Prosthesis for 'concave' chest wall

BBLady

I had a single mastectomy in May, had a fitting for a prosthesis in June and have just finished my chemo treatments.  Apparently, I was still a bit swollen from the surgery when I was fitted for my prosthesis, because now I have a bit of a gap between the prosthesis and my chest.  I talked to my fitter about it and she said there wasn't anything she could suggest.  Has anyone else had this problem?  Or does anyone have any suggestions on types of prosthesis that might work better than others?  I don't wear alot of low cut tops, but now am having difficulty wearing regular tank tops.  Any help would be appreciated!!!

Kathy

otter

Kathy, I pm'd you.

otter 

OLBinNJ

Look on the sites for breast forms, and you will find something called cups.  They are sold in pairs and I use one or two of them behind the regular form for added projection.

BBLady

Thanks!  I'll check those out.

Kathy

Sassa

Kathy, have you done any exercises to regain flexibility through the chest area after surgery?

 I also was concave through the chest area after bilateral mastectomies.  I learned the problem was caused by the stricture of muscles in the chest area and compounded by being round shouldered. 

After working with a physical therapist and continuing to do the chest stretching  and shoulder exercises on my own, my chest is no larger concave.

BBLady

No I haven't really done any exercies, because I had full range of motion within a week of my surgery.  I got a booklet from the Anerican Cancer Society with exercises for post-mastectomy - are those the exercies you did or what?  Had not even thought about exercises helping that out.  Thanks for the info and if there are any specific exercises that aren't in the booklet, please let me know.

Kathy

Sassa

I thought I had full range of motion, also.  When I started doing the exercises, I realized that I didn't.

I can't find my ACS booklet for post mastectomy exercises so I will tell you what exercises the physical therapist gave me for my shoulders and chest to "open" my chest up.

Standing up, hold your arms down at your side with your lower arms extended in front of you at a 90 degree angle.  Press your shoulders backwards toward your shoulder blades.  Hold for a count of 5 seconds.  Repeat 15 times.

Stand in a corner and place your forearms flat on both walls (left arm, left wall; right arm, right wall).  Lean in and hold for 20 seconds.  Repeat 3 times.  When you lean in, you should feel a pull across your chest.  If you don't, move back from the corner.  If I remember correctly, the ACS booklet has a similar exercise on a wall, not a corner.  The corner is more of a challenge.

I find a hand towel the perfect length for the next exercise. Hold a towel diagonally across your back (like you are drying yourself).   One elbow should be  up in the air, the other arm is down and behind your back. With the arm with the elbow facing up, pull up on the towel which will pull your opposite shoulder and arm in towards your back and upwards.  Hold for 15 seconds.  Repeat 3 times. Switch arm positions and repeat.

Extend your arms down and behind your back.  Hold a rod about 18 inches long in your hands (Palms up) behind your back.  Lift your arms upwards 15 times.  Holding a rod between your two hands causes less stress on the shoulders than clasping your hands behind your back  and lifting upwards.

Standing up with your arms down at your sides, roll your shoulders back 20 times.

I know there is an exercise in the ACS booklet that tells you to lie on your back with your arms at your side.  Hold onto and rod and lift up and over your head and touch the floor above your head.  I thought I had a full range of motion on this one until I tried to hold my arms over my head and touching the floor for a few seconds.  It has taken me several months, but I now can hold the extended position for two minutes.  I get too bored to try for a longer period.

BBLady

Wow!  I guess I really need to get started on those!  I really appreciate you sharing with me.  I'll probably discover I don't have full range of motion either.  Thanks so much for your help!!

Kathy

debjay417

I had a double mastectomy in October 2011 and didn't want reconstructive surgery.  I was actually very content with being "flat"...but discovered that was not to be!  I am concave and that has been a daily issue with clothing.  I have done exercises for range of motion and for the lymph edema in my right arm. Sure wish my surgeon or oncologist or radiologist or some one had told me about exercises for my chest!  The more time passes the more frustrated I become that we are left to find out so many things on our own!  

Ok...venting is done!  Blessings to all who are/have battled this disease.

Ariom

Hi Kathy! I am a Uniboober too! I have been researching and trying all kinds of bras, camis, Boobs, Foobs and Prosthesis since my Umx in Dec 2012.
I have found many really good products. I have a concave area, but it is below my incision almost under my arm, so it isn't too difficult to  dress with a gap there. 

Here in Aus they are obsessive about us doing exercises 4x per day, so range of motion and a bit of muscle building are taken care of early on.

I am wondering what kind of bra you are wearing this prosthesis in? Is it sitting flat against your chest with the straps adjusted? There is a thing called "Fall Forward" that happens when we bend over and the weight of the prosthesis falls forward exposing the gap. The best way to avoid this is to seek out either a Mx camisole that is cut higher on the chest with pockets for your prosthesis built into it. There are some tops that have the higher neckline, but they aren't as easy to find as you'd think. Amoena make my favorite Mx cami & T shirt, called the Valletta. They have a shelf bra built in.

There is also the Contact Prosthesis, which actually attaches to the chest and eliminates gaps. It can be worn with a normal bra, but be very careful of under wires, they can be very dangerous if you are numb and a wire comes loose. Another type of Prosthesis is a "U" shape and it can be rotated, to fit flatter against the chest.

Good Luck with finding things that you'll feel comfortable in, it's a lot of trial and error, and I have found that there is no Prosthesis that is just perfect for every outfit. There are some quite cheap light weight foam or Micro bead foobs that can be worn in say a sports bra or crop top under a shirt or a tank that are so comfy and don't fall forward.