I may be a few days behind on the news, but this morning I was both horrified and perplexed when I saw the photos of Joanne Jackson, a breast cancer survivor, that Facebook deemed inappropriate and deleted.

Mother of two, 40 year old Joanne from West Yorks in the UK, had the professional photographs taken to commemorate winning her battle with breast cancer, and posted them on her own Facebook page and on the pages of several cancer organisations.

‘I took breast cancer and the mastectomy in my stride and decided it wasn’t going to stop me living my life. It wasn’t going to define who I was, and it didn’t make me any less attractive as a woman.

‘My attitude was to just get on with it. I knew I could kick cancer’s ass and I did.’

Facebook banned her pictures citing the rule that bans pornographic and/or sexually explicit material.

‘I am not one who is shy but these pictures weren’t as much about me as about other women who had maybe just been diagnosed with breast cancer.

‘It doesn’t have to be a death sentence and there is life after a mastectomy.

‘The images aren’t fluffy, they are real and I am very proud of them.’

And I think she has every reason to be proud of them.  Her photographs and her attitude are inspirational and in posing for these images I believe she is lending her strength and courage to women in the same position. They serve not only as a powerful reminder to perform regular breast checks, but they also serve as an important reminder, as Jackson says, that it is possible to beat this killer disease.

Is it confronting?  Yes.

It is real?  Most definitely!  This is the truth that many breast cancer survivors face.  This is why we should all take the time to self examine our breasts on a regular basis, so we can detect any changes early.

Is it pornographic or sexually explicit?  Not a bloody chance!

I see a beautiful, strong courageous woman.

What about you?  Do you think the image is offensive?