How is life with one boob?
Comments
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My case is a little different. I had a bilateral mastectomy, one side was prophylactic. I really wanted to be flat, but let my PS talk me into silicone implants. Well one got infected after 6 months of the exchange so now I only have one implant. I wear a sticky prosthesis, but wish I was flat so I did not have to worry about looking balanced. I have bigger issues than that, but I am self conscious. I am ok with the prosthesis, but don;t wear anything low-cut as one can see it if I bend over. I also wear it swimming. Just have to pick out my clothes more carefully.
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I tried immediate reconstruction when I had my right breast removed, but it got infected and everything came out. At the time I was just ready to go back to normal even if it meant a tissue expander etc. etc. We let the area heal, then I did radiation. My PS won't try reconstruction again until the new year at the earliest to give the skin the best chance to heal after radiation. I'm using this time to decide whether or not I can live with using a prosthetic. I'm now on the fence about reconstruction, but don't have to make a decision anytime soon and have expressed my reservations about another surgery and the recovery time to my PS. In reality, I wouldn't have the surgery until late next spring thanks to my work schedule. So I think it is OK to be undecided, reconstruction doesn't have to be done right away, but it is an important decision so take your time, ask lots of questions and go with what feels right for you not what other people or society or your doctor says you have to do right now.
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Hi, i had reconstruction right after L mast, but my body rejected expander with infection n high fever, i,ve since wear prothesis n am very satisfied, to each their own decision, my body made it for me, LOL, am now a 21yrSurvivor, Praise God, all while planning Our wedding no less. msphil(idc,stage2,0-3 nodes, Lmast, chemo, rads, 5yrs on tamoxifen.
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Can someone recommend a bra that contains an empty cup for the remaining breast and a fully built in padded cup for the flat side? I don't want to have to insert pads into pockets. TIA.
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Chocomousse, due to my diagnosis and particular situation, I had a unilateral mastectomy, and then waited a year before I had a DIEP reconstruction. It was a "delayed" procedure on my left side, and an "immediate" on my right, non-cancer side. I had lived a year with a prosthetic form on the left side and my natural breast on the right side, and I didn't much care for it. I agree with you, I would have preferred going flat altogether, but my plastic surgeon wanted me to wait for the non-cancer side because it gave him more skin to work with. I wanted the non-cancer side off, too, because my BC sneaked up so hard and so fast--I wanted to minimize the chances of that happening again!
Given the choice between implants and going flat, I would have been happy to go flat. My mom's been flat for many, many years, and she loves the freedom and coolness (she lives in Arizona!). With the DIEP procedure, my "breasts" are soft and warm, and since the surgery was done a long time after my radiation treatments, I didn't have to deal with rads ruining anything.
Good luck. You'll find the best way for yourself.
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Living 4 months with one side lopsided I absolutely hated it. Also I knew I couldn't deal with idea of a foreign object either so happy with my DIEP decision.
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I'm a temporary uni with a ruptured saline implant tissue expander. It will be a few months. I'm 44. I definitely plan to exchange to silicone implants as soon as possible (having an insurance hiccup). For me, in clothes it's not a big deal, I'm only a big B on the other (healthy and augmented to match) side. I just use 4-5 pads from bathing suits/sports bras stacked up and shoved in my tank or bra and spread them out a bit to match the other side. I think it helps that I'm smallish. I wear a lot of black and patterns though and lots of my dresses won't work right now. I found a great bathing suit that is one shouldered and goes up over the MX side. So it has taken a little flexibility, but it's not terrible. Naked is another matter. No sex with the top off...
I think flat would be preferable to lopsided long term, for me personally. Lately I have been second guessing my decision to just have one breast removed, mainly because I see so many women here who chose BMX and because now I'm encouraged to take Tamoxifen. The implant thing is odd, like the breast is not quite yours anymore. I didn't consider a flap.
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Hello Ladies. I am currently on the fence about what I will do at this point. I had a Radical Mastectomy April 28, 2015 and a Lobectomy on June 10. Two primary cancers at once. I am currently a Uniboober, too. I am also a large sized D on my left side and she misses her sister! lol I feel lopsided and am still pretty new to this so dressing is a horrible feat for me most days. I have also gained weight thru all this (20+ lbs) and am now on Lyrica for Chemo Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (hands and feet). The Lyrica is not helping me lose any weight either! ugh. Anyway, I have a strong history of cancer in my immediate family. Both of my sons have had childhood cancer. They are taking Lefty next spring. I am having a hysterectomy this fall. Before we knew about the lung cancer, the plan was clear. I was to have both breasts removed due to high risk and begin the recon stage. After the dx of lung cancer, too....plans changed. Drs just wanted to get me thru the two cancers. My LAST RADIATION is TODAY! Yippee!!!! It has done a number on my skin. I too have truncal Lymphedema and a little in my right arm. Anyway.....the plan had been to do the Tram Flap surgery but, now......I just don't know anymore. I have begun to hate the breast that's left. I hate to say that. But, it causes so many issues for me because she needs to be contained and most things I wear to contain the one side hurt the other side. I have not worn anything on the non-boob side. I don't care if anyone stares. I do get those stares but, I am quite content to uniboob around town. I work directly with the public all the time but, am more conscious of the one boob not being properly supported. lol Does anyone have any good ideas for this? Everywhere I look, I see NO bras that are comfortable enough and snug enough to support a uni. I appreciate any and all advice. You all are fantastic women. Stay strong for yourself and each other.
God bless you all.
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Sunshinesprite, you're a rad grad today! Yay!
After your rads tenderness resolves, RUN to your nearest Nordstroms or breast cancer bra shop and get yourself fitted. Your insurance will pay for bras and breast forms. You'll be much more comfortable and having a normal shape in your clothes will help you feel less terrorized by this wretched disease.
As for recon surgery, you'll know when the time is right. My plastic surgeon wanted me to wait many months after rads so the radiation damage could settle down, so I spent a year as a uni. If you do decide to go the flap route, you can have your remaining breast reduced and lifted to match the new one, or considering your cancer history, you might opt to have that one removed and reconstructed at the same time. That's what I did, and I have been happy with my decision.
Good luck and blessings to you today.
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Hi everyone.. I'm a uni as well. I had my right side removed in March. I'm a chicken when it comes to surgeries which is why I went with the mastectomy. I was afraid the lumpectomy wouldn't be enough and they'd have to go back in. I don't mind being lopsided.... well most days.. other days I wish they would have taken the otherside and just be done with the whole thing. I was an A cup.. so yes very small.. however since surgery my boob left seems to be bigger. Maybe because I have nothing to compare it to now. With being small I can get away with a sports bra and the puffy foob most days. Other days I wear the heavy false boob but I don't like it. Some days I dont wear anything at all. I think we all have those moods. I'm including a picture of a great way to use regular bras and still have the illusion of even. Just a little quilt stuffing and some fabric... boom baby..
I have changed my wardrobe as well staying away from V necks and low cut shirts. It was a great excuse to buy new clothes.
Im glad to have found you all. Uni's unite
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I had a single mastectomy 14 years ago now
I just use a prosthesis in a mastectomy bra. I have just gotten so used to it, I don't think about it.
PS. I love my mastectomy bra when I travel
So.much can fit in flat behind the prosthesis like my passport, credit card..money etc.
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I've been a uni since Oct 30/14 and don't regret my decision. I do agree with others about finding wardrobe styles that work best for you. I do regret that I didn't "listen" to myself when I was fitted for a prosthetic. It never felt right but I was told I would get used to it. I will try again sometime. Other than that and still doing arm exercises, I am doing everything I did before BC
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hi Su,, good to see you. What about it doesn't feel right? Wrong size? Too heavy? There are many styles out there, and I bet you can find one that is comfortable for you.
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hi glennie!
Yes it feels too heavy and seems too big. I suppose the fact that the mastectomy bra doesn't feel comfortable either doesn't help ha ha. I liked my bras comfortable and this one feels like a restraint bra . I'll try again
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Hello, I just finished chemo couple weeks ago & now reading up on Recon. I had been asked by multiple people (including Doctors) if I have thought about it (I haven't). When people talk about balance, are they talking about posture or just look? What I read about Recon (just basic information) is pretty scary - multiple surgeries, many months...
If it's just for appearance, I am pretty ok with the camisoles I got from after surgery. I also got couple sport bras with removable pads, which I doubled up, that's it, barely notice the difference (I don't I'm even a
If it's about posture. What are the concerns? I haven't found information about that...
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It is strictly for appearance. Many many women who had very large breasts say their backs and shoulders are sooo much happier after removing them.
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I had a bilateral mastectomy one year ago and now just go flat. I love it. I feel very comfortable and nobody looks twice. It even looks fine in a bathing suit.
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I had a uni in July. I told my BS I wanted it flat as can be. But, what I have is bulk of fat right under the incission. Agggh I said flat! I want it FLAT. Oh well.
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Hazel: I have excess skin cuz my BS thought I was having recon,,, NOT! But you can consult a plastic surgeon to see if the excess skin/fat can be removed and you could be flatter. Just a thought. I was going to have my excess skin removed, but then I developed lymphedema, so I got sidetracked,,,
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Hi Glennie, I have an appnt with my BS in Feb and decide what to do with my other boob. If I go for the dbl mx, then I'll have the old one revised. Otherwise, I will just leave it alone and avoid anymore surgeries.
btw your doggie looks so adorable. Here's mine:
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I hate it, been forced to be like this for 3.5 years and every day I hate it, but its also more than that as i feel constant pressure and tighness on flat side, that is not neat and flat but knobbly.........dkiscomfort is different each day so I don´t seem to ever be able to tune it out. desperately want to feel like a normal person again as I don´t feel normal now
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AHHHHH,, your doggie is so cute, Hazel!!!
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Glennie, yup she's my little stinker
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We need a like button!
Hey, there is a thread called Comfort Dogs. You might want to check it out. Lots of doggie pics over there.
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Chiming in as a fellow uniboober. I had my left side mastectomy in Jan. 2014. It took a little time to get used to it and find bras that I could live with due to my armpit lymphedema. But I found some mastectomy sports bras that work well and I wear a fiber swim form with it. That's when I go to work but don't wear it on the weekend. At first I sort of wished I'd had a double but now I'm happy with my decision. I couldn't face the idea of removing healthy tissue or dealing with multiple surgeries. I'm in a couple of support groups and it seems like almost everyone has had trouble with their implants. I'm small breasted so that factored in, I'm sure. But no regrets.
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SoCalLisa - so true, it's like an extra pocket behind the prosthetic.
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Lily55, I understand what you mean. Though I chose to be flat, I too have those issues of tightness, discomfort, pain - some days it feels like it tearing apart, others it feels like a tight band, still others it feels like electric shocks, stabbing or aching, and others it spasms so that my ribs stand out. I've found a couple of groups - one on here, I think that it's called PMPS - then there are two on Facebook that are private groups - Surviving Post Mastectomy Pain Syndrome
https://www.facebook.com/groups/759940397434876/
and Post Breast Therapy Pain Syndrome -
https://www.facebook.com/groups/265320350156856/
The FB groups are private, I've gotten a ton of info, some works some doesn't, but it helps to know that you aren't the only one out there with these issues.
My I've considered getting a prophylactic MX, so that I don't need to be lopsided or wear a prosthetic, but my concern is that I'll have the same issues on that side. They tell me that, since the surgery wouldn't be as extensive as the first MX, that the chances of having the same issues on the other side are much less likely.
Take care and know that many of us are out there too.
Linda
PS All that being said, I would never consider having reconstruction and many days go by and I forget that I'm wearing a prosthetic, sometimes, I swear, it even itches.
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I have been a uni-boober for 10, almost 11 years. A decade ago I had 2 lumpectomies,both with unclear margins, and so i decided to forego a third lumpectomy and radiation, and have a mastectomy. I had a tissue expander placed a few months after my mastectomy and it failed because it got infected. I was told by the plastic surgeon that i would not be a good candidate for the DIEP because it was such a long surgery, and since i was diabetic this was a bad idea.
So i have lived with wearing a prosthesis for the last decade and even though it was somewhat comfortable once it was on, I have always hated it. My other breast is a huge DD and the matching fake boob was way too heavy, even though it was supposed to be a "lightweight". I have always felt really unbalanced. The only place i could find to be fitted with a prosthesis and bras had the rudest women working there and they never gave me a good fit. Having only one big natural boob and a prosthesis means wearing higher necklines, and if you bend over, the fake boob pulls away from your body and your incision can be seen. And so i thought that this scenerio was what i would be stuck with for my life.
Last month i found 2 lumps in my remaining breast, had a diagnostic mammo, and then the radiologist said that even though they looked like cysts, he said that cysts were "extremely rare" in a woman of my age, and he said that i should definitely have a biopsy. I was already reliving the anxiety of waiting and not knowing, but now i was totally panic-stricken that i might have a new breast cancer which might not be DCIS like i had last time. Fortunately, the lumps did turn out to be cysts after all. I watched each one explode and disappear on the Ultrasound screen when the doctor tried to insert the needle in them for removal of a sample.
I had decided in my panic state that no matter what happened, i was going to have a prophylactic mastectomy on the remaining boob. I just can't go through another lump scare again.
My prophlyactic mastectomy is scheduled for December 4th and i am looking forward to no more mammograms and no more cysts, This will greatly decrease my chance of ever getting breast cancer again, even though there is still a small risk because the surgeon doesn't get all breast tissue cells with a mastectomy. And, best of all, I am especially looking forward to selecting a way smaller size for my prostheses as i don't think i would be comfortable going out in public totally flat.
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hi ladies i am so happy to find this blog so I can say what I feel because some time you can't tell exactly how you feel to your family and friends . I am 37 and I had left breast removed in 2013 and can't wait to do reconstruction I don't feel confident at all my husband was trying very hard to make me feel good but I just can't accept how I look now so I hope after the reconstruction I will feel better I will do the surgery very soon .Thanks
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Celia: now you will be able to pick your size. I bet you will feel more comfortable. All the best to you.
glennie
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