Post-lumpectomy bras when boobs are different sizes
It's been four years since my lumpectomy so I'm assuming that my tissue has settled in wherever. During my lumpectomy, my surgeon took out a golfball-sized amount of tissue from my right breast. So, my right breast is somewhat less full than my left breast. At first, I didn't think that it would make much of a difference, but then I started to notice that my bras didn't fit well over the differently-sized boobs. They appear crooked because the left boob fills it more than the right boob. Anyone else have this problem? Any bra style recommendations? I don't like underwires, but otherwise, I'm open to any suggestions.
Comments
-
Can you stick something in there to fill it out and make it match? I feel like if you look closely you could tell mine aren't exactly the same size, but I don't think anyone is looking, lol!!
-
Elaine, some good stores that do bra fittings also do alterations on the bras. I'm full at bottom but kind of flat at the top, so the woman would fit me, then sew a kind of tuck into the bottom of the cup to take up the extra fabric that gapped.
-
ET - TLC Direct has some small shaped inserts that seek to equalize the bra cups - if you wear bras with any kind of liner or shield you can add these:
One of my implants sits significantly lower than the other due to the number of surgeries I have had and this type of item helps add some "bottom" weight to the cup on the other side to conceal that. I wear Coobie bras a lot and they have an open pocket with a shield inside so I can just add the extra one in on the other side to even it out.
-
I'm facing a similar issue. I had UMX with reconstruction, but I'm now pregnant so my healthy breast is growing and the other other isn't.
Someone here pointed me to AnaOno.com. they specialize is bras for BC survivors. The cups have pockets so you can add padding. I actually had a couple of "normal" bras that have this feature too, and I've been stealing the inner layer of padding from the ones I'm not wearing to double up on the smaller side. The pads are breast shaped and fit easily over what you've got to even things out.
I do still face some crookedness which I have to watch out for in a low cut shirt, but it works pretty well. Good luck! Let us know what solution you find.
-
Wow! Thanks for all the ideas, ladies. I'll try a few different options and let you know what worked best for me.
-
I'm really lopsided so wear a good padded bra for work, dressing up etc. (if you haven't checked out underwires, there are some good ones with so much padding around the wire that you don't even feel it). In a sports bra I look for one with enough pad/material so that the nipples won't show through (since mine go in two directions!) but don't worry if I look even or not......if someone is staring at my boobs while exercising, they already have big problems of their own!
-
I've always hated underwires, so that's not an option for me. I've noticed that some of my soft bras look okay, and with others the difference is more noticeable. I occasionally use a very soft lightweight cotton sock folded/rolled to fit. I got in the habit of using one after the lumpectomy and re-excision so I wouldn't swell. Also, I think the Knitted Knockers are available for partial fillers. https://www.knittedknockers.org/
-
I liked Bali Comfort Revolution. They go on sale as low as $15-20. They have light padding and you could put a little form in the smaller side, but the fit and paddingwill hide more subtle unevenness.
-
Seconding the anaono recommendation. I've gotten a few things from them and they're all that I've found that's comfortable since the surgery. Also super nice customer service. In looking around online I also found that amoena bras come in a lot of different styles with pockets. I haven't tried them because I'm still too early on to buy a whole bunch of new bras, but figured depending on how lopsided I am once all is said and done they'd be another one to consider for easy padding of one side.
-
You can also get a prescription for a 'partial breast prosthesis'.
-
I have very different sized breasts but haven't had much of a problem with bras. I usually wear a stretchy/athletic type bra. On the rare occasions I wear more like a normal bra I wear one with slight padding and, while they are different shapes/sizes, I don't think anyone is looking or would notice other than me. ;-)
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team