anyone comfortable going without prostesis?

[JoyMiller]

I am so glad this has been discussed!! I too have had a double mast and opted for no reconstruction. I LOVE NOT WEARING A BRA!!! Sometimes I feel that I look sort of weird, but it has been just over a year now and I am pretty comfortable with my appearance. I do pay attention to the clothes I wear- usually not knit tops, etc. because one side healed oddly and is concave, but overall I feel great and think I look pretty darned good! I may get a great tatoo sometime- I have seen some pictures of some women who have some pretty amazing designs. I'm not yet ready for the pain and am still in treatment with Herceptin, so I will wait a while. I am comfortable with my decision not to have reconstruction and feel uncomfortable with prothesis or padding. I totally respect everyone's decisions- this is just what works for me.

[athena453]

I have had the double masts and I do wear a bra and prosthesis. I don't wear anything around the house. I do tend to wear more fitting clothing, fits better with a bit of a chest.

The most "flat chested woman on the planet"

Bi-lateral in Tight Sweaters

[Sue2001]

I had a single mastectomy and often go without a bra or prosthesis. Like Lolly, I have trouble with lymphedema and a bra causes problems after a while. I felt uncomfortable at first but now I don't care. No one has ever said anything to me about it. If I had a double mastectomy I don't think I would ever wear a bra again! I say, do whatever makes you feel the most comfortable.

Sue

[Barbara2]

I have a double mastectomy (55 yrs), and am very comfortable going without a prosthesis. I will wear one for dressy occasions, otherwise, forget it!

It is GREAT! One drawback, though. I need to loose about 20 lbs, and my belly looks bigger with no boobs to help smooth things over. I can see why overweight men look the way they do. Oh well, it still feels good not being strapped up with a bra.

[RobinTN]

Hi I am new here.Today is my first day.I have been reading and reading all day all of your posts and am so thankful to find this board.How I admire all of you ladies.

I am 44,an RN and was diagnosed at 42 with inflammatory bc stage 4,w/mets to nodes and liver in 2 areas even my onc didnt give me much hope.But I had chemo,herceptin,double mastectomy,radiofrequency ablation on the liver and just finished rads friday and am on arimidex and have a repeat PET for tuesday and how I pray that goes well.

I just wanted to give a little background of myself.I have never worn porsthesis.
When I go out I am flat and I to have a tummie buldge,but I am as comfortable as I can get for just finishing rads.I have to wait for 6 months before having recon and have no intention of wearing a bra ever again unless I have to.
I also stopped wearing hats,wigs,ets as soon as I got a 5 o'clock shadow.
With all I have been thru I could care less if people stare at me.
I read a saying once from someone on another board that said "I may be fat,and I may be fat,but thank God I am alive".That quote changed my whole outlook on life.

I am honored to meet all of you and cant wait to share and learn from all of you.

[Monique M]

After all we have been through we can do whatever we feel comfortable with. I had a double mascetomy at the age of 39. While I had prosthesises (please excuse my spelling), I wore them when I wanted to and did not wear them when I did not want to. It all depended on how I felt and my activity.

On a similar note, as soon as I had some peach fuzz on my head I looked at my husband and said I will never wear that wig again. That was on a Sunday morning before church. I could tell that it bothered him. He told me he did not want people staring at me. I told him it was their problem not mine. I was proud of what we had been through and that I was alive, hair or no hair, breasts or no breasts.

After 1 1/2 years of no breasts, I had reconstructive surgery (my expanders were implanted exactly 4 weeks ago today). It was time and I was ready. But it all comes down to what you are comfortable with.

Peace and Blessings,
Moniqeu