Hi, just starting this thread in case people want to join. I’m hoping it will help those of us who are on the mastectomy path. Maybe you are opting for flat and fabulous, or choosing to have a reconstruction. Sharing experiences here will hopefully help others in the same boat.
Looking forward to chatting here.
Hey @Jaygo 
great idea x Flat and Fabulous here!
Hellooo. Same here, going flat and hoping to champion that. Having prosthesis fitted though just to give options.
All shapes welcome though, not just those opting for flat. Hearing all experiences will be helpful.
I’m 2 days post op for right sided mastectomy. So far finding pain manageable, and I am a complete chicken when it comes to pain. My plan is to follow the nurse’s advice and keep on top of it with pain killers. Also looking forward to getting shot of the bloated belly. Not a pretty sight.
@loupy @nastynork we’re over here!!
Found you x
I’m about 6 1/2 weeks out from a single mastectomy and axillary node clearance. Overall it’s all been very straightforward: I had a seroma drained early on and a little post op infection at one end of my incision. But my arm movements are good and I’m getting quite fond of my very neat scar.
At the moment I’m trying out various softies. So far it’s a Boo to the NHS softies and a Yay to Knitted Knockers, although be aware if you tick yes to a nipple, it’s very prominent! Next I’m going to try out the M&S ones.
With regard to an everyday bra after you’ve healed, the M&S Jasmine mastectomy bra for £10 (£8ish without VAT) has been brilliant.
@dilly @Jaygo found it! Thanks for the tags!
I second the knitted knockers prosthetics - simply the most comfortable, what I’m struggling with is sizing, I ordered the size that I used to wear and it’s way to big - probably because nature has taken its course on the other one 
, my mum who can knit has ordered the pattern so hopefully we can get the sizing right!
Sorry @loupy I forgot to tag you!
Great advice @dilly thanks for that. I’m still not bothering with a bra at the moment. I didn’t get any sort of support from the hospital, just a clear plaster on the op site. I have two bras from previously which are back fastening, but created for post cancer use, so they will hopefully come back into play once my arms can reach round the back. Am going to look into a BOOST prothesis.
I’m also really hoping I can reconcile with the asymmetric look as well. I quite like my flat side, just wish the belly fluid would go as it isn’t very flattering. I just need to be patient I guess.
Looking forward to a gentle stroll around the park this afternoon to get some steps in, and now I have found a way to hide my drain bag and tubes (all hail a long scarf) I might pop to our local and have a 0% alcohol gin in the garden and see a few mates. Not bad to be feeling up to this just 2 days in eh? Hope that encourages anyone reading this who is going to be having the same procedure.
XX
Hi Everyone
I’m 3 months from a unilateral mastectomy I chose to stay flat. I can recommend the boost prosthetics, you don’t need to throw your old bras away as they sit nicely inside (obviously you may want to Edit your existing).
I’ve also has a good prosthetic provided by Amoena from my hospital which is lightweight but a bit more substantiaL
However, most of the time I’m just in a comfy bra top/soft sports bra with nothing in.
I thought I may regret not having reconstruction & that may change - perhaps easier under jumpers than when It gets to summer xX
Hi, I love the sound of Flat and Fabulous. I am flat ( one side but not at 75 years very old fabulous)
I had my mastectomy and lymph node clearance 7 years ago yesterday on my 68th birthday. Followed by chemo, radiotherapy and 6 monthly zolendronic acid infusions for 3 years and Letrozole for 10 years. ( I am counting down as 3 years left to go on the Letrozole.)
I have no problem being flat on one side. I am lucky to have a wonderful husband who has helped me through this journey. I cannot begin to imagine how those of you younger, single or married, with or without children and working manage.
Anyway I had a prosthesis and bra from Amoena to start with. They are online and they have a shop in Chichester, Sussex which you can go to by appointment. They are very helpful if you phone them. Their bras are quite expensive and I now use Marks and Spencer mastectomy ones which are pocketed both sides. I continue to buy the Amoena prosthesis because they are very comfortable. I also have a swim one from them. I actually always wear my prosthesis during the day (I am a 36a so not very big) but never at night. I think wearing the prosthesis makes me feel more “ me”, but that is just my opinion.
Good luck to all of you wonderful ladies. I am always “lurking” on this site and occasionally posting. Take care. There is life on the other side of the tunnel, whether flat or not. Thinking of you all and sending hugs.
Sunshine21
Thanks @sunshine21 this is really helpful to read, I’m two weeks post surgery - thought to begin with I could deal with being flat one side without a prosthesis then had drain out and read to wear one to avoid swelling and now I’m wearing one most days, I’ve been quite emotional about being lopsided and now wondering if I should have asked about a DMX… I just keep thinking about it but hopefully it’ll pass as still early days!
Hi @loupy - I felt the same, I was toying up a reconstruction - didn’t think about dmx- but I wanted the most straightforward surgery for me. My consultant did say I have 2 years after op to go back & ask for that, so I know that’s an option in my back pocket - at the moment getting used to being lopsided, I hope you get to a good place too xx
Hi I had single mastectomy with lymph node clearance last July and stayed flat. I am hoping to be able go have the other breast removed once I have finished my Kadcyla treatment. My surgeon said he would do this once treatment is finished. At the moment I don’t think I will want reconstruction I am getting on ok with my amoena prosthetic from nhs and still often wear my softie. I also have a boost which are really good and am going to use for swimming.
Lovely to hear from everyone
@sunshine21 I am sure you’re every bit as fabulous…even more than you are giving yourself credit for!
Thanks for the heads up on Chichester. I’m going to look that up as we are going to Worthing in April for a few days and this could be worth a visit while we’re down there. I can see if there are any free appointments on the days we’re down. xxx
It is so lovely to see people sharing their stories on here which is so helpful to us who are still very new to it. Thank you, and please do direct others here if you see them talking about it on other parts of the forum.
Hoping to remain flat and proud, but it helps to know that there may be wobbles ahead and what to do about it if that does happen. It is a big decision we are asked to make at an incredibly difficult time of life in a very short space of time.
Making mastectomy for cancer more of an awareness thing might hopefully get women thinking about it before it becomes a real decision they have to make, even if thinking about that is completely unpalatable. We need to stop hiding cancer in my opinion. XXX
I’ve been flat (and tried to be fabulous) one side since August 2020. I don’t wear any kind of prosthetic, I am a B cup on the other side so it is not really noticeable.
Before my operation I talked through the options with my husband. He was happy to support me whatever I decided to do. I did briefly consider reconstruction, but it would have meant waiting a month longer for surgery and a longer recovery time.
I am not a particularly girly girl so it hasn’t really affected the clothes I wear or anything. I am totally happy with my choice.
5 year right mastectomy here. Never even considered a recon - at the time best I didn’t due to BC size and the area of rads that was needed and I’ve enough scars from other ops to not want to add to them. Found the op and recovery the easiest of my treatment and it hardly hurt at all. My scar isn’t really visible. I do get a bit annoyed at my ‘puppy ear’ as they kept the side in case I wanted a recon. Can’t be bothered with the hassle of having it tidied up.
I’m on my 2nd, very expensive and lovely NHS provided prosthetic. I’ve an aqua one for swimming and a foam one for bikinis - both from Amoena 
I got back to wearing wired bras ASAP (about 8 months? Can’t remember) as I hated the shape a non-wired bra give my remaining boob. I’m a D (or 9 in falsie sizing). A couple of years ago I was given a bit of advice on this forum as I didn’t like pocketed bras because they gave my mastectomy side a funny shape - bog standard underwired full cup bras. My prosthetic is fully covered and supported. OMG a game changer! Two perfect, for me, shaped boobs in nice bras. I had a right old spend when I discovered this was my saviour! I wear strappy and halterneck tops or dresses with strapless bras in the summer or on holiday knowing I look good in the chest department - just as I did pre-mastectomy 
Yesterday, I was talking to someone I’ve seen around in one of my social circles, we’ve smiled at each other before like you do. We ended up having a right old natter and bang - so much in common. She had a left mastectomy 10 yrs+ ago with no urge for a recon. either. She’s another advocate of good upholstery for shaping and supporting her prosthetic. She swears by the M&S range as she’s happy without underwiring.
My only other little quibble is that cotton towels do not stay up when I wrap one around me after a shower etc. I changed to microfibre towels as they don’t tend to slip. Sunbed towel pegs have been used to keep thick hotel towels wrapped around me before now 
Good luck with whatever choice you make - whatever you decide, the BC will be removed xx
Oh @Gelbel the bloody towels I smiled when I read that because it annoys me every day I must look for a different one!
So called gym/camping towels are your answer @loupy They are very fine microfibre, often shown rolled up in a little bag. You can get from Amazon but the same towels are available from Shein/Temu for a fraction of the price. They wash and dry so easily too. Another bonus is they don’t go hard and pretty much don’t fade. As they fold up to nothing I always take if I’m staying with family or friends for a few days and know I’ll be showering - saves any walking across the landing embarrassments from falling towels… been there, done that! 
@Gelbel some REALLY good suggestions here and thank you so much for sharing. This is the stuff we don’t get to find out about unless a more experienced person has been there and got the metaphoric t shirt.
Some real inspiration here. Thank you.