Has anyone been offered a small prosthesis after lumpectomy?

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Has anyone been offered a small prosthesis or bra padding after their lumpectomy?

Ann x

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Hi Ann

I’ve got a ‘chicken fillet’ which I wear on my good breast because I have slight lympho in my ‘lumpectomy’ breast which makes it bigger. I got it from my BCN the chicken fillet not the lympho. They come in three sizes I think.

There are partial prosthesis which are like a cup which fit over your breast. I had one of those at first but I didn’t like it as it peeked out above my bra cup.

You can buy them from an internet site which specialises in underwear and swimwear for breast cancer patients.

My ‘chicken fillet’ works very well. It doesn’t move about it just sits in the bottom of my bra cup. The only downside is that when it’s hot it tends to stick to my skin!!! I have to remember to ease it off gradually.

I hope you are doing OK. I don’t come on the forum very often these days.

Let me know if I can help any further.

Love to you
Jan xxxx

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Hi,

My BCN ordered me several different sizes of chicken fillet type of prosthesis to try after my lumpectomy (since then had to have a mastectomy). Some covered the whole breast and others fitted underneath to push up the breast and make it the same size. The one I choose was really comfortable and gave me a good shape, which matched the other side.

Ask if you haven’t been offered one (you usually can get one about 6 to 8 weeks after the op or after radiotherapy, when you have healed). I know someone who went for years feeling unbalanced and when she finally mentioned it was given one immediately!

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Thanks, ladies. I have an appointment with the oncologist next week. I’ll ask her if she can find out. No-one has mentioned it up to now but, to be fair, the last time I saw the surgeon/BCN, I was still swollen from surgery. Having finished rads and things seeming to have settled down, I have now started to think about it. I would need one for the top/side, rather than underneath. The ones I saw on the internet cost about £100, which I thought was excessive. I know they sell ‘chicken fillets’ in M&S to push the breast up, but I don’t think that would work for me.

Ann x

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Hi Ann

Do ask because you should get one on the NHS. There are lots of different sorts shapes and sizes so there will be one for you. My BNC had a cupboard full. I actually bought a chicken fillet not realising that I could have one from the hospital. The BCN told me to send it back, asked for the make and size and ordered exactly the same one for me so I didn’t have to pay!!! Also I was told by my BCN that you can have a new one every 2 years so clearly it isn’t a one off.

I hope you get sorted. You need to feel and look as good as you can.

Jan x

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Thanks, Jan and Anna. That’s really helpful.

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I haven’t done anything about the prosthesis yet but thought I would let you know that there are some good bras on the M&S website. There are special ‘post-surgery bras’ but I have found that their T-shirt bras are good for me. They fit well and have smooth, padded, moulded cups which give no indication that there is a bit of me missing on the inside! They come in packs of two. I don’t think they come in large sizes, though.

Ann x

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Hello Ann
I was offered a small prosthesis about 6 weeks after rads finished. My BCN was brilliant and spent ages making sure that I had one I was comfortable with. I even forget now that it is there. I dont know how often they can be replaced but seem to last forever.
Good luck
Hilary