Bra fitting following a lumpectomy and radiation

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Brutersmom
Brutersmom Member Posts: 563
edited September 2017 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

In about a week I will be allowed to go back to a regular bra. I finished radiation about 2 weeks ago and everything is healing up nicely. I have been wearing sports bra's combined with my fall clothes it is hard to see that I am to very different sizes. I almost regret not having a mastectomy with reconstruction. Almost. I would like to get back to a regular bra but I am now a dd on one side and a c on the other. Initially i thought I could just do padded on one side and remove the padding on the other but the difference is to great. I have a gala coming up in December and come spring my clothes will move back to more knits. Could use some advice on what to do. I could go get fitted locally but the bra's the fitter sells are $100+ a bra. What solutions have worked for others?

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  • LisaAlissa
    LisaAlissa Member Posts: 1,092
    edited November 2015

    I don't know if this will be helpful or not, but "here" is a link to a thread here at BCO called How to Make a Micro Bead breast form. It seems to me that (if you sew or could find someone to sew for you) you might be able to make a custom form to balance out your look.

    At any rate, HTH,

    LisaAlissa

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  • lisa-e
    lisa-e Member Posts: 819
    edited November 2015

    They make partial breast forms that can be used by those who wind up being different sizes after a lumpectomy (or by those whose breasts are just different sizes. You insurance might cover the cost as they would for foobies after a mastectomy. I would go to a local mastectomy shop or look for them on line:


    http://www.amoena.us/Products/Partial-Shapers


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  • ChiSandy
    ChiSandy Member Posts: 12,133
    edited November 2015

    Before my lumpectomy my right breast (the one with the tumor) was between an H an an I, whereas the left one was a solid I--the right one wasn't small enough to need to pad. Now, five out of 16 high-dose partial-breast radiation treatments in, the right one has swollen to a J cup. I have a bunch of removable pads from a couple of too-small Genie bras I bought at CVS last year, so I can slip one into the left cup when I wear a J cup bra. But the diff between a DD and C is great enough that your insurance should cover a “shell" partial form, which shouldn't require a pocketed mastectomy bra. And with your larger breast no bigger than a DD you wouldn't necessarily have to go to a specialty shop to get fitted, or pay $100 for a bra like us larger-breasted gals who need to go to some place like Rigby & Peller (formerly Intimacy Boutique) for a proper fitting. If you are near a Nordstrom, their fitters are now much better-trained than they were a decade ago, when they shoved me into DDDs with bands way too big. Here in Chicago, we have a suburban store, Schwartz', that sells regular lingerie and swimwear but also has a mastectomy & lymphedema boutique. If you have such a store near you, you could get fitted for the shell form and then buy a normal (DD still being “normal") size bra there (or anywhere) to accommodate both it and your other breast.

    An alternative is a reconstruction/augmentation of the smaller breast, which your insurance could also cover, to bring it up to DD.

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  • chef127
    chef127 Member Posts: 891
    edited November 2015

    Brutersmom,

    Have you given any thought about having a reduction on the left breast? Insurance is required to pay for the procedure. My breasts were also large, too large, for a 5'2' 110 lbs frame. I went from a F cup to a D. Still too big, but I am so happy with the smaller size. The reduction was a non event and I recovered in about 2-3 weeks. Only thing is my reduced breast looks 16 yo and my cancer side looks 60 yo. Its all good. No one but me is looking! lol

    Maureen xox

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited November 2015

    See a Certified Bra Fitter for a prothesis that will 'even' you out. I had a UMX without recon so wear a pros. I get most of my bras where the only Certified Fitter within 300+ miles works and I pay about $45 - $55 for mastectomy bras depending on which I choose. I have also found some really cute CHEAP bras at WalMart that have a 'pocket with pad' for 'uplift' that works for my pros. I'm a 34 B so might make a difference.

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  • Brutersmom
    Brutersmom Member Posts: 563
    edited November 2015

    Thanks LisaAlissa I will look at that. No worries about sewing. I do it all the time. I make everything but underwear and socks. Keeps me sane.

    Maureen: I have wondered about breast reduction. Might have to consider that. Being smaller would not bother me. I stopped eating starched and sugar back in April before this all started and exercising more. I lost 25 lbs. in 3.5 months. I have been in a holding pattern but now that rads are done I am going to start working harder to loose more weight. What makes it this situation harder is I cannot do underwires courtesy of a broken rib years ago on my left side that did no heal quite right and i have pain if anything presses on it.

    I have no idea where to find a mastectomy fitter except at the hospital and I have not been impressed with the people in the store there so far.

    I know there is a Nordstromes about an hour from here.

    I will have to do some research. Still open to ideas. I probably will make do until I am fully healed and then start exploring options. I have never been one to rush into anything. I really appreciate the ideas and I am open to other suggestions.

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited November 2015

    Look in the phone book for 'Medical Supply' places and call and ask IF they have a Certified Fitter. My Gal who is the only Certified Fitter within over 300 miles (I live in an area that is not very populated ). If you are in a very populated area, look for Mastectomy Salon (or simular words) to call and ask.

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  • SFWSFW
    SFWSFW Member Posts: 1
    edited September 2017

    I am 17 years post lumpectomy, and NOT complaining! Just saying: my lumpectomy was on my already slightly smaller breast. And then after the lumpectomy and radiation, it became smaller still, and continues to kind of shrink, while my other breast grows quite a bit larger, still! So my cup sizes are quite different... possibly: one side is 36DD, and the other 36G or H. ... My greatest find and recommendation is THIS bra: WACOAL 851205 Somehow, magically, it accommodates both breasts without any alteration or insert. It's worth every penny and is often on sale. IF anyone has other recommendations, please post.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited September 2017

    Hi there SFWSFW,

    Welcome to the BCO community.

    Unfortunately this thread has been inactive for a number of years now so you may not receive any responses to your post.

    Why not create a topic in the forum below so that other members may know about your recommendation.

    Recommend your Resources

    Wishing you well,

    The Mods.

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