Hi Florence54,

A very warm welcome to our forum.

It sounds as if your treatment is well underway and I hope that you are coping with it all. I have had a lumpectomy, then a double mastectomy just under a year later, when I discovered a second cancer in the same breast. Unfortunately, due to previous non-cancer related surgery, I was unable to have reconstruction.

I initially had large breasts and felt very aware of myself when I was totally flat, I manage fairly well with an assortment of prostheses for different activities. I have gradually reduced the size of my prostheses over the years, as I found the large ones too heavy. I moved to a different part of the country recently, where nobody knew me and have since found myself not bothering with prostheses, unless I am swimming. I find this much more comfortable. It is now 16 years since I was first diagnosed and I still lead a busy life.

There is an online group called flat friends, which you might find useful (flat friends.org.uk). This is a group for people who have had mastectomies without reconstruction.

I hope that your radiotherapy goes well. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx