Inexpensive Prostetic?

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bailiej
bailiej Member Posts: 6
edited June 2014 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

Has anyone purchased any online that are less expensiive than in store?  I just don't want to pay $300 for another one.  Thank for any tips.

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  • mommyx3
    mommyx3 Member Posts: 99
    edited April 2011

    Does your insurance cover them?  My insurance does for prostetic and two bras every year, I did have to get a prescription from the dr.

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  • BoobsinaBox
    BoobsinaBox Member Posts: 550
    edited April 2011

    bailiej,

    There are lots of online options for prostheses.  Check www.breastfree.org to see lots of them and to get good suggestions on their good and bad points.  You can find places to order from that site.  It is by our bc sister Barbara (screen name Erica), and you can't find more good info anywhere else!

    Dawn 

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited April 2011
    If you live in an area that has an American Cancer Society Hope Lodge which has a gift closet you can get a prosthetic for free.  They don't ask questions regarding financial need, you just have to provide your onc contact info.  There are 31 Hope Lodges around the country - usually located near major cancer centers.  If there is not one near you, you may be able to contact them through www.cancer.org and they can arrange for you to receive one by mail if you know what kind or size you need.  I just did this because my insurance company will pay for reconstruction or mastectomy bras and prosthetics, but not both.  I am mid-recon, going through chemo, and lost my left TE due to healing problems so I only need the prosthetic temporarily.  Good luck!
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  • lauri
    lauri Member Posts: 267
    edited May 2011

    I get mine from WalMart -- "breast enhancers" at $15 a pair.  Not perfect, but it fills in the missing bra cup well enough for me, and doesn't weigh me down.

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  • GointoCarolina
    GointoCarolina Member Posts: 753
    edited June 2011

    lauri,can you tell me more about the breast enhancers from WalMart?What are they made of?Do they come in different sizes?I am looking for something very light (and cheap!) to wear until I can get to the fitter.Thanks!

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  • CarylC
    CarylC Member Posts: 230
    edited June 2011

    I get breast enhancers from Walmart too, but I get the cheap ones, $5 something a pair, they are water based but flesh colored and material covered, not gel or silicone all the way through.  I turn them upside down in my pocketed bras to give me more side coverage.  They weigh nothing!  I like the A/B size but they also come in C/D.  With the 14 dollar bra I found at Sears and these little babies, I can buy a set for each bra and not have to take them out and put them in all the time.

    So far, this has become my favorite solution.  

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  • GointoCarolina
    GointoCarolina Member Posts: 753
    edited June 2011

    I amazingly found a pair of hand made microbead forms for $24 which includes shipping!The woman tells on her site how to make them(plus camisoles from slips)I am wondering if it is the same person who posted the instructions here.But she will once in a while offer a pair she has made.I was then searching for a  camisole,found one I really liked,but the price was outrageous..WHY are mastectomy products more costly than regular ones?It can't possibly be because of the extra material used to make  the pockets,maybe it is because most of them are so hideously ugly,they think if they charge more people will think they are better quality??? So I went on Ebay,found the exact one I wanted, new with tags,for $10 plus shipping.But it was the only cheap one on there.Hope I don't get taken!This just has me steamed,I am on a tight budget,but I know there are tons of women out there worse off than me.

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  • Megadotz
    Megadotz Member Posts: 302
    edited June 2011

    You might try the American Cancer Society's  TLC products site:

    http://www.tlcdirect.org/depts/AmericanCancerSocietyFoamBreastForms.html?

    They seem affordable. 

     Hope this helps

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  • jenni__ca
    jenni__ca Member Posts: 461
    edited June 2011

    not as cheap as the walmart solution but there are catalogs in the jc penney's lingerie section ....

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  • GirlFriday
    GirlFriday Member Posts: 461
    edited June 2011

    If you knit or crochet there are patterns online to make some.  I think there may be some other resources on this website too, for knitted prosthetics associated with this website:

    http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall05/PATTbits.html

    I'm a crocheter myself, so here's a pattern for crochet prosthetics:

    http://happyhooker.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/breast-cancer-false-breast/

    Here's a non prof that I think disbanded, but lots of info here too:

    http://theknittingexperience.com/knitted_knockers_program/

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