Other breast removal

I had a prophylacticmastectomy two weeks ago because my remaining breast was large and was even affecting my posture.I had tissue expanders placed,but am having them removed in two weeks due to the extreme pain they are causing me.I have decided to not have any reconstruction.All of my doctors(onc,breast surgeon,GP)were very supportive of my having this breast removed.I was always vain of my breasts,but I am looking forward to only wearing a bra if I want to!

Hi tomatojuice,

You are the one who lives in your body and has to carry and try to match (with a prosthesis) your remaining breast every day. People who have not been in our shoes don't know what it is like to have breast cancer and what it is like to deal with the issues that come up.

I support you deciding what feels best to you. I think people have a fixation on the importance of breasts and think it is the most terrible thing in the world to loose a breast or breasts. I was sad, but I am no longer sad nine months after BMX. I was rather proud of my beautiful breasts. But I had them both removed when one needed to go, and I have no regrets.

I can look great in clothes with or without forms,  depending on what I feel like. I look fine with no clothes to my husband and teen-age daughter. They appreciate the peace of mind this has helped me have. And when I do wear forms, I wear forms that are smaller than the size my breasts were. I like having smaller breasts (forms). Clothes fit better and I look younger (I'm 50).  I've gone from a D to either a C or a B (I have two sets of microbead forms). They are lightweight. 

It is hard for me to imagine having only one breast. Some women are fine with it, but if you "hate" your one large breast, I bet you would prefer being flat. I find it very comfortable and I think you would as well.

As for healing on the prophylactic side......easy. I had my lymph nodes done earlier with a lumpectomy and the lymph node site and arm on that side was MUCH more painful than the two MX incisions that were done months later after chemo. I think the lymphnodes are surrounded by nerves and my lymphnode site is still a bit painful and still numb while the BMX incisions are fine. 

Best wishes to you.

I was freak of nature large breasted before BC.  After my single mastectomy, I was in pain due too the asymmetry of my body with one remaining huge breast.  I had an oportunity to have the other breast removed (a BIRADS 5 mammogram that turned out to be benign in the post surgeon pathology exam).

I grabbed the chance to have the second mastectomy and was gloriously flat chested for two years.  My only problem was that I hated the iron maiden mastectomy bras (worse than the bra I wore for my natural breasts) and hated the pro theses that were necessary for those occasions that I wanted some shape under my clothes.

I also found that it was as difficult to find pretty clothes that fit well when one is flat chested, just as it is when one is big breasted.  

I finally opted for reconstruction with silicone implants and have beautiful "B" cup size breasts.  I just had nipples added and I have the prettiest set of "breasts" that one could ever hope to have.

I had my second mast 9 months after the initial mast so I have had experience with being lopsided.  It does place a lot of strain on our frames.  I feel so much better being symmetrical.  It was definitely worth it, for me.

My mastectomy bras don't look any different than most bras you find in the store. No, they aren't sexy like Victoria's Secret, but I never went for bras like that when I had boobs...too impractical for my size (42DDD) at that time (my fake girls are 38B...much better!). My bras stay in place. The weight from the prosthetics seems to be enough to hold them in place, and as I've mentioned, I wear them while hiking, doing zumba, playing racquetball, etc. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten into bed and realized that I've forgotten to take them off...they've become that natural to me.

My real breasts were so heavy that I had to wear a bra at night to remain comfortable. Now I can take "them" off, go braless, sleep on my stomach if I want, and be comfortable.

I bought a number of cotton sports bras right after my mastectomy when I was still wearing the poofy little boobs that came with the camisole. I got the bras at WalMart for something like 3/$10. The fronts were already double layered, so I opened up the seam on the side to make a pocket (I used my real mastectomy bras as examples). I stitiched two seems around 1" apart on the front to keep the prosthesis separate...otherwise they move to the center and form a uniboob. This is very comfortable, especially in the summer. And believe me, my sewing ability is certainly not extensive!

The sports bras come up higher under my arms and thus don't touch my node surgery scars. That may be more comfortable for some of you who are tender in that area.