Forum Discussion
Advice on prosthetics
Hello everyone,
I'm looking for some advice about possible prosthetics and where to get them as well as whether there might be a way to get any kind of rebate back from Medicare after purchase.
My diagnosis was back in 2014 and resulted in mastectomy of the left breast with immediate reconstruction (silicon implant). All was done very quickly and through the public system. I was not given very many choices about it all - just told this is what we need to do and this is how we are going to do it. They had said that my new breast would match the other remaining breast - this was the only thing I had a choice in - reconstruct or not - so I said yes. But it does not - it is about half the size of my natural breast. I have made myself little pads filled with cushion stuffing which I use to make my bra look sort of even - although the natural breast, being heavier, always sits a little lower than the reconstructed breast.
What I really want, however is something that will fill the bra a bit more naturally - also I would like to go swimming again, so I need something waterproof - I have not worn a swim suit since my surgery and my little cushions of course will not cope with being in the water. I need to lose weight but have a bad leg too, so I thought swimming might be the ideal exercise to try to help myself. Not to mention the fact that I would simply like to enjoy being in the water with my children who just don't understand why mummy won't come swimming with them any more.
Sorry, I'm rambling too much. Please - I'm in Melbourne - I am a larger woman, so need help that understands the fuller figure. If you can advise me, I would be so very grateful.
Thankyou, Natalie
I'm looking for some advice about possible prosthetics and where to get them as well as whether there might be a way to get any kind of rebate back from Medicare after purchase.
My diagnosis was back in 2014 and resulted in mastectomy of the left breast with immediate reconstruction (silicon implant). All was done very quickly and through the public system. I was not given very many choices about it all - just told this is what we need to do and this is how we are going to do it. They had said that my new breast would match the other remaining breast - this was the only thing I had a choice in - reconstruct or not - so I said yes. But it does not - it is about half the size of my natural breast. I have made myself little pads filled with cushion stuffing which I use to make my bra look sort of even - although the natural breast, being heavier, always sits a little lower than the reconstructed breast.
What I really want, however is something that will fill the bra a bit more naturally - also I would like to go swimming again, so I need something waterproof - I have not worn a swim suit since my surgery and my little cushions of course will not cope with being in the water. I need to lose weight but have a bad leg too, so I thought swimming might be the ideal exercise to try to help myself. Not to mention the fact that I would simply like to enjoy being in the water with my children who just don't understand why mummy won't come swimming with them any more.
Sorry, I'm rambling too much. Please - I'm in Melbourne - I am a larger woman, so need help that understands the fuller figure. If you can advise me, I would be so very grateful.
Thankyou, Natalie
16 Replies
I am interested in the shop you went to please as i live on the sunny coast so brissy inst that far for me. I will go one day after my mastectomy wich is on Wednesday. I also love that you mention for swimwear as thats been one of my concerns.Jo D. said:I don't know where you are situated, I am in Brisbane and after surgery was left with one B size breast and one D size breast. The solution I found was a partial prosthesis, it is Amoena brand, and was fully refunded by Medicare. There is a shop which specialises in fitting these, they also have the prostheses for swimwear. The lady there who does the fittings helped me with the Medicare forms, also advised that some health insurers give an allowance towards bras. I can let you know the name of the shop if you are interested.- Hi everyone,
Yes unfortunately the YWCA Encore program in Victoria is suspended indefinitely due to lack of funding.
If you are interested in water based classes the MOVE muscle, bone & joint health and YMCA run the ‘Waves’ warm water exercise program at several venues around metropolitan Melbourne. The ‘Waves’ program provides gentle warm water exercise classes offering a general workout for the whole body for people living with muscle, bone and joint conditions, as well as other chronic health conditions. Classes are conducted by qualified YMCA staff that have been trained by MOVE and the classes include a variety of exercises including aerobic, strength, range of movement and stretching. All classes are held in YMCA hydrotherapy pools where the water temperature is between 32 to 36°C. For more information visit http://www.move.org.au/Waves-Program or contact 1800 263 265.
If you would like more information on other exercise options in Victoria or across Australia please feel free to contact here in the office 1800 500 258.
All the best,
Fiona :) Hi Natalie,
You might be interested in the Encore programme that is free and run in most capital cities for breast cancer survivors over usually and 8 week period. Each week a different subject is discussed ( including prosthetics) and exercise/ meditation and usually pool exercises with other survivors are done weekly.
QUOTE : YWCA Encore is an exercise program designed specifically for women who have experienced mastectomy, lumpectomy or breast reconstruction surgery at any time in their lives. Based around land and pool exercises, it is safe, fun and therapeutic. Encore can help you strengthen and tone your arms, shoulders and chest, regain mobility, and improve
Oh Dear- Just checked the Encore website web site http://http//www.ywcaencore.org.au and unfortunately the Vic Encore programme has been suspended due to lack of funding!!!
They are being run in all states I believe and even Little Tassie has 3 programmes running early in the year.
Anyone in Victoria want to chase this up? Victoria has one of the strongest hydrotherapy representation in the country so how is it that Encore can't be run there?
Can BCNA help?
If not you could always start off in a hydrotherapy pool as your GP can organise a care plan for you if you have a chronic condition (bad leg) which will entitle you to up to 5 free hydrotherapy/ aquatic physiotherapy visits a year if there is a suitable place convenient for you even out of the public system.
Hopeful for you,
Mimsi
- That is a lovely response Natalie. You are right this is a great place to come and chat with others who get you. I am glad you are feeling better.
Paula xx - Hi Ladies,
Thank you all so very much for your responses. There are certainly lots of fabulous suggestions provided. I have looked at the web links you have included in your messages. I wish I had known about these things sooner and I might have been able to avoid a lot of the depression and self loathing I have felt since my surgery.
I will follow up a couple of the links on the prostheses - especially trying to find one that will suit the possibility of swimming again.
Jane221 - thank you for your suggestion of further surgery. To be honest it is not something I could face at the moment - even a couple of years on. My mastectomy and recon was the final part of multiple surgeries to remove the cancer. This also followed a long stint in hospital for other totally unrelated health issues (I say unrelated, but if it weren't for them, they would not have found my cancer and it may have progressed much further). It is something I have considered, but mentally I know, I just would not cope with it at present. So I will stick to the path of prosthetics in a bid to look somewhat normal.
Thank you all again. I am truly overwhelmed by the way everyone on BCNA just rallies together to support and help - I don't know any of you but you are a very special part of my life.
The BCNA is a real lifeline - a wonderful place to be able to run to when you just need that support or advice.
God bless you all.
Natalie xo - I don't know where you are situated, I am in Brisbane and after surgery was left with one B size breast and one D size breast. The solution I found was a partial prosthesis, it is Amoena brand, and was fully refunded by Medicare. There is a shop which specialises in fitting these, they also have the prostheses for swimwear. The lady there who does the fittings helped me with the Medicare forms, also advised that some health insurers give an allowance towards bras. I can let you know the name of the shop if you are interested.
- http://silima.com.au/silimafitters.html
My physio gave me a list of Victorian breast fitters for both prosthesis and compression bras and singlets for breast lymphedema. Amongst the listing is the link above which covers interstate. The listing is Tissue Trauma local breast prosthesis fitters
Hope this helps - Hi @Barmyfarmers, the ladies have given you some great advice. I'm sure there will be a number of choices in Melbourne to find a suitable prosthesis. I had a mastectomy in 2012 and found the Amoena product very good. Like Paula I went to a specialist bra shop (in Sydney) that had trained fitters and they were very helpful. Since then I understand that there are trained fitters at some / most Myers stores, so may be worth checking. When I got my prostheses I got a $400 rebate on a $425 piece. I could only claim for another one two (?) years later, however, I had a reconstruction and no longer needed one.
My other question, and you may be sick of surgeries etc, which is totally understandable, but have you considered having a reduction on your remaining breast to achieve better symmetry, or possibly having a fat transfer procedure on the reconstructed breast to give you more volume? I had a small reduction on my healthy breast after my recon to achieve a better match and it worked well as I have the same size cups each side now. These procedures may be covered under Medicare or private health as they can be considered part of the reconstruction process. Jane xx - Hi Natalie - Amoena have prostheses called Partial Shapers, for uneven breasts following surgery. It might be worth checking them out:
http://www.amoena.com.au/Products/Partial-Shapers ;
Best wishes, Jude. - Hi Barmyfarmers, before I had my reconstruction I was wearing a prosthesis. I got it from a lingerie shop where the lady had been trained in fitting them. She told me she also had all manner of small and different shaped prosthesis that women who had had lumpectomies sometimes use. Maybe you could try one of the specialist bra shops that have trained fitters. You can certainly claim prosthesis if you have had a mastectomy. You just need to claim through Medicare. Anyone trained in fitting a prosthesis should know the correct type of receipt to give you. Now as for swimming I had a proper swimming prosthesis but am unsure if they make the odd shaped ones of those. You could however just get a small one. The swimming prosthesis are hollow so would maybe fit it over your breast. As you can only claim one prosthesis every three years( think it's 3) you would need to pay for the swimming one, however they are considerably cheaper. Hope this helps. Paula xx
