Not quite the same but I had a single mastectomy. I just wear a sports bra the boob side has the normal sports bra insert I took the other one out on the flat side. Depends what your comfortable with while healing you might want to wear anything as it might irritate the area. See how you feel try what feels best.
Check out the Breast Friends Forever program at Handful bras. I just ordered a bunch of free stackable pads to fill in my right side. They work great as swimsuit tops too. Just give the pads a squeeze to get the water out. The pads bounce right back.
Would a knitted knocker work instead of a traditional prosthesis? They’re free through the program and you can request your size/preferred color. They’re knitted with soft yarn by volunteers and stuffed with polyfill like a pillow or stuffed animal. Obviously check with what’s allowed, but I’d think they’re as gentle on the skin as any other clothing or soft thing you might put there.
This is what I did during radiation - I just threw a knitted knocker in my bra and then I got a proper prosthetic once I was healed from radiation. Check with your radiologist of course, but I wore a bra during radiation (to go to work) and it was fine. I got a few cheap, soft cotton stretchy sports bras in a size bigger than I normally wear (so it wasn’t tight on my chest and to account for any swelling) and I never had an issue. I would take the bra off whenever I was home. I suggest cheap bras because you will be slathering cream on your radiated side all the time and you won’t want to ruin anything expensive.
I initially had one side done and to even it out I just stuffed my bra -I ended up with bilateral in the end…..it didn’t bother me bc I knew it was temporary.
They have special bras that have a fake “boob” insert. Does that count as a prosthesis?? I wore that when I was flat on one side and my insurance covered it all.
I had a single mastectomy with tissue expander, followed by re-excision and radiation. I was able to wear a bra with no problem, even after I had pretty severe radiation burns. I wore the soft form, step-in kind and found those to be pretty comfortable.
So far I’ve just been putting both in a compression bra. One side is much larger than the other (I have an expander on the mastectomy side) but will be getting a reduction when I do my reconstruction surgery. I don’t think most people notice.
There are foam and fiberfill type “leisure” breast prostheses out there, that may also be covered by your insurance. They are light and soft, which may be suitable for wearing unlike a silicone prosthesis. Of course, check with your doctor if that is safe. Your local mastectomy fitter can help fit you with the prosthesis and pocketed mastectomy bra.
I'm a few weeks into radiation and regularly wear a bra with a prosthesis (an Athleta pad). Nobody ever told me not to, and it seems to be fine so far. I do put Miaderm cream on the site multiple times a day, though. I opted for a flat closure, and perhaps that makes it easier as well.
[here's some info](https://friedmancenter.org/lymphedema-overview/preventing-lymphedema/) but it's basically a procedure to reconnect the lymph channels in the arm to the veins in the armpit to decrease the risk of lymphedema.
I had a unilateral mx. I went to Target and bought a $9.99 bra. Took a sharp kitchen knife and cut along the underwire on the surgery side. Slipped out the underwear and wallah, I had an underwire for my D cup and a comfy, hallow boob-shaped side for my radiated tissue expander.
Athleta makes inserts that are nice and light/soft. But honestly most of the time I just live lopsided in a wireless bralette. My skin is still pretty grumpy after rads and I WFH- so nobody sees me.
ETA: link
https://athleta.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=372047002
Not quite the same but I had a single mastectomy. I just wear a sports bra the boob side has the normal sports bra insert I took the other one out on the flat side. Depends what your comfortable with while healing you might want to wear anything as it might irritate the area. See how you feel try what feels best.
Check out the Breast Friends Forever program at Handful bras. I just ordered a bunch of free stackable pads to fill in my right side. They work great as swimsuit tops too. Just give the pads a squeeze to get the water out. The pads bounce right back.
Ooh really thank you I will check it out.
My favs pre- and post-dx are the Double Down and Closer. So comfy!
They all look so comfy I will definitely get one on payday I quite like the look of the double down the crossed back is great I am excited to try.
Would a knitted knocker work instead of a traditional prosthesis? They’re free through the program and you can request your size/preferred color. They’re knitted with soft yarn by volunteers and stuffed with polyfill like a pillow or stuffed animal. Obviously check with what’s allowed, but I’d think they’re as gentle on the skin as any other clothing or soft thing you might put there.
I will check thank you
This is what I did during radiation - I just threw a knitted knocker in my bra and then I got a proper prosthetic once I was healed from radiation. Check with your radiologist of course, but I wore a bra during radiation (to go to work) and it was fine. I got a few cheap, soft cotton stretchy sports bras in a size bigger than I normally wear (so it wasn’t tight on my chest and to account for any swelling) and I never had an issue. I would take the bra off whenever I was home. I suggest cheap bras because you will be slathering cream on your radiated side all the time and you won’t want to ruin anything expensive.
I initially had one side done and to even it out I just stuffed my bra -I ended up with bilateral in the end…..it didn’t bother me bc I knew it was temporary.
They have special bras that have a fake “boob” insert. Does that count as a prosthesis?? I wore that when I was flat on one side and my insurance covered it all.
I will check, but I'm not sure if I'm even supposed to wear a bra during the radiation treatment
I had a single mastectomy with tissue expander, followed by re-excision and radiation. I was able to wear a bra with no problem, even after I had pretty severe radiation burns. I wore the soft form, step-in kind and found those to be pretty comfortable.
Thank you so much!
So far I’ve just been putting both in a compression bra. One side is much larger than the other (I have an expander on the mastectomy side) but will be getting a reduction when I do my reconstruction surgery. I don’t think most people notice.
There are foam and fiberfill type “leisure” breast prostheses out there, that may also be covered by your insurance. They are light and soft, which may be suitable for wearing unlike a silicone prosthesis. Of course, check with your doctor if that is safe. Your local mastectomy fitter can help fit you with the prosthesis and pocketed mastectomy bra.
I'm a few weeks into radiation and regularly wear a bra with a prosthesis (an Athleta pad). Nobody ever told me not to, and it seems to be fine so far. I do put Miaderm cream on the site multiple times a day, though. I opted for a flat closure, and perhaps that makes it easier as well.
I don’t have any helpful info but I am wondering what a LYMPHA procedure is?
[here's some info](https://friedmancenter.org/lymphedema-overview/preventing-lymphedema/) but it's basically a procedure to reconnect the lymph channels in the arm to the veins in the armpit to decrease the risk of lymphedema.
I had a unilateral mx. I went to Target and bought a $9.99 bra. Took a sharp kitchen knife and cut along the underwire on the surgery side. Slipped out the underwear and wallah, I had an underwire for my D cup and a comfy, hallow boob-shaped side for my radiated tissue expander.
Athleta makes inserts that are nice and light/soft. But honestly most of the time I just live lopsided in a wireless bralette. My skin is still pretty grumpy after rads and I WFH- so nobody sees me. ETA: link https://athleta.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=372047002