Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi I had a bilateral mastectomy in 2008 along with six lots TAC chemo and rads. I am OK with my flat chest, falsies and the scars, what I can't seem to accept is the continual pain in my side I don't know whether from the op or rads. I am upset by the awful marks that have appeared as a result of the rads which spread from under my arm, where I had an axillary clearance, across into my chest area and are visible if I wear a scoop neck top. Due to Taxotere, which I am told saved my life, my hair has never grown back fully anywhere on my body. On my head it is very fine and thin with male pattern baldness at the back, this is the one thing I am very conscious of and hate. I disliked wearing a wig when I was bald and am certainly not going to wear one now. My oncologist was adamant that my hair would grow back, maybe I was one of the unlucky ones as there are a few others in the same boat, a warning probably would not have helped but I might have been a bit more prepared and able to deal with it a bit better. When I spoke to my GP about my feelings he suggested counselling but there would be quite a wait, so I spoke to my local Macmllan outreach centre and I had counselling and support through them which was extremely helpful but my feelings about my hair I still find difficult to deal with. Jennie ... View more

Hi rz I too decided to have both off at the same time, five years ago now. I have not gone for recon, couldn't face anymore surgery, I am happy as I am. I have found that Genie bras, the ones that have the inserts are magic! Take out the inserts and pop in your prosthesis(ses?) and voila perfect. I am 36C and they work fine for me, you just carefully ease your boobs in the pockets and off you go, comfy and natural looking. They don't seem to fall away from your chest when you bend forward as much as other bras. Another big thing for me is the fact they don't cut in along my ribs where I had rads and am still a bit tender. Hope this helps. Jennie ... View more

Hi all, I had a bilateral in 2008, and I had my dog ears taken care of in 2011, after that I felt a lot happier with my shape. The sight that really affects me is the discolouration and surface blood vessels where I had Rads, it looks so ugly. I am happy to go without my boobs, depending on what I am wearing but equally I don't mind too much strapping them on. What I find really hard is finding pretty dresses and tops that are not too low cut, everything seems to have V necks or very low scoops not good if you are wearing falsies! love and hugs Jennie ... View more

I am 4 years since diagnosis and treatment and have got full cover for a month in Crete, Greece, next year, for hypertension, lymphodema and breast cancer from Insure and Go, I had the choice of travel insurance without the Medical cover for £49.00 or with full medical cover for £116.00. I did not think this was overly expensive as it is not the lowest level of cover they offer, as I am 66 years old it does load the premium somewhat. Why do Insurance companies seem to think if you have had breast cancer and completed the treatment, it is likely to flare up again when you are on holiday? Best wishes to everyone Nonny ... View more

HiNat YES, I have gone out for a walk or just to the local shops and suddenly realised I have not 'shouldered' my boobs. As you say, people just don't notice. I must admit I do feel more comfortable without as I do suffer some pain in the side where I had rads, it has affected my ribs, so I tend to be without more than with. Best wishes to all Jennie ... View more

I have used the Eyelure tape, it is marvellouse. I also bought some Genie bras with the pockets for the inserts. I can get my prosthesis in the pockets and they are great. I have wondered about the lift and separate type bras. I found the mx bras tend to gape at the front and if you bend forward they come right away from your chest, not a good look! Nonny ... View more

Hi JuniorJ I had a bilateral mastectomy in 2008. I was diagnosed in 2004 with DCIS in my left breast and had a WLE with no chemo or rads. Then in 2008 I had a 6.5cm Triple Negative tumour in my right breast, 5 out of 19 nodes and surrounding tissue affected. Had chemo first which got rid of tumour but cancer still active in nodes and tissue. So I decided to have a bilateral mx and had 3 weeks rads to follow. It was my decision not to have recon, I didn't want any more scars that necessary and I thought it would be nice to have the choice of whether to wear prosthesis or not depending on how I felt. It is great. I am 66 now, which I know is older than you, but I like to think I am not an 'old' 66. I can choose what I want to wear and when. In the summer when I go out I sometimes go boobless, it depends on what I am wearing. I have three different sets of boobs, but when I am wearing anything a bit loose I don't bother, it is very liberating. As my husband pointed out, there are a lot of ladies out there who don't have busts anyway. I won't say I didn't miss them at first, obviously I did, but I don't now, and I am quite happy with my body the way it is. Hope this helps a bit, I know body image is very important but I got used to my new shape very quickly, and don't think about it at all now. Love and hugs Jennie ... View more

Hi all, I had six lots of TAC back in 2008 and I have male pattern baldness and very fine hair, not a bit like it was before. I also suffered from periodic outbreaks of alopecia prior to TAC, I wonder if this does affect how the hair grows back. I was Triple Negative so am not taking any medication but it looks as if my hair will never grow on the back of my head. I have not tried any of the lotions that are supposed to help men keep their hair as there is a disclaimer on them saying not for chemically induced hair loss, and as they are so expensive I have never bothered. I did think of asking my GP if Minoxidil would make any difference but haven't plucked up the courage yet! My Oncologist sat there and said before I started TAC "your hair WILL grow back" I wonder if he has changed what he says now. Love and hugs to all Nonny ... View more

Hi Sara Look after your nails really well, with a good hand and nail cream, I wore fine cotton gloves to protect my hands, even when I was at work, it helped a lot. I had 6 TAC back in 2008. It wrecked my nails, they are still not back to how they were before, they are ridged, split and flake all the time. Before TAC I had lovely strong nails. To try and hide them I did have a professional manicure last October to go to a wedding, with the varnish that goes under ultra violet light, acrylic I think. When it was taken off my nails were worse than ever and it has taken the last 12 months to get back to how they were before the manicure. Ridged, split and flakey. My hair has hever recovered either, prior to TAC I had thick hair although it was fine, now I am practically bald at the back and the rest is very thin and sparse. I am triple negative as well and I think since 2008 they have toned down the chemo a bit, it nearly killed me! I am grateful to be alive, but I do wish I didn't have so many reminders of what I've been through. Your nails will grow again, just give them plenty of TLC. Love and hugs Nonny ... View more

Hi Ladies, I finished TAC chemo in June 2008 and my nails still have not recovered. They grow nicely for about 2 or 3 months then start to split and flake. My thumb nails are still ridged although not as badly as when I was having chemo. I've tried most things including numerous Sally Hansen products which all cost the earth! My hair has never recovered either it is very sparse, especially at the back and I have to keep it about 1 inch long. Whenever I queried any of this with my Oncologist he says the treatment was harsh but necessary and it has saved my life! No help there then. I should feel grateful but having lost both boobs, got lymphodema in my arm, permanently painful ribs and diverticular disease I am well and truly fed up to still be virtually bald and have naff nails. There, I've had my little rant. Good luck everyone Jennie ... View more

Hi Rehna I had taxotere in 2008 and my hair has never grown back properly. Like yours it is about an inch long and very thin especially at the back although it looks OK from the front and I have it streaked with red. I won't wear a wig I hated it when I didn't have any hair at all and only wore it about half a dozen times. People usually realise why my hair is like it is and if they are uncomfortable with it that is their problem not mine. I am me, and the fact that I have had breast cancer with a bilateral mastectomy and chemo made me who I am now. I am grateful for the treatment that means I am still alive savouring every day. My old man accepts me as I am, boobless and partially bald, he is just happy I am still with him. I get upset some times and wish I was back to 'normal' but I am still 'me' inside and am happy to be able to walk with friends every morning, when everything could have been so different. Love yourself for who you are Love and big hugs Jennie ... View more

Hi Mavis It is a bit of a squeeze but my two 36C boobs go in without any problems, I just roll them and ease them in through the gaps, because the material is stretchy they go in quite easily. The bra is absolutely fabulous and stays close to my chest wall as well which is a bonus as far as I am concerned. Love and hugs ladies Jennie ... View more

I got mine through Amazon for 24.99. Search for 'Official Genie Bra - 3 Pack White, Nude & Black in Sports and Ourtdoors. It says right down the bottom in the Product Description, 'And best of all, the Genie bra has specially designed insert pockets, so you can slip in the extra soft, full coverage support pads for that enhanced shape and perkier look. It's like having your very own custom made bra!' but you can get your prosthesis into the pocket and it is great! They go up to XXXXL size but you choose your dress size, check the official Genie site -for example UK dress size 12 is L and 16 is XXL ! Hope this helps you ladies. Jennie ... View more

Hi Rattles, I can empathise with what your are feeling and going through. i had a WLE in 2004 in my left breast with no further treatment and then in 2008 diagnosed with triple negative in my right breast. I had TAC chemo first to shrink the tumour and give me time to decide whether to go for a bilateral, which I had, followed by rads. It took me a while to get used to my new body, I had dog ears and was very sore the side that had rads. I got post surgery bras from Amoena which were very soft and comfortable, I agree the 'softees' I was supplied with were horrible and I went flat chested until I was fitted with my two Amoena 'falsies'. These were OK but I was not very happy with them and spoke to my BCN and was refitted with a different shape and make, Anita Vaio, which can be stuck on, which are wonderful. I have two lightweight sets and a swimming set. I tend to not bother when I am at home. I finally had remedial surgery on the dog ears last December and am now very pleased with the way I look. I still mourn my breasts from time to time, they had been with me for 62 years, but on the whole I don't miss them! Sending you great big but very gentle hugs and many comforting thoughts. Lots of love to you all Jennie ... View more

Hi all, I was diagnosed Jan 2008 age 62, 6.5cm tumour, opted for chemo first 6 lots of TAC, boy was it hard. Double mx, (had WLE in other breast in 2004 so decided to get rid of both), with axillary clearance, 5 of 19 nodes and surrounding tissue affected. Then three weeks rads. Finished treatment in September 2008 so very nearly four years now. Have been signed off by my Oncologist no more check ups! So there is light at the end of the tunnel there are quite a few of us TNBC survivors, we just don't come back to this site as often as we used to. Love and Hugs to all xxxx ... View more

I had a bilateral mx in 2008 and was 'issued' with two Amoena Natura boobs which I found uncomfortable and heavy. After 12 months I asked my Breast Care Nurse about adhesive prosthesis she showed me Amoena Contact and Anita Vario ranges. I opted for the Anita Vario and have been more than pleased with them, they are a better shape than the Amoena ones and a bit lighter. A few months after I had my op I was asked back to the Hospital for a Mammogram and later to the mobile Unit, each time I rang and offered to bring along my two 'pets' they we most apologetic, a good job I have a sense of humour and was able to have a laugh! I have just been to the breast care dept for a check up and was handed a form to fill in showing where on which breast I had found a lump, I queried this with the Receptionist and she was most apologetic but again we had a laugh. I haven't thought about what I could do with the spares, and I also had not thought of naming them, perhaps I should! When I don't use the adhesive bits, I do find myself shaking them down into my bra every so often as they tend to ride up a bit in the pockets, I have found myself doing it when other people are around, I wonder what they think! Good luck and keep smiling. Jennie ... View more

Hi Lulu Glad you got rid of yours. I just couldn't face being cut again, so I am leaving it to see if it gets any bigger, or hopefully the stitch will make its own way out. If it gets bigger I expect I will get it seen to but at the moment its not a bother so I am leaving it alone. I just wish that when anything unusual happens your mind didn't immediately go to the big C, it would be lovely to get back the peace of mind before all this nastiness happened. Hey Ho on we go. Love and hugs to all Jennie ... View more

Saw surgeon, she asked for a detailed Ultrasound. This showed what she thought it was, a stitch, she said I could have it cut out or leave it alone. I opted to leave it alone I have had enough of being chopped and poked and prodded! She said if I had any problems, the stitch might work its way to the surface for example, to give the department a ring and she would sort it out. I am staying well away from the hospital from now on, roll on the rest of my life. Love and hugs to all you ladies out there. Jennie ... View more