I had a mastectomy in March everything is healing OK but I just hate myself now and have no confidence. I am really struggling to get a prostheses to fit my body shape as I just can't go out without one.
Hi, I get the confidence thing. It’s horrid. I’m not supper of your body shape, but I found the ‘knitted knocker’ to be helpful. If you Google search, you should come across a website. They are free and are knitted by various knitted groups. You state your size. They are very soft, and you can loosen the top, removing some wadding if it helps, or squishing it around to get the right shape for you. X
Hello Shrubby, I am glad that everything is healing well and it is the emotional issues that take so much more time. I did not have mastectomy but had lumpectomy in each breast which was an emotional drain. Are you thinking of reconstruction or do you want to wear the prostheses? I am sure there are many women who will have great suggestions for you snd I hope you start to feel more confident soon. Breast cancer is very difficult as the emotional issues are so hard to resolve too. Take care.
Thank you Cloudier for your reply I have looked on their site and have emailed knitted knockers thank you so much. Confidence is everything young or old.
Hi Barbara thank you for your reply I never worried about my shape before but now it seems to mean everything, also the feel of something not connecting to your skin properly and moving around that is an awful feeling but better than no shape for me anyway. Overtime I expect I will get used to it. Thank you once again.
Hi Shrubby, I am sorry that your confidence has taken a knock, it is funny which part of the process affects us the most and I find it’s the little things that can push us closest to the edge of coping.
I had a mastectomy 5 months ago ( I had lumpectomy on this side 3 years ago) and found the prosthesis I thought might be suitable, a been-a-boob, was very uncomfortable….I had heard about the knitted knockers and looked on their website…..they use a shower scrunchie as the filling for their “swimming” boob. I thought that the scrunchie was a super idea……now I use an unraveled scrunchie in my pocketed bra, or crop top style bra, with a silicone breast shaper from Nicola Jane(£38 a pair)….which gives a smooth shape to the “boob”, you can adjust the volume and positioning of the scrunchie till you are happy with the visuals…..it is super light and does not press on my very tender chest area.
Thank you for the info it really helps to hear other peoples way of coping such valuable information in helping to move forward. My chest area is very tender now things have started to heal and all the pinging and drizzle feeling along with the itching, yet some parts are still numb, such a strange feeling. I have made contact with knitted knockers sounds very interesting. The
Crop style bras are very comfortable it is just finding one with good support and not too expensive. Have you tried swimming I had my mastectomy in March and am just getting the confidence to go I get a lot of pain in my arm and thought the water exersize would help.
Thank you very much for your help I really really appreciate it.
I agree the numbness is very strange…..I have it in my arm pit, the back of my arm and my side around the back to my shoulder blade, it often feels like the area where my arm meets my side is swollen and sticking out, but when I check…..and I do often….it looks fine. While it’s not “painful “ as such it is more than uncomfortable and I find the sensation wears on me and can get me down.
I have been swimming…..I live abroad in a very sunny country and have the luxury of a pool in my complex and a lovely warm sea to swim in. Exercise in the water is usually very helpful. I would use the effect of the water to help you…..if you can, I would try kneeling down under the water and letting your arms raise up and out…..sort of floating….just for a few seconds/ a minute at a time…..how ever long you can hold your breath…..I have heard of this being used for treatment of “frozen “ shoulders.
I watch an American lady on u-tube….her name is Kelly and her channel is Cancer Rehab PT, she specialises in exercises for people living with and beyond cancer and teaches lymphatic drainage……she has a range of simple exercises for post op mastectomy…..I have found them very helpful.
Regarding the cropped bras, have a couple of sports cropped top bras from Marks and Spencer ….reversible seamless medium impact bras….they are £12 each…..I don’t know your size, obviously, but I find them quite firm….I am a D/DD apparently…..I am not totally convinced on that…..I also have some softer bras from Matalan with front zips and removable padding….also cropped top styles from them as well with removable padding…..there are a lot of shops which sell underwear and they are worth looking at…..it is a bit of trial and error …..I also have some pocket bras from Nicola Jane…..but they can be expensive….but regularly have sales, I bought pockets from them to sew into my favourite bras…..they are in a pack of 1, they are cup sized and you hand stitch them in….they come in 3 colours, black, white and beige and they cost £4.99…..I don’t work for them honest….they are just a good company…..
if there is anything else please just ask…..if you just wish to chat or rant I am here…..all be it 4 hrs ahead of the UK….
just keeping moving forward….even in really small steps….it gets a little easier…..not all of it and not all at once and not the bits you want…..but it does get easier.
Hi Shoo I was wowed by your support of kind information so kind of you to share . Today I am very deflated and a bit scared as I have just returned from the hospital after being given different medication. This is the third type of medication as the previous 2 made me extremely unwell and this one , reading the side effects seems much worse it is tamoxifen. I live on my own and am now scared to take it . This drug can effect eye sight blood clots hair thinning and loss, extreme fatigue and many other things. I am already thinking of selling up as I don't think I will be able to cope with everything I need to do to live here, I love my garden I will be devastated if I have to leave it. Oh my I need to stop this and pull myself together.
You sound very in control how do you do it, I need to go for a walk it is very foggy outside but I need to clear these thoughts in my head.
I hope you are having a good period at the moment as things change so very quickly , hope your arm and shoulder improve soon I use 2kg hand weights to lift above my head to strengthen the muscles it does help but I really need to do the swim thing but my local pool has closed because of the cost to heat it, looking for one not too far away.
