Hi all,
It’s been six years since I had a lumpectomy and radiotherapy on my left breast at the age of 31, and although I haven’t put on any weight, I’ve noticed over the last couple of years that the difference in the size of my breasts is getting bigger. I often feel very self-conscious about this, especially when wearing tight tops, and before my period it looks especially obvious. I also recently got pregnant and the breast pain and swelling was very much one-sided. Unfortunately I lost the pregnancy relatively early, which is having its own impacts emotionally, but it’s left me even more self-conscious about my breasts as my right breast hasn’t yet shrunk back to its normal size.
Does anyone have any experience of breast reduction etc years after treatment? It’s not something I felt the need to consider previously, but it’s affecting my confidence a lot now, to the extent that I even worry students notice it when I’m lecturing at the university where I work.
Best wishes to all,
Caroline
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Hi Caroline,
Sorry to hear of your pregnancy loss.
I have no advice as I’m just at the start of my journey. I’m recovering from a lumpectomy on my left side and about to start radio. I was quite adamant before the operation that I’d get the other side ‘matched’ after the radio finished but I’m starting to think I might not bother and make do with prosthesis to avoid another op. I think, like yourself, if weight and hormone changes made it more obvious it is something I’ll seek down the line so I see where you are coming from.
Have you sought a consultation with a surgeon? I don’t know if your breast nurse team would set that up for you? My boobs definitely changed with pregnancy and again with breastfeeding (pre cancer) so I don’t know if they might suggest delaying treatment.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Angela x
Hi @ice_cc - very sorry to hear about your recent loss.
I had a lumpectomy last November and have a big difference in sizes which I feel is very noticeable. Had an appointment with a surgeon last week to discuss reduction of the non-cancer boob and one thing she did say is that the size of the cancer boob is fixed now due to RT and so it isn’t likely to respond to changes in weight and also won’t get as droopy with age. I’m post-menopausal so I don’t really need to worry about hormone changes, so it’s more a matter of keeping my weight stable to avoid things getting uneven again. And I hope the droop won’t happen as quickly with smaller boobs!
I feel very self-conscious too - I’ve been hiding in big jumpers over the winter but I’m worried about lightweight summer clothes making it a lot more obvious. My surgery isn’t until late October so I need to find some kind of temporary solution!
But I do think that if I were younger then it could well be a different matter as my boobs changed hugely after both my pregnancies and with subsequent weight gain and loss. Probably the best thing to do is get an appointment with a surgeon that you trust and have a frank conversation with them about your concerns.
Have you tried a prosthesis at all to even things up a bit? I tried one (a knitted one from Knitted Knockers charity) which I wear very occasionally but I don’t bother most of the time.
I really do empathise and hope you can find a good way forward.
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