SEATTLE (AP) – A Seattle city pool granted permission for a woman breast cancer survivor to swim topless following her request whose both breasts were surgically removed including her nipple.

Jodi Jaecks said that privilege is to be extended to all women breast cancer survivors.

“It was not a policy change, but only an exception for me,” said the 47 year old Jodi Jaecks.

“It is only an exception in the department’s clothing policy for swimmers,” said Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent Christopher Williams on Wednesday.

When reacting to an article published in The Stranger weekly newspaper, Williams said, “Our responsibility vested in accommodating and comforting the needs of all our patrons that I see nothing that might alarm the public.”

“William will review on a case-by-case basis requests until we create a committee,” said Parks spokeswoman Dewey Potter.

After enduring two surgeries, rounds of chemotherapy and the surgical removal of both her breasts in March 2011, Jaecks wanted to turn to swimming to regain her strength. But swimsuit tops proved too uncomfortable, and nerves on her chest remained tender, Jaecks said.

Initially, Jaecks was not granted to swim topless by the head of the aquatics department.

So she asked the manager at her city pool if she could swim topless this past March. Eventually, she heard from the head of the aquatics department, who told her she couldn’t.

“And that’s when they said it was a policy that they required gender-appropriate clothing … regardless if I had nipples or whatever,” Jaecks said.

Jaecks hasn’t swum topless yet. She is planning a swim Monday. Her exception extends only to adult lap hours.