Allergy to silicon prothesis - any alternative?

I’m not sure if this is the correct place to ask this; it didn’t seem to fit in any category!
The problem is that my mum had a mastectomy and was given a standard prothesis. She developed an allergy to silicone which is very unusual but it means she can’t wear the prothesis.
Does anyone know of any alternatives?

I’m no expert as I don’t have a silicone one yet. But would putting it in a pocket bra help? She would have a layer of fabric separating it from her skin. Just a thought. Hope someone with more knowledge comes along soon darl. xxx

Hi,

My first prosthesis was a stick on one but my skin was too sensitive so I was swopped to a ‘normal’ one and then had pockets sewn into some bras so there is the fabric between skin and prosthesis. Round here, there is a NHS service where they will put pockets into 3 bras and 1 swimsuit per year.

Hope this may be of help

Hello Laika,

You might like to know that there are other ‘non-silicone prostheses’ on the market – most of these should be available through the hospital that originally fitted your mother with the silicone one. Most are fabric and light- weight, and would need to be pinned into the bra or kept in a pocketed bra.

A selection are: - the Priform (made of fabric), the Truelife Weighted Leisure Form (made from foam with a weighted centre to help prevent it riding up) or there is the Truelife Feather Weight Foam prosthesis (made of shaped foam and non-weighted). Your mum could also use the ‘Comfy’ that she was probably fitted with immediately after her surgery, although she may not find the shape of this ideal, depending on the size and shape of her other breast. If she did want to use a comfy, she could ask her Breast Care Nurse for a few as they are not very long lasting.

If you would like the details of companies that supply the prostheses I mentioned, you can telephone our helpline to speak to one of our experienced helpline workers or nurses. The number is 0808 800 6000.

You can also look at the stockist information at the back of our booklet “ A confident choice”. I include a direct link to this below:

breastcancercare.org.uk/upload/pdf/Confidenchoice_ERJ.pdf

Kind Regards

Nursing Team

Thank you very much for the information.
Unfortunately, using any form of silicone, even enclosed within a pocket is not a good idea considering the reaction she had to it, so these alternatives look good.
She was not given any ‘comfy’ after her surgery - don’t even know what that is!
Personally, I think the breast care team at her hospital should have suggested these alternatives to her, but maybe they thought because she was over 70 it didn’t matter or there was too much cost involved to get alternatives.
Anyway I’m very grateful for the advice and will pass it on to her.

Look at the ‘Nicola Jane’ website. They sell a ‘been-a-boob’ which is a soft material bag filled with small beans. It moulds to any shape and is very light and comfortable - designed by a lady who had breast cancer surgery and couldn’t get to grips with silicone prostheses.

Jo

ps. I didn’t get a ‘comfy’ either. It seems to be accepted everyone gets one after surgery but in reality it doesn’t happen!