Questions--seing a surgeon soon

Anonymous

Dear all,

I am currently getting taxol x 12--finished AC x 4. I had a lumpectomy with close but clear margins end of Sept.  I am seeing a team of docs at MD Anderson soon. 

My protocol because of my dx (ILC, 1.9 c., 6/11 pos nodes, grade 1 st. II) seems to be radiation following chemo for sure.  I am trying to decide b/t bmx or bmx/recon (not sure in what order that will be, since I haven't met with the team yet).  

I am flat chested (A-tiny , tall, thin and hope to stay that way!, very very active.  Biking, yoga, hiking, rafting, weight lifting--and I travel via flying, too.  Using body fat for a recon probably isn't an option since I really don't have any.

But I do like to wear halter tops, halter dresses, etc, and enjoy having a bit of a chest even if it isn't much, if you know what I mean. I already go braless a lot since I'm so flat, and like the freedom.

Are there prosthesis bras that work for halter tops and halter dresses?  With someone like me who's already so flat chested, is it worth going through recon even though I might have to wait?  I am terrified that subsequent mammos will miss something else (I had 5 years of clear mammos but very dense breasts, and found my lump on my own via a BSE) so I want my girls gone one way or the other. ILC has a tendency to hide from mammos, which is why it wasn't found before.

I am 53, married,  happy with my life. As you can tell by my size, I was never in love with my boobs--they fed my daughter--but I'm having a hard time imagining being completely flat, too.

I'm undecided and hope that you all can help me by sharing your own experiences.  Less surgery would be great, of course; I've had 4 surgeries in 4 years (only one related to BC) and do not look forward to the idea of expanders, multiple surgeries (I'd have to travel 3 hours one way for it) infections, implants, necrotic tissue--the stores on these boards are pretty horrifying.

Help, please?  Thank you!

Claire

Momine

I am just delving into the world of no boobs and figuring out prostetics etc. I opted out of recon, at least for the time being, for similar reasons as yours. Besides, I have aesthetic hang-ups, and having looked through reams of pics of reconstructions I was really concerned that I would go through all the pain etc only to end up with something I would find hideous.

The first thing I have figured out is that after BMX you can really do whatever you want with foobs, because you have no real boob to match in look or weight. that is already pretty cool. I just got some microbead foobs and they are very light and comfortable.

Because I sew, I have been kicking around ideas for wearing foobs with different clothes. It seems to me that it should be possible to sew pockets for the foobs into all kinds of clothes, especially if the foobs are light like the microbead things. I was particularly thinking of things like halters and cocktail dresses, where wearing a clunky mastectomy bra might get tricky. The other thing that is completely possible is to baste light foobs into regular bras. So if you have a bra that fits under a halter, just baste some foobs into that. 

MT1

Claire,

I opted out of reconstruction. I had bilateral mastectomy and I do not regret it in the least. I used to be a 34 DD and now I go flat. I thought this would be a major distraction and that people would notice, comment, be... strange. But no. Folks who have known me understand my decision, folks who don't know me don't question me. Most people don't even notice. 

Check this out: http://breastfree.org/

Barbara, the site owner, is a member of these boards. There are photographs of all the different options. She also sells breast forms and has great tips.

SpecialK

If you sew here are some instructions for making prosthetic pockets in a regular bra.  www.whatididtosurvive.com/category/how-to-make-a-mastectomy-bra/ You can use any kind of bra - like a halter style, especially if you use lightweight forms.

Erica3681

Hi Melly,

Thanks for mentioning BreastFree.org to Claire. One correction, though: I don't sell breast forms on the site, I only recommend those I and other women have found most comfortable and workable. I've sometimes fantasized about creating a breast form and selling it at cost, but so far that's only a fantasy.

Claire, yes there are mastectomy bras that convert for halter tops. One example is the ABC Style 114. Here's a link so you can see it: http://www.metromedicalonline.com/abc114.html. And here's an Amoena bra that's convertible: http://www.metromedicalonline.com/amoena2780.html. Or, as SpecialK points out, you could also use any regular bra that's works with a halter top and sew in pockets. Or you could wear either non-silicone breast forms (prostheses) or silicone forms with a comfortable backing with your regular bra without a pocket (I frequently do that and have never had one come out). So yes, there are solutions!

Barbara

Anonymous

Thank you, ladies, for your helpful suggestions.  Decisions, decisions, decisions....it seems we all wind up with Phds in Breast Cancer, Tx, and Lifestyle adjustments when we are all done.

Off for Taxol #2 today.

 XXOO

C

chele

If you are considering no recon be sure you have a good surgeon. My first bmx was a disaster. A year later I had my scars revised.