Active uni mastectomy looking for wise words w/ breast forms.

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Hello Ladies,

I am quite a newbie. Surgery has just been scheduled. Still in shock, and quite sad. I know I do not want reconstruction. I am 42 and am very active... dance, yoga, swim, bike. Many women complain about ... heat, swimming, balance issues and slippage. Would love to hear from some strong active unilateral mastectomy woman who have been living their life with breast forms, who are happy with their choice. Are you comfortable? Can you do everything you did before without worry?

Thank you,

Burning Girl


Comments

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

    I think you are wise to choose no recon. Reading this made me grateful that I skipped it, too.

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topics...



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

    Sorry, got interrupted. Anyway to answer your question, I am a uni, and I think the main question is, how big you are? I was very small, like a AA or AAA cup. I never bothered to get any mastectomy bras or real prosthesis. Had been wearing padded bras all my life because I was self-conscious about it, so I just kept wearing the same bras afterward. The kind with firm padded cups that hold their shape no matter if anything is in it or not. The underwire ones were uncomfortable and had to go. Genie or Coobie style bras, or sports bras, with the removable pads, work well. Just put a couple extra pads in the empty side and good to go. One thing about those type bras, get one a few sizes bigger than the chart says you should. They run very small.

    Now if you are like a C or D cup, you will probably need a proper MX bra and foob. Go to an experienced fitter and make sure they know you are active, and take the time to try on different ones and do some jumping jacks or something, make sure they stay put. I haven't heard many stories about "wardrobe malfunctions". lol



  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited August 2016

    There are "sports" mastectomy bras. I echo Jennie, and say go to a good fitter and tell her what you need.

    I would also recommend https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/82/topics/781208?page=61#idx_1801 reading on this thread as several very knowledgeable people poke their heads in and can give recommendations. **Erica** I'm thinking of YOU!!

    Burning Girl: wishing you all the best for your upcoming surgery. Please do keep us posted when you are able.

  • bradie234
    bradie234 Member Posts: 11
    edited August 2016

    i had bilateral . i have a prostetic breast i put on everyday. i am comfortable at home and stores when i do not wear it . i put a jacket and no one says anything. i do wake up with pain everyday. i wish you luck and that everything turn out ok for you.

  • Nel138281
    Nel138281 Member Posts: 2,124
    edited August 2016

    I am a uni since Feb 2012.  Small busted a b or so.  I did not wear a bra very often prior to surgery.  As I tell my children, I am 60 + and went to college when we were burning our bras, not wearing them!   I live in New England.  Since surgery - I can typically just wear a sweater and scarf during the winter or loose tunic style top. During the summer it is a bit more of an issue if I want to just wear a t-shirt.   Sometimes I just don't care and just wear a t-shirt, sometimes I wear a bra.  Depends on home or work.  Most often I wear a loose top/tunic style with a camisole under.   I have found clothes and a stlye that suits me.  Check out facebook - flat and fabulous page.  Lots of support and good ideas.  My prosthetic is heavy, but I do not waer often.  There are swim ones as well.  Also checkout Knitted knockers - light weight knitted breast forms.  I have not ordered yet - but folks seem to love them

    Best in your decision

    Nel

  • rianne2580
    rianne2580 Member Posts: 191
    edited August 2016

    I had a unilateral R MX. Your tissue, nerves and muscles will need some time to heal, so nothing is comfortable for awhile. I actually used pillow stuffing for a few years. Check into Knitted Knockers. They quilt them for you specifically, these wonderful ladies, and do not charge a dime. I have 4 of them...so light, so comfortable and they stay in place. The ladies are all over the country and do this out of the kindness of their hearts. I am so happy I did not get recon. So many stories that make me shiver. Be happy and natural.

  • BurningGirl
    BurningGirl Member Posts: 2
    edited August 2016

    Dear Lovely Ladies,

    Thank you so much for your responses. Coobie & Genie bras, a good mastectomy bra with fitter after time to heal and Knitted Knockers seem to be common themes in my search for coming to terms with my new body. rianne2560 "Be happy and natural" are the exact words I need to here. Just feeling so sad about the loss of my breast, wishing I could fast forward to where you ladies are.

    Burning Girl

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

    I do understand. But I have to honestly say that the restrictions on my activity all come from the SNB, not from the MX itself, or whether or not I'm wearing any foobs.

    No one told me beforehand what having lymph nodes removed means, as far as LE risk. I did not get the long list of things you can't do anymore until after. I had no idea that I would never have full use of my arm again.

    I guess I'm just thankful that it was my non-dominant side, and that I still have one good arm. But still. It all just sucks, big time.



  • caaclark
    caaclark Member Posts: 936
    edited August 2016

    I had a uni mast. without recon in 2006.  At the time I was 40-and active.  My big concern was also whether or not I would be able to be just as active.  I definitely have no regrets.  I use a prosthetic and feel "normal" most of the time.  I don't feel like I have restrictions at all.  Not sure how it would have been with recon but I had no desire to go through that and still don't.  I can play tennis, run, lift weights, etc.  There seems to be no difference now than there was before my mast. 

    I hope this helps.

  • royaltea
    royaltea Member Posts: 12
    edited September 2016

    Hi Burning Girl,

    I had a R mastectomy 5 years ago in 2011, no reconstruction. I wear a silicone breast form when I go out of the house. I don't notice it except for a few specific things. One, I am self conscious when hugging someone. The prosthesis doesn't feel exactly like my breast and so I turn my chest to hug on the left so that I make contact with someone with the left side. This might be a little wierd, but it's one of the small things that constantly remind me that i don't have a breast on the R. Two, I have to wear higher cut tops that will stay close to the chest when I bend forward. With looser and lower tops, you can see clear to my belly button when I bend forward. I work as a physical therapist, so I am in a lot of different positions and teach Feldenkrais Method which also means I am leaning forward as students stand in front of me and can peer down my shirt. A breast prosthesis hangs forward when you bend over. Some bras have a lacey piece at the cleavage place and that definitely helps me feel more comfortable while working. Bathing suits present the same issue. In a sport bra, I use a cotton form as it compresses the same as my natural breast, but I have to pin it in place so it doesn't slide to the middle and give me a uniboob. Coobie bras are not strong enough for the silicone form, in my experience. Three, doing exercises lying on the belly can be uncomfortable with the silicone form because the pressure on each side of the chest is different due its 'uncompressibility' and this pressure on my R rib cage actually hurts. So for yoga, I use the pad that came with the post-mastectomy camisole. Four, I like to go to hotsprings with my husband and these are clothing optional. I still do this, but am very self-conscious and aware that people might be uncomfortable seeing my chest. However, I love being in the hot mineral water and it's so healing for me that I do it anyway.

    I hope this helps and that you are able to enjoy your life and do whatever you love,

    Royaltea




  • shpva57
    shpva57 Member Posts: 16
    edited September 2016

    Hi Burning Girl:

    I am a uni and have no regrets about not doing reconstruction. You will heal faster. There are many options for you out there. Post surgery (6 weeks plus) I started with a camisole and inserted a shower puff that I cut down in the mastectomy side. I still use this option when I'm out and about on errands. I am a D cup so had to go with a silicone foob and a mastectomy bra for work, etc. I had access to a special shop associated with my hospital's cancer unit. The foob can get heavy by the end of the day and during hot weather you will sweat. That said, you can still wear tee shirts and close fitting tops and I don't think anyone can tell the difference. For running, swimming, and athletic activities I use a mastectomy sports bra (also bought at the cancer boutique), and use a Trulife Activeflow foob. It is filled with silicone beads and can be washed by hand and dries quickly. It's simply the best. For yoga, I don't wear a foob but wear sports camisoles that have small pads so there is a bit of shape but not a full breast. My classmates don't seem to mind and I like the freedom of doing yoga without having to deal with a foob. Like I said, I have no regrets. It's odd being one sided and I'm wondering if the inbalance is causing me some neck pain on my non-mastectomy side. But that's a different issue.

  • AKJ
    AKJ Member Posts: 190
    edited September 2016

    Another uni here with no regrets. I'm small breasted (A cup) and fairly active. I wear a prosthesis with a Coobie bra or a mastectomy sports bra to work and to go out. To swim I just go half flat with a bra less workout suit. It took awhile to find bras that didn't hurt since I have some lymphedema in my armpit but now it's all good.

  • Reina_de_los_changos
    Reina_de_los_changos Member Posts: 27
    edited November 2016

    I'm only 8 weeks out from my uni mastectomy, but so far, so good. I wear a knitted knocker or foam prothesis when I'm out. My mom sewed pouches in my favorite bras to hold them. It's a bit odd feeling now, but I think I'll get used to it.

  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited November 2016

    Because of my DX (IBC), recon was not an option at time of UMX. Had to wait a year for possible recon. Never did it and very happy with my decision. I had thought I wanted recon and Hubby and Son(adult) were very supportive but a blizzard kept me from being able to keep my appt. I had already somewhat decided not to do recon as I was not limited in what I could do but another surgery could change that. When K sort of said J wasn't sure I wanted more surgery, they both told me that they were glad as they only wanted me to do what I felt I needed to do but both would rather me not do unnecessary surgery. (Hope that makes sense.)

    I am a very active outdoor woman - mow my yard (and other ones to help someone) with my push mower, garden, ride my bicycle, care for and ride our horses, flyfish, canoe, etc. - so I am definitely very active.

    I wear my pros all the time - no problems at all and feel great. No 'heat, Actually I never think about it. I guess you could say I'm obsessed with living each day to the utmost that I can. Can I do all I did as a 20/30/40+ y/o - nope! But I am quite capable of living and enjoying LIFE. I have no problem with heat, swimming, balance, 'slippage' ( whatever that is supposed to mean) or anything else. I do not wear so called 'sports bras' (never did).

    There will always be some who choose to dwell in negativity instead of living the blessing they have - LIFE.

    I happen to have been 63 when DXd - now 70.

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