Hi ladies,
Just wanted some suggestions really, I’m going in for a double mastectomy on Monday (already had lumpectomy with nipple removal a couple of years ago, so at least I’ll match now!)
If I still want to wear my bras with padding in, will the bra stay in place? Sometimes I’ll be brave and won’t wear one but on certain occasions you just want to look ‘normal’. I don’t want reconstruction, what do other women do please?
HI zebedee,
I have a bilateral mastectomy and wear bras with pockets & prostheses (not sure if this is what you mean) but i have no problems with everything staying in place. I am not sure if it is more difficult with larger prostheses but mine are a modest 34B :).
dawnhc
hi, can I have some advice please dawnhc? I had double mx 2 weeks ago (failed recon- bad idea!!) . I have just read in amoena (I think) that if youve had bilateral mx, you are better off having asymmetrical prostheses- is this right? I have been given symmetrical ones ( bc nurse fitted them by slipping them into a pocketed bra I’d bought on her lap!) Just wonder what sort you’ve got and are you happy with them? bit bewhildered by the choice (in the mags, that is- I was given the first matching pair that came out of the cupboard.
Thanks Anne X
That is a difficult question to answer Anne! I am assuming you mean prostheses that have the wing that goes slightly under the arm on each side? Mine are triangular but my bilateral is not symetrical!! Unfortunately I had a recurrence on the chest wall skin and have a patch up job from my stomach leaving me with a mound on one side and a concave one on the other. So my prosthesis have a pouch in the back that i can fill with special wadding to even them out. The best way is for you to try both kinds in the bra and take a tight t-shirt with you to study the effect. Perhaps take a friend or partner with you for 2nd opinion as well. Don’t be afraid to make the bcnurse do her work and get you several kinds to try.
dawn
xxx
thank you Dawn- I will go back and see what happens- I have triangular ones at the moment. Do you have any tips for when you lean forward and sometimes you can see the prosthesis/chest wall? I am 36 B by the way.
Anne XX
Hi Anne,
The only tip i can think of is to choose your bra carefully to minimise the problem. Some have a pretty camisole lace insert and that works well. Otherwise if I want to wear lower necked tops and the bra gapes - I have given up caring what anyone sees :).But I always use pocketed bras - would hate the thought of actually seeing one drop out.
dawn
xxx
Hi Anne and zebedee
You may find Breast Cancer Care’s publication, ‘A confident choice’ helpful to read. It contains information about prosthesis and bra fitting following breast surgery, here’s the link:
breastcancercare.org.uk/docs/bcc_prosthesis_web_0.pdf
Hope this helps.
Best wishes
Lucy
Thank you Dawn and Lucy,
I think I need a pocketed bra, I didn’t know you could get special mastectomy bras.
cheers,
Zoe
Anne. You might like the stick on prosthesis as these stay next to your chest and don’t need pockets. I’ not sure I like the way they feel myself but I’m a sporty kind so it may just be my lifestyle not suiting them as a lot of people love them. Ask your BC nurse if they can show you some mine showed me a whole range on types. I had bilateral and mine are symmetrical by the way.
Angie
Hi Dawn and Angie and Lucie,
Thank you so much for your help. Can you get the stick on ones from your breast care nurse or do you have to buy them seperately? I like to do lots of gym etc. and am anxious on leaning too far forward and having an accident with one popping out! Will definately use pocketed bra for said reason!
Anne x
Hi
Thought I might add that I actually took my old good solid bras and cut up the sexy underwired ones that I cannot use and used the cups of those to make pockets in the good solid ones. I have to say it has worked a treat and the fact that they are old and worn has been more comfortable. You can actually buy pockets from Anita for about £4 to sew into your own bras if you dont feel like being a meany like me although maybe the cutting up process was a way of moving on!
Penn1
Hi Penn1’
What a good idea! I still have my old bras(stuffed in draw, not sure why!). That will certainly save some money too- I don’t know about you but I really resent having to spend out all this money on bras, swimming cossies/prosttheses etc.
Thank you!
Anne