Hi. Im due to have a mastectomy shortly and I wondered how anyone got on with the prothesis. Also anyone who has not had reconstruction and is quite happily living a normal life. Can you go swimming with the prosthesis? Thanks
i had a right side mastectomy without reconstruction in May. I’m currently using a softie and a being measured for a silicone prosthetic next month. The softie is quite comfortable. I’ve slightly revised my wardrobe so I don’t wear many v necks or very low cut tops as the softie is more visible than I am entirely comfortable with but I’ve not got rid of anything as it may look better with a silicone prosthetic.
I understand you can get specific prosthetics for swimming and you can buy swim suits with pockets in for the prosthetic which is something I am going to look into as I love swimming. I’m feeling like I could start swimming again with the right equipment. Although it will have to wait a bit as I’m due to have some more surgery to remove lymph nodes at the end of this month.
Hi, you should get a prosthesis from your hospital when you have fully recovered from mastectomy about 6 weeks I think. You can buy aqua ones for swimming. You should get information of where to purchase from your hospital. I have not problems with either. Good luck
Had a mastectomy last Thu. 3 days into recovery. Did not feel the need to decide if I wanted reconstruction immediately. Will wait & see. But carol mcgiffin has a prosthetic. And manages.
I had a right sided masectomy and lymph nodes removed plus a left sided lumpectomy at the end of January. I had 4 months of chemo(3 cycles of EC then 9 weekly chemos) which finished on the 28th June. I had my first session of radiotherapy on Friday 19th and have 14 sessions more to go.
At 53 years old, I chose not to have reconstruction and, up until recently, haven't wore my bra often. I have a softie which I find easier to wear than my prosthesis which is quite heavy although I have been told I can wear my prosthesis when I go swimming next year. It has not bothered me in the slightest having one flat half of a chest (a bit like my bald head from chemo). I have worked from home during chemo and go back to normality in September. I am not self conscious of my masectomy scar or my missing boob as I see it as the new me now.
Once the initial shock of the diagnosis had sunk in, I am very much a person who just gets on with things. Chemo was not as bad as expected, I lost my hair but was doing 12 miles of walking a week during weekly chemos (that's 11 more than pre breast cancer!)
Hi, I am 8 months post single mastectomy without reconstruction, I have not yet received my silicone prothesis, I have not chased it. Normally I don’t wear a bra, I wear a cami or crop top. If what I’m wearing requires a bra I just use my softie. I did get a swim knitted knocker but not sure if I’ll use it.This is the new me!
Hi. I had a unilateral mastectomy a year ago tomorrow and have never felt better! I chose not to have a reconstruction and was fitted for a prosthesis soon after the op, but haven't bothered to use it. I might do if going to a wedding or somewhere photos were likely, but otherwise quite happy with my one flat side. I wear looser tops than before but that is the only change I have made.
The prosthesis lady told me that the hospital ones are fine for swimming in, so avoid spending a lot of money on a specialist swimming one. But she said to have a swimsuit/bikini top with a prosthesis pocket and a high neck line. Otherwise, she said, the prosthesis can fall out whilst swimming. If it happens in the sea, game over. But in a pool, her idea was that you could ask someone to dive and get it for you. Personally, I would rather die!
The brand I was given is called Silima, if that helps to know.
Wishing you a smooth operation and speedy recovery. And a happy and healthy new life afterwards. XX
I had a right mastectomy 3 months ago without reconstruction. I use a Boost breast form. Just tuck it in my bra and it stays put. Fine for swimming too, and you can put it in the fridge when it’s hot so you have a cool foob. I love my boost. I still have swelling so I can’t wear underwired bras at the mo and I am an F cup. I use a wireless bra from bravissimo that works really well. The advantage of the Boost is that it is quite light, stays where you put it and doesn’t require a pocketed bra. You can also get lots of nice colours. I am living a normal life and do sometimes go flat with a unobra, enobra is also good as no bra is not an option for my left side! I was clear that I wanted a breast form that was easy to use and I could just pop in without it being heavy or moving around and that would fit in a normal bra as I just wanted to pop it in and go. Boost does that for me. Good luck
I had a bilateral mastectomy in 2020 and mostly just go flat . I am a large lady and find the prosthesis quite heavy and difficult to put in and out of the pocket bras. I do however like something for swimming or when doing aqua exercise. I used Amoena but they are expensive and didn't last well. I now have knitted knockers for aqua and they are very good. They are also light. I am interested to learn of Boost and also would like to know more and how you ensure they stay put. Also if anyone knows of good sites for mastectomy clothes I would be interested. I saw a top with a built-in prosthesis but it is only available in the USA. Thanks
It is made of very soft silicone. It holds its shape and is hollow. So the edges touch your skin and then it just stays where you put it. I am older so I have a saggy remaining boob so I also just roll the boost under slightly so when in a bra it matches my other one. They have an instagram page and a webpage. I have no idea how they stay put but they really do. I am F cup and the XL is just big enough for me.
My current bra band is slightly larger than usual so I do get a bit of upwards drift but it's slight and the fault of the bra not the boost. They do a money back guarantee as for some people it doesn't work or they don't like them. It took me a few goes and a few days to work out what worked for me in terms of placement. Don't despair if it takes some fiddling and bra swapping, it is worth it.
I really wanted something that I could put my bra on, pop it in and off I go. Boost does that with my every day bra.
I also like that they come in lots of colours and aren't trying to look like a boob, weirdly if it peeps out in a V neck occasionally the fact it isn't beige makes it look less like a foob and more like a bit of bra or vest.
