastectomy surgery, the young TV producer decides to take control of the situation by buying a bright, red lipstick. "It’s just my way of taking ownership of my body," she explains to a friend. "I’m not going to let cancer take any more from me than it already has." From that point on, Geralyn wears lipstick throughout her treatment as a symbol of her resilience and empowerment.

Empowered by her diagnosis, finding solace in the sisterhood of fellow breast cancer survivors, and with unwavering support from Jeff, Geralyn handles her mastectomy with grace and humor. The experience changes her life and inspires her to speak up for women battling breast cancer, transforming her professional aspirations, and leading her down a new path to contentment.

In the end, Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy sends a powerful message of hope, reminding audiences of the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. This movie tells a personal story but speaks to everyone facing breast cancer, survivor or not. It is a warm embrace to all survivors out there and a reminder that while life can throw us curveballs, love, courage, and hope can overcome anything.

Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy is a 2006 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0.