I was faced with a mastectomy on r/h breast back in February. A the time the consultant and plastic surgeon could not operate on the same day so Neo adjuvent chemo was the only way. Tahnkfully my lump has shrunk from 30mm dia to 12. But being a 42d size they had been a ‘large’ part of my anatomy and was needless to say really worried and sad at the loss of one of them, weven though recon was to happen.
I dedided that i wanted to get a lasting memory made of my breasts, and that i what i have had done recently. A local artist who works with plaster and alginate matwerials did the ‘commission’ for us. He was great, we had a good laugh whilst we did it, and i will be hanging my boobs on the bedroom wall soon.
I have said that i will ask around to see what other ladies in my position think about this, understand some ladies my not feel the same way and may even think this strange but i would love to hear anyones thoughts.
Thanks
Becks0130
Totally understand becks. I wasn’t as brave as you I only took a few pictures, which I have never looked at, but I know they are there if I want to have a look at how I used to be.
I think it is a way of grieving, we have lived with our bodies for a long time and know it so well, and I was quite proud of them.
So why not
Helfire
To be honest, I can’t even bear to think about how I was, it hurts too much.
snowwhite
I did a plaster cast of my bosom post partial mastectomy but I’d like to have had a plaster cast beforehand
I thought they looked better when they were more of a matching pair.
Mole
Hi Becks
I don’t think it strange at all and it sounds as if you had a good laugh while having it done.
I don’t think I could have done it, but that is what is so intriguing, how all of us deal with things in our own very different ways. It makes us all individuals.
I hope they look good hanging on you wall.
Best wishes and take care
Thistle
Ah what a lovely idea, I think that’s amazing. But as I am not facing that yet, I don’t know how I would feel. If it helps you though I think that’s great.
Cecelia. x
Becks - what a great idea - I am recommending you for The Turner Prize! Seriously you should consider putting them in an exhibition. You are an inspiration.
Thanks for letting me know what your thoughts are.
I am having my ‘cast’ at an exhibition in London, no I am not joking… later this year.
What is actually fascinating is the fact that you can see the lump in the plaster, as the mould is made it sticks to the skin forming a kind of vacuum as it sets, ths doesnt hurt by the way. And it shows quite clearly the lump which isnt normally visible.
I found it all really interesting.
If you should be at all interested I can give you the ‘cast mans’ details.
He not only does boobs…but hands, faces, babies hand, anything you want really.
www.castperfect.com . Tell him Rebecca told you.
bye for now.
becks
Do let us know where the exhibition will be please.
Sorry becks,
I read this post yesterday and again today and have to say I feel really uncomfortable that you are going to put it into an exhibition.
We are not ‘freaks’ and I’m worried that’s how it will be seen, not as a personal memory for you.
Everyone deals with the loss of any limb or breast in their own way, I personally wouldn’t have had a cast made but that’s down to personal choice, please be very careful of any publicity as it might offend others.
busbabe
dear busbabe
Ithink you may of misunderstood me… i have had the cast done of my boobs PRIOR to any operation.
So there is no ‘freaky’ side to it. when i say you can see the lump, it is appearing as the size of a pea, which does not artually refelct the fact that it is actully the size of a golf ball inside me…
The cast is a bronzed effect perfectly normal pair of lovely formed 42d breasts.
Am i being dense but where is the offence in that to any one??
Thanks for your comments. I just wanted to make sure all understood that this was not done after my operation, which will be September.
Thanks
Becks.
Yes, I did realise that you had it done pre surgery, would you consider having it done post surgery ?
You asked for our comments and that was mine, sorry if you don’t like it, maybe I’m just old-fashioned !!
The reason I mentioned the word ‘freaks’ is do you know how the exhibit will be labelled, will it be made known to the audience that this was a pre-mastectomy cast ?
Dear Busbabe
I would not want a cast of my post op boob, because that is what I would be left with. Initially I was to have a mastectomy of right breast. But the two surgeons couldnt do op in time scale so neo adjuvant chemo was only option. Thats when I decided to have the cast, I did worry that if I had a cast I would be reminded of how different my breasts were and after surgery I wouldnt want to see it again. But if I didnt have it would I wish that I had? Like if someone dies, do you take down a photo because you cant look at them anymore??
My lump was the size of two golf balls 33mm, but not visible to the naked eye on the outside. Now it measure 13mm in diameter and still shrinking. So a wide local excision is planned for sept.
The ‘exhibition’ is actually a show in London, called Erotica. It has nothing to do with mastectomy/cancer. It is just on a display stand to promote the skills of a local artist who does cast of hands, faces, babies hand, infact any part of the anatomy you want. Erotica is a show that is attended by thousands of people, ranging across a wide specturm of erotic art to body peircing and everything in between. I agreed that the artist could use my cast to promote his business there. Both me and my husband have become good friends with him and his partner since he did my cast, his business has taken off really well and he is asked to do alot of this sort of thing.
I am really pleased you gave me you feedback, that was what I wanted. I really didnt want to cause offence to you or anyone else. That was futhest from my thoughts.
Ihope all is going well for you what ever stage along the journey you are?
Take care
Becks.
OK, this is my own personal no-go area … what I really can’t bear the thought of is what happens to my breast once it has been removed? I totally know, logically, that it is just so much diseased tissue and that I should be glad to get rid of it; but I can’t stop visualising what it would look like once separated from me … and I hate the idea of it’s just being tossed into a bin / incinerator like a piece of … rubbish …
Sorry, I hope this doesn’t upset anyone. I thought that, maybe, saying it would get it out of my head and I might feel better about it …, instead of just sick and miserable.
Stockbeck. xxx.
I think I have confused a few of you.
My boob cast is of perfectly normal breast. No cuts no nothing just me!
My breasts on my chest, where it should be, and will remain until my surgery in September. Nothing weird.
Thanks
Becks.
I think we all have to deal with this how it suits and also think our breasts are our identity and Stockbeck I am so with you and my thoughts are so irrational at the minute that i lay awake imagining all sorts and it is quite right these are a limb! and you should be able to talk to us about it…who eles knows what it is like? not even our well intentioned family and friends can estimate how we might be affected by it… a few weeks ago if you would have told me I felt like I do I would have said it’s rubbish .
Be proud of your cast becks!!! It celebrates what you were! I bet having it done was liberating good for you!
Keep sharing how you feel Stockbeck thats what we’re all here for
loubyjane xx
Becks - I think that was a truly inspirational and imaginative idea. Bit different though, but it would not do for all of us to think the same; what a boring world that would be. For many of us women, our breasts are part of our femininity and one of the first compliments my husband gave me some 37 yrs ago was: “I just love your little pert breasts.” I was then a 34A - now a rather too large 38C.
Wish I lived in the London area (live in isolated South East Cornwall), as I have said for many years that I would love to have a cast of my husband’s hands in the event he pre-deceases me, he being 79 yrs now. I don’t think of it as being ghoulish, just a wonderful momento. Although he is an electronics engineer, he has the most beautifully shaped hands I have ever seen, or touched. His skin has an unusual fragile parchment type feel, just as his later mother’s did
I hope the exhibition goes well - wish I could go to it.
Take care,
Liz.
bit late in on this one, but i wish i had a momento of my left breast, it wasn’t very big, but i loved them both equally, now all i have is back muscle, which is truly marvelous, but i no longer have anything to mourn, its gone, no gravestone, no urn, being quite artistic myself (well a photographer who hates to be photographed!) i take my hat off to you Becks, you did what you wanted to do, wish i had photographed mine as a reminder of the woman i once was, and you and all of us should be proud of what we had and of what we have lost, let us know where the exhibition is Becks, if i can get to see it i will.
lots of love
Alison xxxxx
Thanks alison,
The date of the exhibition and location is still to be confirmed, my ‘cast-man’ is still deciding whether to exhibit. As i believe the cost is very high, and he is relatively new to the market.
Will keep you posted.
Regards
Becks.
Thanks Becks, if i can i’ll certainly go and have a look
Alison xxx