Prosthetic breast?

Hi

Were you not given a 'softie' (soft stuffed fake breast) after your mastectomy with the promise of a proper silicone breast when you've healed sufficiently?

I had a mastectomy in May and I was given a softie by the breast team nurse a week before my op and I've just had my appointment through to be fitted for my silicone one next week.

I don't know if different areas have differences but I would have thought everyone was entitled to a prosthetic breast so I'd definitely talk to someone from the breast team.

Sorry to hear that you've been through this but hopefully you'll get sorted soon.  Good luck with your chemo, 

XOXO

Hi there

I had a mastectomy two weeks ago, prior to my op I actually visited the prosthesis dept and chatted through the process it was just to put my mind at ease as I didn’t want a reconstruction but just wanted to see the alternative.

After op I got my softie and I have an appt 8 weeks after to be fitted we also get a bra.

Then in a year we can get the sticky on one if we want.

Im staggered you weren’t told about this, it sounds like the postcode lottery.Mind you my hospital has a dept dedicated nurses and a lovely changing room with every size and type of boob to suit all the nurses  said other hospitals don’t have this luxury.

Hope you get it sorted out.

I had my "Betty boob" once my seroma was fully drained and got my first bra at the same time 

My nurse talked me through the process before any treatment 

Following reconstruction I have a B cup (new boob) and an F cup (old boob).  I haven't been offered anything to make up difference.  I think part of issue is surgery at a different health authority to my BCN.  I haven't yet asked about anything as other health issues uppermost in my mind and managing with padded mastectomy bras with extra padding added.  I may enquire in the future.  And expecially if I can ever swim again.

No, I wasn't given a 'softie'.

The reason I've not bothered buying a new bra before now is because I am not currently working, living on savings and having to watch the pennies, so I only found out I should have been offered a prosthesis at the hospital when my sister offered to pay and took me to a bra shop near where she lives. Bra shop owner knew all about this free service so was able to advise. We did buy a suitable bra from the shop, just need a prosthesis now.

I'll just have to ask about prosthesis on Monday when I start chemo.

It would have been nice to have something sorted out before now though  

Oh well, these things are sent to try us. It will all get sorted eventually (fingers crossed).

I'm finding out the hard way that cancer support services can be pretty patchy and a lot depends on which hospital you attend, I guess.

Thanks very much for the replies everyone :) 

I haven't bought a new bra yet either, I've just pinned my softie inside one of my old bras (not an underwired one) and after a few tries have finally found a position where it looks almost normal. From what I understand it is fairly easy to adapt your own bras to accommodate a prosthesis and you can buy small pockets for about £6 for 2 to sew in if you want to.

Really sorry to hear that you've not had the support, it really should be the same across the country but like so much it really does seem to depend on where you are.  I live in Herefordshire and my hospital doesn't have a breast prosthesis fitting service but I've just had an appointment through from Breast Cancer Haven for a free fitting.

Have a look at breastcancerhaven.org.uk to see if you can get the help you need from them, they offer 12 hours free.

Hope you get sorted on Monday and good luck with the chemo.  Mine is due to start in the next couple of weeks so I'm not far behind you XOXO

I had a mastectomy in 2015 with an implant which is smaller than my other boob. (This is because an implant to match would be too heavy for the muscle to support). I've been offered a reduction on the other side but don't want the extra surgery.

Therefore the BCN gave me a silicone falsie to wear to pad out the implant boob to match the natural boob. This does a good job, but I find it quite heavy.

I also ordered some Knitted Knockers which are knitted falsies with soft stuffing which you can add/remove to get the size you want. I find these more comfortable for general use and they are  lightweight. They are knitted in cotton so do not irritate. They also offer a swimming falsie to go in your swimming costume.

If you do a google search on Knitted Knockers you will find them easily.

Good luck !

Nic.