I’m having to decide between a bi-lateral mastectomy or a mastectomy & a lumpectomy; no choice for one breast with 3 cancers but the other breast has just 1 cancer. My first thought was to have a bi-lateral to get it all over with, but the consultant said it would be a 50/50 choice for the breast with just 1 cancer - so I need to choose. I don’t want a reconstruction. If bi-lateral, the consultant said a bra with prosthesis may ride up but if I have a lumpectomy and hence keep one breast, the bra will have something as a ‘hook; to keep it in place – does this make sense?
Hi sorry to hear about your diagnosis I had mastectomy right breast have been using a prosthesis it’s a tricky one the nhs one is heavy but I have loads of other including a softie and knitted knockers that work well , I have been offered a reconstruction but have got used to my look will have other breast maybe reduced it’s a hard decision do some research x
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Not an easy decision to make.
I had a left side mastectomy in 2020 and then a right sided lumpectomy last year. I haven’t had any reconstruction and do not wear any kind of prosthetic. I had decided that I would ask for another mastectomy if the first surgery hadn’t had clear margins. I guess I am not a particularly girly kind of person and don’t wear low cut tops or anything where my body shape is particularly “on view”.
Best of luck with your decision
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Hello, I had a single mastectomy last year. I am not worried about the other breast but I often wonder if I would be happier just to be symmetrically flat. I feel like a fraud wearing a prosthetic and if I had the other one removed I wouldn’t wear any. I really am not bothered too much other than the asymetry being so odd. Hadn’t thought of my boob as an anchor for the bra but that’s a fair point if you wouldn’t be happy without prosthetics. x
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In case this helps anyone now or in the future, I have made my decision to have a mastectomy on the left (quite clear this was needed) & a lumpectomy on the right. Everyone’s situation is different but I based my decision on: the medical need for the right was a lumpectomy not a mastectomy (although I could choose to have a mastectomy), I would have to continue taking hormone therapy tablets even if I had a bi-lateral mastectomy, the hormone therapy tablets will significantly reduce the risk of another cancer in the remaining breast.