I had my first mastectomy in May '04 and my second (by choice) in May '05. I have prostheses, both the stick on kind & the ones that fit in pockets.
I found the year that I was “unbalanced” very hard & this was a major factor in deciding to have the second surgery.
Things are easier now in terms of dressing, but finding clothes I want to wear, whilst wearing a mastectomy bra, is challenging! Straps too big, cut too high etc.
I tend to not bother with the prostheses most of the time. but still don’t think the recon route is right for me.
I seem to develop keloid scars easily, & can imagine if I did have a recon. I’d look like a horror movi.
Bi-Lat ? Obviously everyone has different takes on whether to wear prosthesis or not, but having had a bi-lat mastectomy I sometimes feel that the women who have just had the one side feel that we are better off.
Indeed my mate who I met when we had our surgery and has had one breast removed called me a ’ Lucky Moo!'.
It certainly doesnt feel that way when you are diagnosed with multiple BC’s both sides, may be different if it was a preventative bi-lat.
And I still am amazed that no-one has mentioned being the concave shape that I am, its very uncomfortable to lay on.
nipples! Hi Blondie,
just to say my mum had skin taken from her inner thigh to make her new nipple, i think it was quite painless and the result is really good, you can then have tatoo on it to make it more your natural colour. at the time my mum did’nt have it tatooed as she was so chuffed with it as it was, but now she thinks it is a bit too light. my mum is blonde but i’m very dark haired and skinned and so when i get mine done i will need it, my breast care nurse has offered to do hers aswell!
my mum did try the stick on nipple but when she worked in a bar and had to wear a blouse (obviously with a bra!) this bloke asked if she was pleased to see him as the nipple sticks out a bit, that really upset her and she threw it away! some people really dont think before they speak.
Its funny but i feel that the nipple reconstruction will be the last step. alot of people i know dont realise that you have to loose your nipple and to be quite honest i think thats why it looks odd, because its something that you always expect to have there!
so i’m giving big thumbs up to nipple reconstruction and look forward to hearing how you get on if you do decide to go for it! i’m also excited (not sure if thats the right word) or anticipating my end results! be good to get bigger boobs back that i had before breast feeding!!
Take care
Claire xx
Prosthesis I had a mastectomy 4 days ago and have been wearing my bra and soft prosthesis. I was absolutely devastated to have to have this surgery. I liked me as I was and would never have changed anything. Aging did n’t frighten me (I’m 47) but losing part of my body has been horrendous. The way I look now is awful. I look in the mirror and I think I look like a boy or asexual. I can’t have reconstruction until I have finished treatment and I’m hoping I don’t have to have radiotherapy so that I have surgery sooner rather than later. I was equally devastated to be told that if I have radiotherapy I will have to wait a year after my last lot before I can have a reconstruction. I will be wearing a prosthesis and having reconstructive surgery as soon as I can. I just want to be and to look like “me” again and at the moment I feel totally mutilated.
It is real early days yet for you and I hope you come to feel better soon and get a good fitting prosthesis for long term wear until you can get the reconstruction done.
I saw from the catalogues at the Breast Care Team, there are lots of pretty bras and different kinds of inserts to give you the best fitting. Don’t feel you have to stick with what they have given you to get over the first couple of weeks.
I guess my main thought before and after the op was that they were getting rid of the cancer, overrode every other consideration for me, but I did say I thought I would be in the minority.