How is life with one boob?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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:

AHHHHH,, your doggie is so cute, Hazel!!!

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.

SoCalLisa - so true, it's like an extra pocket behind the prosthetic. 

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.

Celia: now you will be able to pick your size. I bet you will feel more comfortable. All the best to you.

glennie