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Considering Going Flat? Start Here.
The main Breastcancer.org site features extensive information about Living Without Reconstruction including: Going Flat: Choosing No ReconstructionPodcast: Choosing to Live Breast Free, interview with Barbara KrissPodcast: Talking to Your Doctor About Going Flat Prostheses (Breast Forms)Some popular Discussion Board…
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how many flat women (NOT DOG EARS) have needed a REVISION?
My surgery was over 4 years ago, I go to an educational hospital and one side was clearly done by an inexperienced surgeon. Letting them operate on me is one of the biggest regrets of my life. They left behind a row of tissue/fat below my scar, it is like a row of fat that clashes when I move my body. I also had a seroma…
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Living Without One Breast
I have to decide whether to have a mastectomy or a lumpectomy. I am leaning toward the mastectomy, I don’t want to drive 30 miles for 30 days for radiation. I would like to hear from those who have had only one breast removed and how they deal with it. Do you wear your regular bra wit
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Self adhesive prosthetic?
So, I had my “fitting” for my prosthetic today (and I used that term very loosely because what she did was gave me a catalog and told me to pick three styles of bra I liked, and berated me for “wearing the wrong size bras”… it was an ordeal). After the way today went, I’m resigning myself to having to research a prosthetic…
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Missing my breasts as I contemplate sex
My bilateral mastectomy was in 2010, I was on these boards a lot when this forum was created. Feels like a lifetime ago. At that time, I felt perfectly fine about being flat; I was far more traumatized by having had an aggressive stage III cancer that had a relatively high risk of killing me. The AI had taken away my sex…
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Tattooed chest
pour moi qui ai horreur des tatouages , dans ce cas de figure on est pas dans le tatouage qui enlaidit , mais au contraire dans une décoration salvatrice et esthétique The caption says "I dislike tattoos, but the tattoo on this chest is a saving and beautiful decoration."
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25 days post BMX - still having some fluid under the empty space
Had bilateral mastectomy on Sept 13 with no reconstruction, stiches are all healed, all good. But there is some fluid underneath my breast skin where the tissue got removed. Surgeon gave me an option to drain them. But oncologist said not to, because it will collect again. Did anyone experience same? If yes, how did it…
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Please don’t call me “Sir”
I chose to go flat and had zero push back from my surgeon. Mine choices were limited – either a single or a double mastectomy. I am two years out, super healthy – best decision ever! I have always been tall and thin. I am 6'-0" and around the 160 lb mark. I was raised by a mother that didn't wear makeup – so it was never a…
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Incision preferences for mastectomy with aesthetic flat closure?
Hi - I had a lumpectomy recently, but because of some surprises with pathology, I may end up having a mastectomy. If so, I would likely prefer a double mastectomy with no reconstruction -- aesthetic flat closure. But - I actually care deeply about the aesthetic result. I've looked up photos online, and see a lot of…
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Did you remove implants & go flat? How was recovery?
I had dbl mx w dti on Christmas Eve 2022 after a synchronous bilateral recurrence/new tumour of heterogenous IDC. My implants are bigger than I wanted (200cc of tissue removed, 300cc implanted) and just super uncomfortable, tops don't fit anymore, its harder to do the sports I like, and to he frank they look matronly. I…
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How have you adjusted to being Half Flat?
Dear Half Flat Sisters, My name is Sara I am 33 years old and I have been living the Half Flat life for about 6 months now. My BS told me i can have reconstruction if i want to, but I am not sure if I want to have something not real on my body. I would like to know what your experiences have been like only having one…
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Anyone regret going flat?
I'm finishing up chemo next month and will have to make a final decision about whether or not to do reconstruction. I'm planning on having both breasts removed. I do not want implants, so I'm choosing between going flat or DIEP fat grafting. A few weeks ago, I was just fed up with the whole multiple surgery, lengthy…
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Anyone in Denver Want to Walk With Me 10/16?
I am leading a team to help support flat visibility at the Making Strides ACS walk on 10/16. I got to do an interview with Renee Ridgeley about the walk and about how being openly flat or uni can be such a reassurance to other people facing a mastectomy. I hope to see y'all in October! Instagram - Interview with Stand Tall…
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I look for other flat chested women. A rant.
I know many of you wear prosthesis, so I probably wouldn't be able to see or 'know', but. I look for you. I want to see you. I want to form a union, lol. I wish it were even more accepted, acceptable to be flat. To not wear prosthesis, not feel the need to, to opt out of reconstruction-if that is your choice. I do hope…
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Stand Tall - Aesthetic Flat Closure - Making Strides
Hi everyone! If you are in the Denver, CO area, please join me at the Making Strides breast cancer walk hosted by the American Cancer Society. My team is also promoting visibility and normalization of flat closure as a mastectomy option. STAFC Flat and Fabulous, Denver If you are not in the Denver area but like the idea of…
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Flat closure results - Shameless request for surgeon info
Has anyone had a flat closure mastectomy with Michelle Specht at MGH, or Tari King at Dana Farber/Brigham? How did it go? I could use any info at all (feel free to PM me). I'm trying to choose, and I need to decide right away. They both seem fine, but different, and information is scarce (I'm out in the boonies of New…
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Prosthetic fit in normal sports bras and bathing suits
I am having a mastectomy July 6th and was wondering as I love swimming and aquafit. Do you need to get a special bathingsuit? or can you put prosthetic in a bathingsuit you already have. Also I wear sports bras and you can take the padding out when washing them. Does prosthesis fit in sport bras?
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Deciding to go flat: What questions do I need to ask surgeon?
2008 BMX, with right rupture now: I need to decide asap what surgery to get: replacement of silicone implant or no replacement but go flat. My brief overview of prior posts indicates that even with going flat there is much to learn about: proper incisions, ensuring proper mobility, fat grafting? ... Any advise or and…
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double mastectomy with/without reconstruction
Hello! I'm 62 years old and diagnosed with triple-negative invasive breast cancer StageIcN0M0. Currently, I'm under chemotherapy for 8 cycles/24 weeks and I'll have the last cycle of the chemo next week. After I finish the neoadjuvant therapy I will have a double mastectomy in late June since it is triple-negative breast…
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Considering going flat after rupture.
Hello community. I'm Katy. I'm 57. I've had implants for 8.5 years and one of them has ruptured. Considering going flat. I'm waiting on a call back from the hospital for an ultra sound, but my doctor examined me and agrees with me that it is a rupture. I've done some reading and found out the FDA guidelines on these things…
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Embracing being flat and no regrets
Greetings! After discovering I had a genetic mutation (ATM mutation) last February 2021, I had choices to make. I learned that I was at higher than average risk of getting breast cancer (15-40%), ovarian cancer (3%) and pancreatic cancer (5-10%). The number that made me most uncomfortable was the risk of breast cancer and…
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Prosthesis question
This may be a question with an obvious answer. But I'm not sure. Is it ok if silicone breast forms get warm while you're wearing them...like hot from walking in the sunshine or in a hot car before the AC kicks in? Thanks!
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Single mastectomy no reconstruction
Hello. I will be getting a single right breast mastectomy next month. I will be going flat, no reconstruction. What are or were some of your must haves after surgery and for recovery? Is it bad? Painful?
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Seromas and Hematomas
I had my BMX on 10/15/21. All went well, all cancer gone, took 7 nodes and all negative. The drainage in my left breast that had the cancer in it went to yellow pretty quickly and slowed within 10 days. The drainage on the right side was a dark red the entire time and was still about 30-40ml when she removed both drains on…
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Clothing options after mastectomy
Hello all, I am an Occupational Therapist who is interested in learning more about the clothing needs of women after mastectomy's. A few questions I am wondering, what clothing items do you need after surgery, are there specific shape wear items that are a must? Is there a certain brand of inserts that are the best? What…
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Would you like to donate your used prosthesis?
Hello friends, My aunt in the Caribbean is the head of the cancer society on her island. She is also a cancer survivor. She told me that it is very difficult for cancer survivor to get prostheses after surgery. I told her I would donate my old prostheses to her. My insurance pays for new ones every 2 years so I have an old…
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Looking for a prothesis
hello I would really appreciate if someone has a right side prothesis. I currently wear size 40b and size 9 R and my prothesis just broke. If you have one to donate I would really appreciate that. I don't have insurance, this last one i had was donated to me but it is 4 years old and it has split.Thank you to all for…
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What made you decide on a mastectomy?
Hello All, I was recently diagnosed with IDC grade 1 (3.2cm) in the left breast and atypical ductal hyperplasia (2.6cm) in the right breast (ER+/PR+/Her2-). I've seen 1 oncologist who basically told me that if I have a lumpectomy then I will have radiation and if I have a mastectomy I won't. Either way I will have 5 years…
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How do I get over the lost of my breasts ?
It's been 6 months since my BMX and I'm still sad / depressed over the lost of my boobs. I didn't want recon and I still don't, but the loss has been hard to adjust, or get use to. I was fine right after surgery. I was happy the cancer's been removed. But when I had my follow up on my 6th week, and the surgeon finally…
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Weird sensation when drinking hot or cold beverages
Okay, so for the past few days, whenever I drink either a hot beverage or a cold glass of water, I feel it going down the middle of my chest. (Had my PBMX 12/19). It feels so weird. I guess its because the fatty breast tissue isn't there to absorb the heat/chill? Anyone else? Cats
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Going Flat? Be Clear! "Aesthetic Flat Closure"
If you're going flat, be clear. Ask for an "aesthetic flat closure" as defined by the National Cancer Institute, to ensure your surgeon understands you want a smooth, flat chest. We don't have to deal with ambiguity anymore - clear language is key to protecting your choice. Spread the word, ladies!! #aestheticflatclosure