Taking the next step - buying prothesis
Hi, I haven't posted for a number of months as I have been settling in to my new life with no breasts and trying to get my energy levels back. I had a bilateral mastectomy in February last year and spent chemo and my 60th birthday in lockdown. I am now on Letrozel for 5 years but otherwise life is more or less back to normal. I had lots of support from my church and my work friends during the whole ordeal so I was very blessed. I am not sure about anyone else but it is when chemo had finished and I went back to work that I found the hardest. My life was just not quite the same as it had been, apart from the physical which was magnified by the fact that my belly seemed to swell during chemo - (I look like a pregnant woman and full term at that) but I just can't seem to shake the fatigue and I need to be careful not to be too hard on myself and let my thoughts run away from me. I look at myself sometimes and think "Oh my gosh...". I have finally decided to try getting a prothesis as I am tired of trying to adjust my bra with the chicken fillet moving all the time. If I don't wear the bra, which is far more comfortable, I really look like I am all belly. I would love some feedback on the breat prothesis you can purchase from others who have them. Are they heavy? Do they move around all the time like the stuffed ones we got in the care packs? Is there anywhere that you can go to get used ones to try before you outlay the money? It just feels like another step that brings back the reminder of having cancer. Sorry it probably seems silly to be so thrown by looking at getting these prothesis but it just brings the reality of life back to me I guess. Any feedback is really appreciated.
Going flat with pride
When diagnosed with early HER2+ DCIS in August (right breast), my decision was immediate. Bilateral mastectomy for me. No reconstruction. Why? I'm 61 years old, have been married twice and have had another 15 year relationship. I'm not looking for a man and furthermore, I don't care whether a man would find my flat chest attractive or not! :) Another factor was the many stories I've read here and elsewhere regarding multiple surgeries and failed reconstructions. Not for me. I also didn't want to throw radiation into the mix of treatments. On the 18th August I underwent the surgery, with no problems. Testing of the removed breasts found another tumour in the left breast, which made my bilateral decision a good one. Four weeks later I began chemotherapy through a port in the chest (Taxol, Herceptin) and finished the Taxol yesterday (YAY for me!). :) I've stuck to my exercise regime throughout and have been able to keep working. To date I have only missed two days of work (touch-wood) which were post surgery, but only because I could do so from home. Brain fog has been probably the biggest issue, due to the level of concentration needed for work. Modafinil has helped with that. I purchased the Medicare-funded prosthesis, but haven't worn them so far. My go-to breasts for everyday are seamless, padded crop tops that you can get in any department store for around $15.00. They are light and comfortable, but I wish they came in natural fibres. In the future I will need to navigate the whole anti-estrogen hormone thing. Hmm. I have a long red scar across my chest, but I don't feel like it's unsightly. I'm bald, but that's temporary. I feel like I'm in a good place. :)