Having a mastectomy next week and I’m very upset. I had wanted a reconstruction at the same time but the surgeon says that that isn’t possible for various reasons - partly as the operation needs bringing forwards as the cancer is growing and partly as I will need extensive radiotherapy and he thinks that the result of a reconstruction may not be very good due to that. Due to other medical issues, including extensive abdominal surgery and back problems and having chronic health conditions , a tissue reconstruction may not be possible/advisable.
i feel that I will never be able to go back to my normal life and activities with just one breast as I have found it impossible to get a comfortable mastectomy bra as they tend to have big cups and come up higher at the sides and thus dig in. None of those in M&S fit and most mastectomy bras are in the same few styles. I tend to wear scoop necked T -shirts snd like smooth, seam free and minimal bras. I have ordered some soft crop top style bras from Amazon for the first few days post surgery but the support isn’t as good as for a proper bra and all that fabric is a bit hot and sweaty. I am also aware of Asda’s range but they are out of anything that I like in my size and I’m not sure that lace is a good idea and prefer smooth bras anyway.
most upsetting of all is that I am a swimmer and cannot find a mastectomy swimming costume suitable for someone fairly tall (needs to be long enough in the body) and with bigger cups (E plus). I was a G cup before cancer weight loss and expect to put on some of that weight again. I have narrow hips and shoulders so if I go up a size, end up with clothing hanging off me/falling down. I’ve always worn Adidas or Speedo swimming costumes as these fit well and are comfortable but these cannot be adapted. I have a bikini with F cup but it comes too low to be able to sew in a prosthesis pocket. I hate costumes with skirts and things like that - I wear proper sports brands.
I am disabled and have arthritis and mobility problems and swimming is the only exercise I could do and a large part of my social life. I have been in M&S (swimming costumes are short in the body and the prosthesis pockets are tiny) and this seems to be the case if I simply look for my dress size. I have looked at Nicola Jane, Amooena and other specialist sites and most costumes only fit up to a c cup. There is the odd one that goes up to a D.
while I still hope that I may be able to get some sort of reconstruction or reduction of the other breast at some stage, this could be a considerable time down the line.
Has anybody found a sportswear brand that does mastectomy costumes in E+ cup, preferably one that does not come up high to dig in under the arms?
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