Care of your prosthesis

You must of gotten a cheap set ? My ins. payed $600.00 for mine and i get a new set every year. I don't do anything special with mine. You can take a warm cloth and wipe them off i just leave mine in my bra all the time i also get 3 bra's a year.

My Amoena silcone "gel" filled ones with a thin, skin-like covering just need to be washed with mild soap every once in a while.  I don't wash them that often, frankly, because they don't get dirty.  They're protected by my mastectomy bras.  They're pretty darn tough!

My Amoenas came with a thin fabric covering....but I chose not to use it.  It's not necessary to use it if you have a mastectomy bra, which protects it better than any little piece of cloth they give you.  Have you pulled everything out of the box that it came in?  I recall there were goodies in the box at the bottom:  instructions, the covering, etc.  If the box was empty, maybe you could contact whomever sold it to you and tell them you're missing those things?

The silicone process for the ACS forms may not be very good, so that's why the forms are inexpensive (or free) and break down more easily. Or perhaps as someone suggested, the free forms have been previously used. You should be able to sleep with your forms on without having them get ruined. The big manufacturers--Amoena, TruLife, Jodee, Anita, even the newer Silique--all provide warranties with their forms and will replace them if they break down from normal use (you do have to be careful not to puncture them because that's not covered). Most warranties are for two years.

Regarding comfort, there are a few forms available that have fabric backing over silicone, so the fabric is part of the form and you can wear them in unpocketed bras without needing a cover. Silique makes two such forms. There are also some non-silicone forms that can be worn in unpocketed bras. If you check out the Breast Forms section of my non-profit website, BreastFree.org, I describe some of the options.

Barbara

I just googled "care for breast forms" and this info from the Amoena site came up:

If cared for correctly, your breast form should last you for many years. However, take care not to puncture your breast form with sharp objects, such as pins or pet claws, as repair is not possible. Use of talcum powder and body lotions on or around your breast form should also be avoided. To ensure your breast form remains in good condition, you should wash it every day with soap and water* and dry with a soft cloth or towel. When not being worn, you should keep your breast form in the cradle provided, as this will help to maintain its shape.

* special care instructions apply to the contact range of breast forms, shown below.

The site also has special instructions (complete with photos) for contact forms.

www.TLCdirect.org is the American Cancer Society's official retail site. They are having sales now.

Good luck.