Temporary options? Rent-a-boob?

Talk to a social worker in your cancer center. Our sw collects used breast forms and gives them to people in need.   You would ten be able to return the prosthetic.

Depending on what size you are, you may want a weighted prosthetic to "balance" your spinal column.        It can really throw your back muscles off-kelter.   

Best wishes.

I was contacted by a volunteer associated with the hospital (before I even had surgery). She came out to visit me at home within a a few days after my surgery and brought a little pillow for under my arm (oh!, it helped so much) and a temporary, adjustable, polyfill prosthesis. It was, comfortable, wonderful and so helpful. Yes, ask the social worker...she may know if you can sign-up for a visit from a volunteer support person associated with the place you have your surgery done. If not ,polyfil in a sock would probably work well.

In my recent Quest For the Perfect Foobs    I tried all the different materials options, and believe me, the microbead ones are not only lighter but far more "moldable" to chest contours than either the foam or fiberfill -- both of which I found way too stiff and dense for my liking.

If the surgical area is going to be at all sensitive during the process I would absolutely go for the microbead foob.  TLC has the lowest price on the microbead foobs, at $40. The foobs are made by Sililque even though TLC does not identify them as such. Normally I do not buy from TLC for other reasons but in this case I would recommend them as a source because you can save anywhere from $10 to $25 on this item compared to the other sites that sell these. (TLC is not always the least expensive price on the other foobs they sell, so you have to shop wisely)

http://www.tlcdirect.org/products/sku-8139__dept-34.html

Crunchy poodle - if you PM me your cup size, I have a prosthetic that may fit you... I don't need them anymore! I will ship it, as long as you will donate it and pass it on once you don't need it anymore!

Crunchypoodlemama- i recommend the american cancer society alot because they really were helpful to me, after i had my mx i slipped a little form inside my regular bra and it used to slide right up out of my top all the time i was always having to tuck it back in, it was imbarrasing, at times when i was in a crouded room, then i got a prosthesis it was way to heavy,thought it might break my toe if it fell out, finally got a bra (for free) at the ACS with a slit and a soft cusiony thing that was filled with cotton and you slip it in the sleeve, stays put and i have worn it for over a year now, its very comfortable. Might be the way to go untill you get your recon. Good luck with you search!

My insurance paid for mine and the pocket bras.

Hi, Julia,

I've never heard of "Rent-a-boob" -- maybe I need to track them down (LOL!).  There are lots of other options, as you can see from the replies here.

My favorite thoughts are these:

1) Talk to your local American Cancer Society office.  I was being treated at UAB in Birmingham, and there's an ACS regional office a few blocks away from the hospital.  I went there just to see what they might have, and walked out with free scarves, free fiberfill "comfies" (temporary prostheses), a free wig (I had just started chemo at the time), a free mastectomy bra, and, yes, a free Amoena breast prosthesis.  The prosthesis was originally from a big-time mastectomy supply store here, and had been donated to the ACS office.  It did fit me but turned out to be the stick-on kind, which I didn't want; so I took it back once I realized there were better options and they gladly accepted it.  Considering where you live, there should be an ACS office nearby.

2) Check out the microbead forms everybody is talking about here.  If you can sew, you might try the do-it-yourself version described at the link Iago mentioned.  Otherwise, track down one or another of the threads on this forum that discuss the pro's and con's of microbead forms.  I'm going to get one as soon as I figure out which size to buy.  (I'm 34B/36A on the right, and FLAT on the left.)

3) My current favorite is a do-it-yourself form that consists of a size 3 breastform cover stuffed with the appropriate amount of fiberfill.  A breastform cover costs around $12 if you buy it on line:  http://www.metromedicalonline.com/amoenacovers.html

I was given a breastform cover when I bought my official prosthesis 2 years ago.  When I went back to buy another cover last year (since that's what I'm using, instead of the prosthesis), the staff at the mastectomy supply store acted as if they had no clue what I was talking about.  They said they had no breast form covers.  So I'm planning to buy it on line.  The fiberfill you can get almost anywhere -- I suppose it's best if you try to buy high-quality or "medical grade" (?).  I just pulled some from one of the temporary, post-surgery "comfies" I got at the ACS office.  (See #1 above.)

See?  There are many options that are a lot less expensive than a "real" prosthesis.  Those of us who are small-breasted are lucky (for a change!), because it's easier (IMHO) for us to find something comfortable.

otter

Yes, Barbara, the filled cover stays smooth-looking as long as I stuff it with a single piece of fiberfill that's not tightly packed, or if I make sure the fiberfill that's against the "front" of the cover (the side that projects) is a single piece. 

What I usually do is pull off one unbroken piece of new fiberfill and press that against the "front" side of the cover.  If I need to add more, I can stuff the rest of the space with 1 or 2 additional pieces as long as they're in the back.  And, I don't compress any of the fiberfill very much -- I try to keep it loose and fluffy as I'm stuffing it in.  The stuffed cover ends up looking like a real breast form.  It's nice and smooth and squishy, with a texture that's really similar to my remaining breast.

OTOH, if I pick little tufts of fiberfill and stuff them in the cover, or if I fill it with several larger "balls", then the filled cover looks lumpy -- sort of like it's full of soft marbles.  Not good.

This approach works best if you have a supply of new, untouched fiberfill and you can toss out (rather than wash) the used stuff.  Washed fiberfill tends to form lumps in my experience.  I wear a soft, stretchy "sports bra" so any lumps would show through the bra and most likely through a T-shirt or tank top.

You're right -- it's lightweight, inexpensive, no-fuss, easy to pack, etc.  I've been doing this for 2-1/2 years now, and it works well for me.

otter