I have a question

Women who have an MX and choose not to reconstruct after the surgery tend to:

A) Choose to remain flat on the MX side and get special mastectomy bras to wear with or without a breast form on the flat side. Amoena is a popular company, but there are a wide variety of companies, medical only (meaning your dr writes you an rx), as well as retail, that sell bras designed to hold breast forms for post-mastectomy patients.

Choose to get fitted for a breast form that will be similar or close enough in size to their remaining breast to fill out the other side of a mastectomy bra (they have pockets inside the cup to insert a prosthesis into). In some cases, insurance will cover the prosthesis and speciality bras, so it's definitely worth checking with your insurance plan to see if being fitted for a prosthesis and mastectomy bra is something they will cover.

C) Choose some other form of breast form (Knitted Knockers seems popular around the forums) to put into the bra pocket or bra cup (if they don't get a specific mastectomy bra) on the flat side.

First - do not do what 'pebbles' tell you is the way you HAVE to go. Do what YOU are comfortable with! We are each so unique and there is no one 'right way'.

Talk with the BC Nurse Navigator at your facility - they are a wealth of information in all things dealing with any 'stuff' and can give you input on so many 'things' BC related. She should be able to give you information about any local Mastectomy Salons that specialize in mastectomy supplies and have a Certified Fitter there. It is vitally important to get the correct prosthesis - there are a multitude of different sizes, shapes, shades - there is no 'one sizes fit all'. Where I live there is no Mast. Salon in over 300 miles but one of the local Medical Supply stores has a Certified Fitter and a small supply on hand. If the do not have what is best/works best for you, they will order in and then you go in for a fitting and get what is best for you/what you like - they send the rest back. Where I go, they do not keep a supply of smaller 'anything' (32/34; A/B) so mine have to be ordered in.

What I did after my UMX, was just keep wearing the bras I already had and used a soft puff that the local ACS sent me in the Care Package they sent me. It was cold so I always wear my 'winter uniform' anyway - a turtleneck or flannel shirt under a baggy sweatshirt. UMX was Oct 21 and I got my 'good' pros in Feb. I was told to wait a little while so surgical swelling had gone away making a better fit possible.

I have always liked/worn underside bras - still do. There are many really cute/sexy mast. bras if that is what 'you' like (I do). Do not have to have 'granny bras' unless that is what you like/want. Get what YOU like and are comfortable with. I do occasionally see a bra I really like in a store - I buy it and then sew a pocket in for pros.

What is your Chemo Dr telling you about your TX plan? It is a team effort between Chemo, rads and surgeon - not just one.

I can't give any input on insurance. My care is through VA and what I need is covered.