Doc says prostheses won't fit properly--is she right?

My mom had a single mast in 2001 and did not look for recon, she has the prost and sometimes she wears it and sometimes she doesn't. It is a personal decision but I would not be forced into reconstruction if it is not what you want to do.

btw - I had bilat mast left side proph last June and I opted for the recon but that was my decision.

Sheila

Like purplemb, I had a single mast without recon.  I also wear spaghetti straps, tank tops (just about daily), halter style tops, etc.  I have used the prosth. that fits in a mast. bra and also the contact forms.  It may be different if you have a bilateral, but at least for me, I have no issues with shifting. 

All that being said, I did consult with a plastic surgeon before my mastectomy.  I wanted to be an informed consumer, so to speak.  I am glad that I did because it solidified what I already knew-that I did not want to reconstruct.

I had a single mastectomy and use a prosthesis that is inserted into a pocket of a mastectomy bra. I have had no trouble with it at all. Nobody who did not know I had a mastectomy would guess.

I am curious about the "push" by surgeons for reconstruction. I told my breast surgeon that I knew I did not want reconstruction. He wanted me to meet with a plastic surgeon anyway. I simply never made the appointment. Before the surgery, I told him again I was confident I would never want reconstruction and if anything I might later want a preventive mastectomy on the other side. He told me he was doing a skin-sparing mastectomy anyway in case I changed my mind.

All I cared about was being cured. Plus, I spoke with someone who did have reconstruction and years later it needed redoing when her other breast aged and changed. So she needed more surgery so they could match again. Getting a new prosthesis is much easier in my opinion! I am all for keeping things simple.

But in any event, different strokes for different folks!

lucky32,

While I think your surgeon is wrong in what she said about the outcome of mast with no recon, I think she is right in wanting you to consult with a PS.  It's a real shame, though, that you are feeling pressured.  I, too, thought I was being pressured by family members and by my breast surgeon, to "save" my breast and choose lumpectomy/rads rather than mastectomy.  So, I told them I felt like I was being pressured into making a decision that was not what I wanted, and they backed off.

When I told my surgeon I wanted a mastectomy and was "almost positive" I did not want immediate recon, she said, "Well, I would like you to talk with a PS if there is any possibility at all that you might want recon.  If you have not ruled it out completely, you should at least hear about the options that are available.  Even if you do not want recon now, you might decide to have it later."  She and her nurse both said the PS was "very good" and "very nice," and I would like him.

The consult with the PS cost me the amount of my co-pay ($20), but it was money well-spent.  The PS worked almost exclusively with BC patients; he and my surgeon routinely coordinated their surgeries and were planning to do so with mine, if I chose recon.  The PS and his nurse spent more than an hour with me, looking at the tissue I had available, examining scars from previous surgeries, showing me "before" and "after" photographs, discussing pro's and con's--and complications--of each type of recon, and marking and photographing the relevant parts of my body.

By the time they were finished, I had decided I did not want to have immediate recon.  I told the PS that, but I thanked him for all the time and care he had taken in explaining things to me and answering all my questions.  He said the decision was totally up to me, and that his job was to present the options.  And, he said if I changed my mind before my surgery, I should call and he would work out the schedule with my surgeon.

Bottom line:  I recommend that you talk to the PS even if you are thinking you do not want recon.  At least you will have learned what's available.  I thought I knew, but I really was naive.

otter 

Lucky

I had a unilateral mastectomy in March. I just started wearing a prothesis a few weeks ago and have been fine with it. I do use pocketed bras with it and have had no problems with shifting either. The secret is in the fit of the bras, if they fit well, no problem. I have not considered recon at this time, just wanted to get through this and get back to work and all. Exploring your options is a good thing though,,,,that way you know what's available if you do change your mind.

I can understand why your surgeon wants you to see a Plastic Surgeon.

It's a big deal, right on the main page of this web site, about women not being told about reconstruction.

Although you may have decided, your surgeon is trying hard to toe the line on what she's supposed to do. I would take it as a sign that she makes an effort to keep up with new developments and cares about doing things right.

Just think, if she told you to forget about reconstruction you'd probably think less of her.