Back Pain

When I had my mastectomy of my right breast in November 2006, I was left with Big Bertha flopping around by herself on the left.  The asymmetry of having one huge remaining breast aggravated my already existing neck, back and shoulder problems from being freak of nature big breasted.

 Wearing a heavy prosthesis did not help the problem at all.

When I had a a funky mammogram (Birads 5) of the remaining breast in May 07, I seized my opportunity and went right to a simple mastectomy  of the left breast (my oncologist was sure it wasn't BC and she was right).

Surprisingly,  being completely flatchested totally threw my muscles off even more(couldn't bend or turn my head, shoulders froze, intense back pain).  I had two months of physical therapy and massage, continued the stretching exercises and massages on my own after my PT and started strength training for my upper body.  It took about a year to whip everything into shape and be pain free. I wasn't interested in reconstruction.

During that time period and for the following 1 1/2 years I went flat about 97% of the time.

Last year I started thinking about reconstruction as I hated wearing my mastectomy bras and prostheses on the rare occasion that I wanted something up front.  I was also unhappy with the prostheses as I usually wanted to wear something lower cut when I was dressing up and the ugly, high cut bras and prostheses just didn't work.    I decided I was just too young (58 at the time) to spend the rest of my life in tee shirts.

I had tissue expanders placed last June, am 12 weeks past my last fill, and will have my exchange done on Dec 10.

I am waiting for the exchange because I had a 2 1/2 week cruise planned (just came back and had a wonderful time wearing deep V necklines and dresses with spaghetti straps or strapless dresses) and am also traveling during Thanksgiving.

At this point, physical therapy, massage and strength training will probably help you.  I don't know if you will completely alleviate the problem as you will still have the gross asymmetry to contend with.

Best wishes.

Whoops!! Duplicate post.

Hi Karen,

It used to be thought that after a unilateral mastectomy, your breast form (prosthesis) had to match the weight of your healthy breast. Many fitters still believe this (or at least still tell their customers this). But in fact, wearing a really heavy breast form isn't necessary and could possibly be contributing to your back pain.

There are many lighter-weight breast forms on the market, including some ultra-lightweight forms, like the Silique Comfort Lite. And also some non-silicone forms that are very light. You may need to experiment a bit, but it would be worth it if it alleviates your back pain. You might want to check out my non-profit website, BreastFree.org. In the Breast Forms section, I offer some recommendations for forms that women have found particularly comfortable (I got lots of my recommendations from women here at breastcancer.org). 

Karen,

When I bought my first prosthesis after my first mastectomy, I bought a silicone one that was suppose to be light weight.  It was the best match I could find for the remaining breast.  The light weight foam prosthesis isn't going to help; the imbalance is still there.

I think the problem for us big breasted ladies with a remaining breast is the gross body asymmetry and weight imbalance.  It just completely messes up our muscles (besides aggravating any existing problems).  Someone who is small breasted can not understand the problems of being well endowed.

When I talked to my oncologist about the problem, I said I was considering having the remaining breast reduced to improve the imbalance.  She told me that I would still have problems even if I had an implant or other reconstruction on the other side.

She also told me that a breast reduction is extremely painful (and friends that have had a reduction confirmed this).  She suggested that I have a simple mastectomy of the remaining breast and start off being completely even.  That is why I went ahead with the simple mastectomy when I had the funky mammogram.

 After being being completely flat for two years, if given the choice of being either flat or well endowed, flat chested would win hands down.

Before I started the reconstruction, I was finally basically pain free because of the PT, massages and strength building exercises.

I mentioned I have decided to be do reconstruction.  I was very clear with my plastic surgeon that I wanted to end up being no larger than a B cup.  That is basically what I am now (slightly larger because you are over filled to allow the implant to drop and assume the ptosis of a normal breast).

Having the tissue expanders did cause a problem because once again, I had changed the weight distribution in my chest area.  However, as my body adjusted and I was allowed to restart my exercises and massages, I find that  feel even better.  I think a woman's body is designed to have something up front and that I am more in balance for what the muscles are designed to carry and support.

It has been wonderful to be able to buy clothes that are made for a "normal" breast size. No gaps on button down blouses, no more drooping off the shoulders because I needed room for the breasts, etc.