Unilateral masectomy and no reconstruction

dianee3
dianee3 Member Posts: 2
edited July 2016 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

I had a unilateral mastectomy five years ago. They reconstruction process was started, but ended up failing due to radiation. I have chosen not to wear a breast form. I am small breasted and found the mastectomy bra and form heavy and uncomfortable. I am learning to feel comfortable being lopsided, but it is still difficult when people notice. No one has ever said anything, thank goodness.

I just wear the bras I wore before surgery. Does anyone else do this? I feel as though I am alone in what I have chosen to do.

Thanks for your support!

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Comments

  • Jennie93
    Jennie93 Member Posts: 1,018
    edited June 2016

    I am a uni, and have never bothered to get a mastectomy bra, or real foobs. Just don't see any reason to spend that kind of money. I was like maybe AAA size anyway, always wore padded bras so I would look more normal, and I continued wearing the same bras afterward. So one cup was half empty and the other was totally empty, no biggie, no one could tell.

    I go braless around the house, but I'm not comfortable going out in public that way.



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  • rvgirl2016
    rvgirl2016 Member Posts: 67
    edited June 2016

    dianee3 have you heard of Knitted Knockers?  They have a FB page and a web site.  They are donated free to those of us that request one.  I haven't got to try mine out quite yet, but another lady I told,  got hers and loves themSmile

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  • Momof6littles
    Momof6littles Member Posts: 184
    edited June 2016

    I recently had a bilateral mastectomy and wear the light weight stuffed forms that came with my post mastectomy camisole in a genie bra, sports bra, even my old bras. You can take out as much stuffing as you want. It is light weight and I don't even notice them. I think that Knitted Knockers are similar in that they are lightweight. When you are small breasted, the prosthetics seem like overkill. Another source I have found is Awesome Breast Forms. They make swimming forms too.

    http://awesomebreastforms.org


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  • dianee3
    dianee3 Member Posts: 2
    edited June 2016

    Thank you! I went to their website and ordered one.

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  • 88leah
    88leah Member Posts: 2
    edited June 2016

    I understand your concerns because I am wondering about the same things right now. I'm having a unilateral mastectomy on 7/14/16 and ordered knitted knockers after seeing the site on here. I got them and they are very cool. I'm not picturing myself spending a ton of money on silicone inserts to match my right side which is a B. I think I'll be fine just going with something light weight to fill out the other side of a regular bra. I have read that Nordstrom will sew pockets free of charge into a regular bra, so I may try that if the knitted knocker moves around on me. Around the house, I will definitely be bra-less!

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  • velo
    velo Member Posts: 44
    edited July 2016

    I am still trying to figure out what makes most sense as it has only been 3 weeks since surgery. So far I have been wearing a camisole with soft stuffie. I went back to work a week ago and asked a co-worker I had told I was having a mastectomy (most ppl just think I was on vacation) to let me know if I look lopsided, as it tends to move around. She's like you're wearing something? Thanks, I know my boobs are small, but they are not non-existent. I do feel I look unpleasing lopsided. Human eyes like symmetry I think.

    But I also tend to think ah f@# it if I end up feeling more comfortable going around braless and lopsided, like one time when it was hot out and I had a coat on so didn't worry about the stuffie, but decided I needed to take off the coat from the heat.

    Since its still summer I want to figure out about swimming without having to necessarily buy a "mastectomy" suit. I have seen swim suits with removable cups, I am wondering if it would work with a cup in the flat side for shape and nothing in the other? The holes don't look big enough to insert a prosthetic (which I haven't acquired) Or when wet would the flat side tend to pull away from the chest and then my scar show?

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