Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi again Clare! Regarding support pants Primark have very inexpensive range.  I needed support shorts and they were £5 each!  Bought from M&S first, but expensive ones felt very firm and less expensive ones didn't feel supportive enough to me.  Had to go to Primark twice as they had sold out first time!   ... View more

Hi cdc1811, I managed to get a twin pack, non wired but with padded shaped cups.  Bought other types, including sports bras, but these are most comfortable...and as you say, if they don't have to cut them !!! Thanks, yes I am recovering much better than I expected.  Small area didn't take, but is healing quickly. Hope your surgery goes well, sending you good wishes  ... View more

Hi,  Had one breast reconstructed.  Was very surprised when I was advised to buy nursing bras!  Idea was that they could be opened when I was being checked without waking me.  Got 2 soft cupped ones from M&S! Good luck with the surgery! ... View more

Hi Nicpic, i am 4 weeks post bilateral TUG reconstruction of one breast.  My husband was also very worried about me having this surgery.  He'd been online and read some negative things that worried him.  Many of the posts are quite old and surgery has advanced a lot in the past few years thankfully. I have other issues which make me more at risk if I pick up an infection so an implant wasn't a realistic option as infection risks are greater with this ( not huge though, just too much for me).  I also felt that even if I didn't get an infection, implants do need replacing as TVgirl says and mean more surgery as I get older (55 now).  The first surgeon I saw ultimately seemed to feel that all she could offer me was a reduction of the healthy breast so that I would need a smaller and lighter prosthesis - not the answer I was looking for.  She did however offer to refer me to a colleague for a second opinion as they had more experience with TUGs.  He has been amazing!  Discussed potential risks and his history of doing op, infection rate etc ( almost non-existent over hundreds of ops).  My husband as reassured by coming to these appointments with me.   I think all my family were very worried, but eventually when we properly spoke about it, told me that I had to do what I needed to do/ whatever felt right.   Scars don't worry me too much.  I already had a few big ones!  The scar from my mastectomy was huge and being concave on one side of my chest bothered me much more.  I couldn't have a DIEP because of a large abdominal scar  although if I wasn't vulnerable to infection it could have been used with a mesh for support.  Because I am a D cup and quite slim tissue was taken from both thighs and the scars are quite long.  They are to the inner area of my thigh going down the back of my leg ( slightly different angle to usual to provide more tissue and they are also healing more quickly than usual because that aren't under the buttocks).    I believe that a good surgeon will work with you for the best results. My expectations of the end result were low - surgeon said it would look fine in a bra but might feel like two rolls of flesh - as 2 flaps used.  But the results really exceed my hopes.  The shape is lovely and looks like a nice pert rounded breast.  It feels warm and looks natural, excepting the scars.  A small area did not take unfortunately,( I am told this is not a frequent problem) but i am assured it will heal naturally.  Might require a small skin graft under local anaesthetic or possibly a small operation to join the edges.  It has not put me off and I would still make the same decision. To summarise the reasons why I had a reconstruction with my own tissue were partly medical (infection risks), for a more natural end result and no need once nipple etc constructed and breast reduction on other side completed for further surgery in the future.  (Implant is still likely to need nipple construction and symetricisation of other breast from what I have read).  There is certainly more scarring, but my other scars have all faded over time to thin white lines and as I don't go around topless aren't a worry for me aesthetically. Recovery has been a lot better than I expected!  It is tough, but I am resting lots and my husband is doing a lot around the house.  I believe this is the hardest part, but I am going for short walks and am now driving our automatic car.  Every day feels easier. I could possibly do more, but don't want to risk causing any problems by doing more than I am supposed to.  ( I ignored some of the advice post mastectomy and caused a huge seroma - lesson learnt!).  On the plus side I don't have to consider recovering from more surgery in the years to come.  You will be advised about healthy eating etc before the surgery to increase recovery.   Sometimes having a choice makes it more difficult!  Ideally you will be advised by doctors who know what they are talking about.  Ask lots of questions and take your husband with you if you can.  Ultimately you need to choose what seems best for you.  Everyone will have different opinions and make different decisions.  I go to a breast cancer support group and people there have chosen to have no reconstruction, implants or various types of own tissue reconstructions and they all seem happy with their own decisions. Good luck with your decision making.   ... View more

Thank you so much.  This is really helpful!   Yes, the surgeon is quite relaxed about the unhealed area and says if it doesn't heal he can do more surgery to pull some of the tissue around ????  It just looks yuk!  But still so much better than having nothing there at all. Thigh wounds are healing well apparently.   It is great that you can share your experience and reassure others.  Thank you again. ... View more

Hi TVGirl, Thanks so much!  That's very helpful!  I hate feeling so useless and lazy!  But it is very important to make sure I heal properly.  Have a dead area which hasn't taken, so doing dressings and want to make sure it heals asap.  Husband is being very helpful!  Don't feel I can walk that far yet, but am managing more every day.  The plan the hospital gave you would be really helpful if you are able to post it    I was only told i could make the odd cup of tea!   ... View more

Hi Girls, you seem to have made amazing progress with your reconstructions. I'm 11 days post op from bilateral TUG for delayed reconstruction.  Feeling sore (of course!) but improving every day.  Just wondering about when I can start getting back to normal activity wise.  Husband back at work next week and he's been making every meal , drink etc.  I want to be completely independent but was told to do nothing for a couple of months, get a cleaner, dog walker etc.   How / what were you doing at various stages?  I'm doing very short walks at the moment, but even havinga shower , drying off and getting dressed is quite hard work. Thanks for any advice you can give  ... View more

Hi Janie123, I had a single mastectomy nearly 2 years ago now.  Had DCIS and lymphatic spread.  Actual tumour was small, but I've always had really lumpy breasts and the tests I had prior to surgery weren't clear about the extent of involvement.  this meant that on the morning of my surgery I was given the choice of mastectomy or lumpectomy and biopsies of other suspicious area and possibly a mastectomy later.  I couldn't face the thought of either another op close to the first or being left with a lumpy breast that would always worry me.  So I chose a mastectomy with the promise of reconstruction.  As I needed radiotherapy and chemo would have to wait a year for referrral. Like you I live in a small village and everyone knows everyone.  I was really worried that people would know I had breast cancer, but only some do.  (Those I have told mainly).  It's only now that I am realising that people really don't seem to know or notice.  The prosthesis fills my bra well and whilst I am about to have reconstruction my chest area, when clothed, looks quite normal, even to me!.   It really is such a horrible thing to happen to us, and such an important part of the body ( for me at least) that it is very hard not to think everything looks worse than it does.  It took ages, but I eventually bought a swimming costume and went swimming this summer.  Kept putting it off because I thought my lack of a boob would be really obvious....but a swimsuit from asda and a foam prosthesis did the job and really seemed unnoticeable. Good luck with the surgery XXX ... View more

Thanks Sal's. That helps. I have decided to go ahead. Have tried to explain to my husband who is understanding a bit better now. Xx ... View more