Hi Jolamine,

She was talking about a contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. However she was also banging the reduction drum, saying 'would you consider a reduction op in about a years time instead  ?' And so I said to her 'my understanding is that a reduction op is more complex and risky than a mastectomy, is that correct ?' And she said yes. So then I said 'so why would you be pushing me to put myself through a more complicated and painful operation when it's not what I want ?' She said 'because you're a young woman and you'd still have a breast'. To which I said 'but I don't want the breast. I don't think other people's preconceptions of what I should want as a relatively young woman should take precedence over what I actually DO want, because it's me who has to live in this body, not you or anyone else". And she just shrugged.

Has my smx today and am currently in hospital. Looks great, flat, I'm not in pain, it's just ideal. But my other breast looks gigantic. They had assured me there would be a 'wide selection' of mastectomy bras in the catalogue they gave me, but NOT ONE BRA is available in my size. I just can't get one. Went into M and S yesterday and they don't do post surgery bras in my size either. I asked the assistant and she said 'no, we don't do mastectomy bras in that size, as hardly anyone lives with a single breast of that size'. Which was entirely my point.

Going back to the consultant next Friday and I'm going to insist we look at a mastectomy imminently. If it is the case that I can't even get underwear to fit, I shouldn't be asked to live like this for any length of time at all. There are basic dignity issues at play here. I'm standing my ground and if there's no movement I'm going to lodge a formal complaint. I'm a litigation lawyer, so I won't have any trouble in doing that .

Mo xx

HI Mo,

This sounds incredible. Although your care team should advise you of the choices available to you,  I agree that the final choice should be yours and yours alone.

I find it hard to believe that you couldn't find a bra of your size in the catalogue. If they can provide you with a Silicone Prosthesis of the right size, then they should be able to provide a bra to fit that prosthesis.

There are several different suppliers of post mastectomy bras and you can certainly get the larger sizes. Where have you been left with this? When I first had my surgery a lady held a bra fitting service in the hospital. She had a selection of samples with her which I could try on and she then ordered them up. As far as I remember (it was 10 years ago!), she had a selection of  4 or 5 different makes which I could choose from.

Since then I have had a double mastectomy and have developed bilateral lymphoedema in my arms. As a result of this, I now attend a lymphoedema clinic and now get my bras supplied from there. This clinic can odrer a large array of bras, provided that they come in black, white or nude colours. None are very sexy, but they do give me better support and help to keep the swelling down.

There are companies which supply better looking post-surgery bras, which you can buy privately. If you are interested, I can provide a few names. However, you are best to stick to your guns initially and to insist on being fitted correctly.

I sincerely hope that you can eventually get everything sorted with your consultant next Friday and that you don't have to bring matters to litigation.

Please let us know how you get on.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

I can't understand why consultants are so different and it makes me mad! 

Although my breast were smaller than yours, I also faced the problem of not being listened too. My breast care nurse tried her hardest to persuade me to go for breast preservation (left breast) I wanted both gone but they refused unless I  agreed to a psych evaluation, and I was told that most likely I'd still be refused. I'm going on 63 and suffer from anxiety and it's difficult to stand my ground. I did manage to get a full mastectomy for my cancerous breast and thank goodness I did! My nurse told me after my procedure that had I gone for a lumpectomy, I would have had to have further surgery as they found a mass of precancerous cells.

I still wish I had them both removed but my recovery was long and complicated by a large haematoma, so much so that I really can't face another surgery now.

I truly hope you get your wish, having a cancer diagnosis is bad enough without having to deal with all the extra stress and anxiety. 

Hi Afon, 

A very warm welcome to our forum. I am glad to hear that you stuck to your guns and got the mastectomy in the end and, with what was discovered subsequentally, it seems that you were fortunate to do this. I am sorry to hear about the haematoma and, can understand why you're reluctant to face another surgery after that experience.

Mo's post was a long time ago, so I'm not sure whether she is still using the forum. Some people stick with us, but others forget about us once surgery and treatment is behind them.How long ago did you have your surgery? I hope that you are doing well now.

I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer in the past 11 years and was fortunate that my surgeon was happy to carry out a double mastectomy without the need to have a psych evaluation (which seems to be a prerequisite for this procedure). Unfortunately, I was unable to have reconstruction due to scarring left from previous non-cancer-related surgery, but I manage well with a selection of prostheses for different activities. I have never regretted my decision and, feel that I have done all that I can to keep it at bay.

Cancer can leave us in a lonely place. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

I am about to face the same problem....a single mastectomy leaving me in with one 32H/HH boob. I cannot have reconstruction or an implant as I have extensive burns scans from a childhood accident. This also makes a later right boob reduction unlikely.

Bravissimo have been very helpful in suggesting suitable bras...esp the so called mastectomy specialist companies only seem to imagine that people with smaller boobs have mastectomies. Having said that I tried on a  G cup mastectomy bra ( largest size available) and it felt like rigid armour plating without even trying to do it up!

Any tips would be much appreciated 

Hi Annief,

A very warm welcome to our forum. I am sorry to hear of the quandry you're in with bras. I had a size 44C bust prior to diagnosis. I have since had a lumpectomy, then a double mastectomy. Unfortunately, I was not a candidate for reconstruction either, but I have managed well with a selection of different prostheses for different activities.

I have just had a quick look through some sites for mastectomy bras which are your size and have found some on these sites:- Anita (B-K cup), Royce, Betty & Belle, Eloise, Simply B, Flowerbugs. There is not a huge choice, but it is worth looking at these sites from time to time, as their supplies change. Do you know that you can purchase pockets that you can sew into an ordinary bra too, so you never need to be stuck?

Some post-surgery bras can be very firm, as these help where someone has developed Lymphoedema - they are more of a compression device.

Please let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thank you Jolamine.

I bought a Serena bra...a lightweight compression sport type bra for post op and the best option for holding in the prosthetic when I get it seems to be the Royce Luna. I just fear that my prosthetic is going to e the size of a small elephant!

Hello ladies. I found this post after some google searching. I've just sat and read them all, and feel comforted that I'm not the only one who is going, or has gone, through these issues. 

I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Invasive Ductual Cancer in July this year. My oncologist said he wanted me to do chemo before surgery due to the size of the tumours in my left breast and armpit. I've done 6 cycles and only 2 more left. I briefly met with the surgeon before I started chemo - he was the one who gave me the results of my CT and PET scan. Thankfully it hadn't spread anywhere else in my body. He said after chemo I'd be looking at a lymph node clear out and mastectomy of the left breast. At this news I said that if they take 1, then they take both. To which he said no. I'm a 36JJ. I've lived all my life being ridiculed and teased over my boobs. The thought of living with just one is sending me into such anxiety. I know i'll be offered reconstruction eventually but I just cant envisage living for upto a year, possibly more, feeling so lopsided. I've spent the last 3 days scouring the internet for prosthetics, mastectomy bras and post surgery bra's in my size. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! The biggest cup size in a front fastening post surgery bra is a H cup. And I've yet to find a prosthetic bigger than a H cup. Even Knitted Knockers dont make them in my size.  I know the priority is getting cancer free, but the thought of being so uneven is making me feel ill. 

Even though the tumour in my left breast is big, and I know roughly where abouts it is, I still cant feel it. I initially went to the GP as I felt a lump in my armpit. The mammogram and ultrasound I had showed the lump in my breast too. Because of this, I'm already worried that I could miss lumps when checking my right breast.

I'm hopefully seeing the surgeon tomorrow and feel like I'm going to have a fight on my hands. I feel like I've cruised through chemo, even though i've lost my hair and have been quite poorly at times. Obviously i'm worried about the surgery, but my biggest fear is living with 1 whopper knocker and feeling like a freak.

Thanks for listening - i needed to get this all off my chest. Literally and metaphorically! 

I could not have reconstruction due childhood burns and as a Bravissimo 34HH was a bit worried ( see above). The post op comfy was great and my new prosthetic even better. In fact only realise I have had a boob removed when I undress at night. It is a mid weight Amoena as supplied by the NHS....and came with a free bra. Interestingly in September they put me in a 36E (prosthetic size 9) ...and not only does it not slip (as feared) but it is extremely comfortable and I won't miss underwires at all.

I find that the remaining boob tends to squash across a bit without the wire bit to separate the boobs...and as long as you don't want very low cut tops thst's fine by me as the reduced bust size makes me look slimmer! Thus don't worry too much. When I tried the Luna the oadd8ng was extremely uncomfortable.

Hi LJ,

I can fully understand your dilemma. When you see your consultant tomorrow, point out the practicalities. You will usually be given a silicone prosthetic once your breast has healed after surgery. Your breast care nurse should be able to find out in advance whether or not their supplier can provide a JJ. 

I was in a similar position 12 years ago, when I had my second bout of breast cancer. Surgeons are reluctant to remove both breasts when only 1 is affected. They claim that removing both doesn't improve our chances. I was fortunate, in that I discovered a large lump in my other breast 6 months after my lumpectomy and, although this proved to be benign, my surgeon was happy to do the double mastectomy, because he fet that this second lump could become problematic further down the line.

You don't have to buy mastectomy bras. You can get a pocket fitted to your current bras. I get two of these fitted free every year and I pay to get others fitted if I need more, or I sew them in myself.

Please let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

I hope that this helps.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx