How is life with one boob?

I am happy to have found this thread as I am looking ahead to UMX on April 14th and have decided to not do reconstruction at this point, but am thinking of diep down the line if I realize I don't like living without reconstruction. Here's my blog about making that decision: https://psalm7326journey.wordpress.com/2017/03/06/...

Now, I need to gear up for the UMX, and figure out how I want to live post UMX - what kind of prosthesis, how to swim, etc. I got my first knitted knocker in the mail and some coobie bras, but that's it at this point. I have a lot to learn.

thanks so much, jcpriest, it is helpful to hear your perspective!

To be honest, I had a UMX and actually don't wear any prosthetic. I wear ahh bra or genie bra and the size seems to work well. No one appears to notice, even when out in public. Not sure about swimming, have not tackled that yet as far as what to wear in the pool. We'll see.

thank you, Socalisa, I need the reminder to take things one day at a time.

Hi Joy,

I agree with SoCalLisa, take things one step at a time. It will all fall in place, at the appointed time.

For swimming, you could use a "shower poofy", and if you sew (or someone you know would like to sew this for you), you can make yourself this microbead prosthesis: http://mastectomysolutions.com/sew-your-own-breast...

Know that I'll be praying for you and your medical team on April 14.

I don't find my uni bad at all, I've got quite used to it for the past 1.5 year. I use a prosthesis for every day and swimming. I do have calcifications in my other breast, so have been advised to remove that also. For this reason I'm thinking recon because I don't think I could go totally flat at 36 years old. Damn other breast, otherwise oddly I'd be ok with the uni.

Hi Joy45Gen,

Thank you for reviving this thread. I have surgery scheduled for late April and I'm in the decision stage. I originally wanted autologous reconstruction and then I was not a candidate for the ones I was willing to do, or thought I was willing to do. Plastic surgeon says I barely have enough in my belly for one Diep. He drew on my belly what they would take and after looking at it for a day or two, I just couldn't see taking that much of my belly, which is pretty flat, so I felt like I would be leaning over if they took that much tissue. I have lots of fat, just not in the places where they do autologous recon. I have enough fat un my upper butt, but no way I would do 9-12 hours of surgery. And no way would I take muscle from my lat. dorsi.

So now I'm down to implants. I have yet to talk to a plastic surgeon about implants, (that is next week). But just doing a little reading the idea of extra surgery for maintenance is unappealing. And a breast lift for the non-involved side --- just more surgery. So I'm trying to get used to having a prothesis. But I definitely like the idea of not having prolonged and several extra surgeries. I have made no decisions and right now I have a plastic surgeon scheduled to give me a tissue expander on my surgery date, but I can call it off.

Thank you Joy45Gen,

The funny thing is I'm not thin, that is what kills me. I have lost 22 lbs during chemo and have about 20 lbs more to lose. I just don't have much fat on my belly. I have not given birth, so perhaps if I had, I would have the fat I need. But I'm in the same situation with people who are actually thin. I have a lot of muscle, and that may be the problem in areas, is that the fat in thin and the muscle is big. If they could take it from the outside of my upper thighs, I've got enough fat for some pretty big breasts (which I would not want). But plenty of fat in all the wrong places.

hello all i had a Lmast with reconstruction but my body rejected it soon after it hardened n had high fever rushes to hosp it was immediately removed the expander. i went flat sided for awhile then wearing prothesis n sooo glad n comfortable with it. Am now been wearing for 23yrs this yr Praise God i am 23yr Survivor.msphil idc stage2 Lmast 0\3nodes chemo and rads and 5yrs on tamoxifen

I was diagnosed whilst pregnant so perhaps that made it easier for me to accept body changes generally. I had right breast mastectomy at c 26 weeks, then 10 weeks later had son by elective C-section before chemo & radiotherapy.

Never wanted reconstruction & it was impossible at time of mastectomy because of risk to baby if under general anaesthetic for many hours.

I have a prosthetic (part gel, part foam) I sometimes wear but usually I just put on a bra & tough if anyone feels I'm odd. I swim without prosthesis.

New breast consultant tried persuading me that my sporadic flipped rib feeling could be lessened by having reconstruction but I don't like idea of implant. We have agreed he will no longer raise the topic

I adapt wired bras which often rub scar area, by taking out wires by cutting hole in channel between cups (rather than under arm) & pulling out wire. Gives me wider choice of funkier colour bras, but would horrify bra specialists.

Like some other respondents, I use the void to store things like house keys, when fetching son.

I miss a "proper" cleavage but as I was never a Playboy Bunny type, I suppose I have been less traumatised. Husband, son and I just happy I am alive

I was always small chested and thin, so I tend to go around in only a camisole. I bought a prosthetic breast - nice, but I was talked in to going to a 3 rather than a size 2. I wore it out and it got sweaty (I am in Fla.)

Being Uni, I feel very lop-sided and a little boy like now that I have no hair. I can see that over time, there will be very little fat to cover the rib cage..

I have to go LD flap to rebuild. I am mentally preparing for another surgery, date unknown.

Lack of symmetry plus plus plus - for me "life" with one "boob" is hell, I feel so ashamed and embarassed and totally uncomfortable in my own skin

Uni here too. And finally ok with it. I have done a complete 180 regarding my feelings about wanting the healthy breast off.

When diagnosed summer of 2015, I desperately wanted the healthy breast removed because I was scared of getting breast cancer in that, too. The surgeon said I was too thin for own-tissue recon; unfortunately she delayed surgery a week because she would not believe I did not want any recon at all if the only option involved having an implant. (All the women in my local bc group have had recon, so it's "normal" here). The delay freaked me out because of the very aggressive pathology in my biopsy. The surgeon left extra tissue because "of course you will change your mind later"; I wish she had not, because it rubs on the armhole part of bras (when I wear them) and that hurts.

Although thank heavens I've gotten the LE on my mastectomy side (hand, arm, chest wall) under pretty good control, I'm not willing to risk getting LE on the other side, too, from surgery to remove the healthy breast. So that one stays unless it cancer shows up there, too. Even fairly well-controlled LE sucks. Also, I read recently that removing the healthy breast would does not prolong survival (except in certain types of bc, not mine).

I'm only a B-C cup but the silicone protheses for the mastectomy bra are too heavy and hurt. And the nerve pain in the scar hasn't yet completely gone away, so all bras hurt, even with a soft fluffy foob. And cancer treatment and all the suffering from its side effects has made me "a bit" selfish --- so if I don't feel like wearing an uncomfortable bra/prothesis (most of the time LOL), I simply don't, and if that shocks anyone, that's their problem, not mine. Yes, I've ditched most of my tighter tops, and yes I use scarves etc, and yes, for special functions (going to a wedding the end of this month) I'll wear the foob to not draw extra attention to myself. But actually nobody seems to have noticed at all when I go out lopsided. Or maybe they just don't care

If you're reading this thread you're probably trying to decide what's right for you. As many have posted above, you can always change your mind, and possibly do recon later -- or not. One thing I did not know at the start is that a lot of recon styles involve multiple surgeries --- do you really want to soend that uch time recovering from operations? --- make sure you get all the information before you decide!

I hope whatever you choose, that your surgery goes very well and that you're happy with the final results

Hi All,

I had a uni on the right side and selected prepectorial placement. I'm 6-weeks out from the exchange. I'm starting to experience shoulder pain. I tried a spin class today but could not hold the handlebar on the right side for extended periods of time. Has anyone experienced this? Did you find out what caused it or exercises to minimize the pain? How long before I pop out of being in a funk?

hi...this might be out of topic but i would realt like to ask. I had a full mastevtomy in march 2017 and also decided on being flat on one side. It has been 6 weeks already since my surgery and my surgery area/chest feels numbes or has less sensation. Will my sensation come back?