What to do at the pool

I had a bilat two years ago, no reconstruction and I never got a prostesis. I am comfortable being flat. I swim, I took my old bathing suit, plus one that I bought last year, cut the bras out and the suits fit snug against my chest.  I swim both pool and ocean.

I bought a (relatively) inexpensive weighted foam prosthesis for swimming on our vacation in a few weeks, but I haven't had a chance to see how it works in the water.  The ACS tlcdirect catalog had one specifically for swimsuits on sale for $99, but I didn't feel like I'd use it enough to justify the $ (plus I think their sale items are non-returnable even if the size is wrong?).  So I'm really curious to see what others have to say, too.......

hi Marcia

I have not used a prosthethis but noticed your post as I too am  a keen regular swimmer. It was one of the reasons I opted for immediate recon. I know you have to wait a while for yours but just wanted to send encouraging words to you that, once you have recon done, you will be able to swim again with no fear of a prosthesis falling out! The only thing I have found is I need to choose swimsuits that come a little higher at the chest than before. However there is nowdays a good range of swimsuits available for women who have had bc surgery.

I do sympathise with you. It is often those 'little' things that bring home very harshly, just how this disease affects pretty much our whole lives, in ways others don't always understand.

I just had my mx in Feb.  I bought a regular prosthesis but don't want to use it in a pool.  I know they say you can but at $350 I don't want to take a chance.  So, I bought something called a Been-a-Boob.  It is kind of like a bean bag but filled with silicon beads.  I think it will do great in a swimsuit and dry fast when I come out of the water.  Plus, it was pretty cheap.  Only $55.  It is also comfortable and I have actually worn it a couple of days instead of my regular prosthesis.  I got it at www.janacsportswear.ca

check out this thread.. I am (was) a diver and still coach some.  I made a small poofy and just tacked it into my suit with a few loops of thread sewn strategically.  It is easy to make them too big.    One really worked for me (but I was pretty small breasted).. it seems perfect for being in the water and it is easy to create exactly the right size.

copy and paste this link into your browser if the 'link' does not work.

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/82/topic/706036?page=1

peace and love, apple
Diagnosis: 5/10/2008, IDC, 5cm, Stage IIIc, Grade 3, 4/9 nodes, ER+

I didn't want to spend the money on a swim prosthesis especially since I was planning on recon.  So I did two things:

1.  The fibrefill poofs worked pretty well.  As you get out of the water I just gave myself a little hug to squeeze out the excess water.

2.  Been-a Boob by Janac Sportswear.  It looks like a round beanbag filled with silicone beads.  You can wear it in the water or under a sportsbra and it will squish like your real boob.  It only cost about $50 and can be worn on either side.  It was designed by a BC survivor who raced dragonboats.  You can find them online.