Hi - I’d like some help please. I had a double mastectomy in March of this year followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. I was fitted for prosthesis in May or June by a lovely BC nurse and am the proud posessor of a pair of prosthesis which have sat in their box on top of the wardrobe ever since! Is there anyone else in my position? I can understand wearing a prosthesis if you have only had a single mastectomy because you would feel unbalanced but wearing two feels like having a bag of potatoes slung around your neck. I really feel like a freak wearing them. I had thought that I would have a reconstruction but I’m not sure about that now - does that feel as artificial as a pair of prosthesis or does it depend on the type of reconstruction? The only problem is getting clothes to fit my flat chest as I am a size 20/22. Is there anybody else out there who feels like I do or has any suggestions for clothes etc.
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I hate wearing my prosthesis. I had a single mastectomy in March. I either wear baggy clothes or black which tends not to show your chest. Luckily I wear a blue nurses uniform every day at work (I’m a receptionist at a vets) and it’s baggy enough not to need to use my prosthesis. When I go out somewhere nice I do wear it but I feel very much aware of it.
Next April I will have the other breast removed (LCIS and high risk). I don’t want reconstruction and plan to go ‘flat’ where possible. I understand what you mean about the clothes though. I’m a size 18 and it’s hard to find tops that don’t gape. I think I’ll use my one comfortable post surgery bra and sew some comfies in that rather than actually get prosthesis. That’s the plan anyway.
I don’t feel any less of a woman without one (or two) breasts. Never did like them anyway! Everyone’s different. Would be interested to see other people’s responses though.
Thanks Jacki - it’s nice to know I’m not alone! I didn’t wear the softies either - in fact I gave them back - the nurses seemed most surprised. I have found that vests from Monsoon with lace across the top fill the gap on lots of other tops!
Ive got my lil softy…and depending on what mood im in…and if the cat hasnt nicked em…will depend on if I put it in or not. I didnt bother one night on putting it in to go to work…and the uncomfy looks from the lads (they were uncomfy i wasnt lol) just really cheesed me off…so made a note to self to stick it in the next night. My fave comment for the ‘chest watchers’ out there was…helloooooo ive got two eyes if one boob is upsetting you…worked a treat.
Most of the time I dont bother when im at home…and its just a pain in the backside putting it in my bra…mind you…trying to track them down after the cat has been playing with them is just as annoying…but it is funny to watch her stalk the boob across the room…hours of entertainment.
I don’t really like wearing my prosthesis, - single mastectomy - but I do because I’m a 40DD and with working in a school I obviously don’t want the children to stare.
It all depends on which bra I wear as to how I feel, sometimes I’m adjusting ‘things’ throughout the day. Personally, if I’d had to have a double, I don’t honestly think I’d bother with prosthesis.
I think I will go for a recon, but in about 5 years when hopefully I will have finished the Tamoxifen.
I am another onetit. I don’'t put mine in unless I am going out to pub. and not always that. Someone actually said why don’t you put a softie in for self esteem Said haven’t got a problem with it only want my eyelashes back. If anyone else got a problem with it tough. Love to all Eileen
Thanks for that. My oncologist seemed rather surprised and said I’d want to wear them when I want to feel “feminine”! I think it’s less feminine to have two false boobs slung round your neck! I can understand all you single mastectomy people wearing them as you’d probably feel unbalanced but it’s us double mastectomies that I’m interested in. Still can’t decide whether to have a reconstruction though!! Hey ho. Happy New Year. Love to all
A while ago on breast cancer.org website a lady posted lots of pictures on a thread about this very thing, showing herself in the same outfits with or with out her prostheses, it got loads of responses form ladies who had had a double… you might still be able to look at it if you have a search. I have had a single mastectomy ( 3 Nov), I have just started running again and just go out with one boob, cant be bothered running with a falsie tho I wear it the rest of the time. I think people often see what they want/ expect to see so often dont even register that you have a flat chest/one boob!
Interesting point that about people expecting what they want to see. I’ve found people who know me well totally ignore my chest, those that are acquaintances seem to check it “just to make sure” and complete strangers either don’t notice (or are very polite!) or can’t take their eyes off it!
I had a single mastectomy and wear a prothesis. I would be interested to know weather you other single prosthesis girls wear a bra to support your remaining breast. If I wear a bra without a prosthesis the unweighted side rides up and is very uncomfortable. I really would be interested to a solution to my dilemma!!
I like to wear a bra to support my remaining breast as I do a lot of walking and it can be quite uncomfortable without one! I always whip the bra off as soon as I get home though!
Dear Sharon
Single breasted woman here!
I had a mastectomy in June and wear a bra and prosthesis to go out in. I just feel too lopsided otherwise and feel my posture is affected. (I am a traditionally built woman which an ostrich fillet rather than a chicken fillet sized prosthesis) I never were them at home unless a person I don’t know well visits. I have tried a bra without prosthesis but that is also uncomfortable and I figit about a lot.
I won’t be having a reconstruction as I really couldn’t bear to have more surgery than I had to.
if I had a bi lateral I can’t think for one minute I would wear twin prosthesis. It would seem the simpler option to go without. However the lack of one large breast has shown that there is a large stomach present below but at least it hides my thighs!!!
I am also a one breasted lady, i couldn’t wait for my proper prothesis as i wanted to look as near normal as possible. I did change the first one for a lightweight and found that more comfortable. I find now that most of the time i really don’t notice or think about it anymore, i just pop it in its pocket in my bra when dressing in the morning and then tend to forget about it. I have very uneven scaring so would not be able to wear the self adhesive one anyway. Must admit by about 9pm i am ready to take the thing out and usually shower and change into my night clothes, only because i have painful scaring still though my operation was in June.
I also agree with many of the ladies who posted here, i really do not want more surgery, i was offered a Reconstruction at time of surgery which i agreed to but unfortunately due to a hospital error i never got it and now dont want any more surgery than is absolutely necessary.
Hi Sharon, I had a double mastectomy 3 years ago and had major problems dealing with my change in shape After some time I decided that I would wear my prosthesis to work as it was easier for me at the time and go flat chested at other times, eg. at home, the gym, playing golf and when meeting friends etc. I also had some advice from a personal shopper which I found very useful. I find it amusing having a choice on whether to go with or without.
My first day back at work was a bit tricky for my husband, when I put them in I was so frustrated, flushing ++, uncomfertabel and anxious, they both came flying out and my husband had to duck has they were heading his way. We laughed at it later in the day when he rang me to remind me.
Am no boobies person… Had bilateral sept 07, and am still in a lot of pain and discomfort now.
I was given softies to leave the hospital and a month later fitted for prostesis, how much fun i had trying alll the shapes and sizes on! I am now looking at how big my stomach is to, and am a size 18-20. I have got a lot of my clothes from matalan in the rogers and rogers section, they have done some really noce tops with the lace section on, so you dont have the gap I wear this top with or without my prostesis.
I chose to have prostesis, but don’t always wear them… Don’t wear them in day around house, but if am going out, i sometimes wear them, it depends if i can be bothered/or am not sore. I was originally fitted with a non-pocked bra, and boy am i glad i went at christmas period to bra shop that has been fitting me for 9yrs! Got fitted with pocketed ones, and now don’t notice i have been wearing my prostesis, and not having to keep adjusting them.
I think it is personal choice, and how you feel about yourself. I do find I wear them if am feeling low, and going to places where i know there will people i don.t know there. Although I didnt wear them on saturday night went to my local pub, and got greeted by an older man who made me very self concious - kept glaring at me and my lack of chest! He also overheard me and his friends wife, chatting then decided to stick his oar and and made me feel extremely uncomfortable… I have been wearing prostesis since during day and evening.
Sorry for the long rant…
But as i said my view is if your comfortable without them then I wouldn’t bother wearing them/it… but i have had a bilateral so I can’t give advice to ladies who have had single mastectomy.
Thanks for reading/listening, i may be able to get some sleep now am feeling a little tired (4.18am)