Come join others currently navigating treatment in our weekly Zoom Meetup! Register here: Tuesdays, 1pm ET.
Take our poll: Caregivers, what do you find most difficult about caregiving?
Weigh in: What are the best and worst gifts for people with breast cancer?

I look for other flat chested women. A rant.

1…7374767879…145

Comments

  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 4,027

    Thanks Linda!

  • cooka
    cooka Member Posts: 62

     I always loved this picture, can't remember if I discovered her story from this thread or not but her name is Mandi Caruso and she seemed like an amazing person.  I think her daughter designed her tattoo.

  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 4,027

    That's fantastic cooka! I haven't seen this picture before.

    There are so many women out there who have chosen this option.

  • crystalphm
    crystalphm Member Posts: 277

    Does anyone know where to buy a good temp. tattoo? I think I would try this first....and like I said, I am very nervous about LE.

    LindaKR, I had a pmx on my non cancer side, 18 months after diagnosis. I had a MRI done on my "good side" and 3 things showed up and all needed to be removed. I said no, and asked if I could have the breast removed, doctor said certainly and he took care of insurance. The 3 spots were NOT cancer....but I mentally could not deal with breast cancer again if it could be avoided.

    So off came the "right girl"...and I really am feeling better with both breasts gone...I feel fine flat.

  • lisa-e
    lisa-e Member Posts: 169

    Kassy, my initial diagnosis was DCIS.  My onc said they don't run hormonal testing with DCIS because the information gained would not change the treatment.  When you have DCIS, tamoxifen may be prescribed to reduce your risk of a new breast cancer (not to prevent distant recurrence as with an invasive cancer).  You've had a bmx, so the risks of taking tamoxifen would outweigh the benefits.

  • ohio4me
    ohio4me Member Posts: 323

    Linda - I decided on the PMX for a few reasons: 1) high risk of recurrence in the unaffected breast, 2) I had large breasts, the heavy prothesis caused neck pain and was an LE risk, 3) didn't like the bother of foobs.

    I planned to go the recon route until the plastic surgeon laid out the plan/timeline then I decided to call it done and go flat. Reasons I decided on no recon: 1) stage IIIC - risk of recurrence, 2) had rads - higher risk of complications, 3) age 59 - just didn't make sense for me, 4) just wanted to be done with surgery.

    Worked for me and I'm loving it.

  • LindaKR
    LindaKR Member Posts: 1,304

    Thanks Crystal and Ohio!  Ohio - that's where I am just tired of it and don't want to look all crooked.  Though after watching the video that kayb posted - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/01/jill-brzezinski-conley-sue-bryce-breast-cancer-photos_n_2599843.html

    Now she is young and beautiful, but no surgery sounds good too.  Starting this afternoon I'm going to try this - wear a tight tank under my clothes and no bra or foob, except for special occasions. - my clothes do fit kind of crooked - that double D on the right is a little unbalancing visually, let's see if it's unbalancing physically!

    I'd love to find some good quality fake tattoos too.

  • Purl51
    Purl51 Member Posts: 174

    LindaKR: I hear ya.  I have some back issues because my remaining breast is a large D.  I recently moved into a house with a bear claw tub/shower which faces a medicine cabinet mirror.  I keep forgetting it's there and am reminded "quite quickly" at the beginning of each shower how lopsided I really am!  I am hoping to have my pmx this year (time off at work needs to be accrued first).  I have a feeling I will feel balanced which hopefullly will inspire me to continue with my cardio (which I was just starting to make a habit before the diagnosis).  Thanks for sharing all!

  • LindaKR
    LindaKR Member Posts: 1,304

    Thanks Purl - I qualified for SSDI, so will qualify for Medicare starting 3/1 and the supplement I get will make it $0 deductible or co-pay - yippeee.  SSDI isn't much a month though :-(  I'm hoping to get my LTD back soon, but at least I'll have the time!!!!  Just need to get my doctors moving on it!! 

    I actually like the way my MX side looks better than my breast - however, my DH is stressing a little that he'll miss it, but he thinks that maybe if I get a tattoo, or if there is some way I can keep my nipple. Any suggestions? Other than the fancy cool expensive painful tattoos? 

  • Kassylou
    Kassylou Member Posts: 53

    Hi ladies. I just had the staples and drains removed!!!! Yea!!!!! I did ask to have the hormone receptor status run and it is a good thing because my onco wants the data, I am sure there will be no further treatment but just want to complete the circle of doctors so we are sure. I was strongly estrogen positive and moderately progesterone positive. I had a hyster due to endometriosis and uterine fibroids in 2009 and have been in menopause since with no hormone replacement.



    I am glad to be one step further in the journey.



    Thanks for all the advice.

  • Kassylou
    Kassylou Member Posts: 53

    I forgot to add I went out today to lunch with dh and was flat. It was off but nice that my boobs did not rest on the table. One lady kept giving me looks, not sure if it was the no boobs, the fact that my husband is Japanese and I am Irish or that he helped me on with my coat or she is just nosey. Don't really care. :D

  • CCFW
    CCFW Member Posts: 570

    delete

  • kathindc
    kathindc Member Posts: 1,667

    Kassylou, good for you for not caring.  You have flatattitude!

  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 4,027

    Try calling some makeup artists. I know that some here in Australia do Air Brush Tattoos for weddings and events. Temptu airbrush has stencils and colors for sale. Maybe even Sephora would have some temporary tattoos.

  • outfield
    outfield Member Posts: 235

    When I think of all the reasons I find myself inadvertently staring at someone (they look like someone I know, they're making a lot of noise, they're wearing a shirt that I happen to own too . . .  ) there are SOOO many besides chests.  It's not like I stare without self-consciousness:  I try not to do it, but people are  INTERESTING.  So I bet a lot of other people out there are staring for similar reasons.

  • alexandria58
    alexandria58 Member Posts: 202

    I'm a big people watcher, too.  I think, because I'm also a writer, I like to make mental images of people, try to figure out something about them as people from their appearance.  I even eavesdrop.  All stuff that is interesting that I might use in a novel sometime, putting bits and pieces of other people together to create characters.  Someone who's really self-conscious might wonder what I'm up to.

  • MT1
    MT1 Member Posts: 223

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55gntpXXiRY

    I find this inspiring.

  • LindaKR
    LindaKR Member Posts: 1,304

    DH - he'd be happy with a tattoo'd nipple - I don't get it, maybe it's just the visual he needs. 

  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 2,845

    Linda, this may sound ridiculous, but you can buy stick-on silicone nipples. They look and feel very natural. I can sort of understand your dh's thinking. It is not that being nipple-less deeply upsets me or anything, but it is still, to me, the oddest part of the new configuration. 

  • cleomoon
    cleomoon Member Posts: 152

    Hi Momine,

    Where can u buy stick on nipples? 

  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 2,845

    Companies that make silicone stuff intended for enhancing or for transvestites. Like these:

    http://softcaresilicone.org/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=15&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=47&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1&lang=en&vmcchk=1&Itemid=1

  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 4,027

    I was just looking at  Amoena for prosthesis. They have silicone nipples too.

  • MT1
    MT1 Member Posts: 223

    Linda, I bought temporary nipple tattoos when I was considering getting nipple tattoos, I would gladly mail them to you if you'd PM me your address. At least you would be able to try it on, rather than commit.

  • cooka
    cooka Member Posts: 62

    Bet none of us ever never thought that someday we'd be mailing someone our nipples, hunh? lol

    Great video Mel! Loved it.

  • Nel
    Nel Member Posts: 597

    Hi All,

    Thought for nipples when I was looking at prosthesis last year.  Why can't they come in different colors and flavors? Let's bring some fun and craziness to this place we are in. Just saying!

    For all in the snow zone this weekend stay warm and safe.

    Be well

    Nel

  • CCFW
    CCFW Member Posts: 570

    deleted

  • crystalphm
    crystalphm Member Posts: 277

    I am sitting here smiling, yes indeed, now we are sharing nipples via mail. Gotta love everyone I meet here!

    I sometimes still "feel" my nipples...like a feeling of them getting hard. Sometimes i like the feeling, other times I find it very uncomfortable.

    I have no breasts, no nipples. But I do have feelings. How strange.

  • maryah930
    maryah930 Member Posts: 122

    I was watching AbFab, one of my favorite shows. Edwina and Patsy went to NY and came upon this piercing place. I said something to my hubby about nipple piercing and actually felt that "butterfly in the stomach" feeling where my nipples used to be, same as when I had nipples and saw someone who had had their's pierced.

  • outfield
    outfield Member Posts: 235

    OH AB FAB!  

    It's been years since I saw that show.  That was some hard laughing.  I used to have a lightswitch plate that was a picture of Patsy.  

    My phantom sensations have faded over time, which is not a bad thing since mainly it felt like I had scalded my nipples.  

  • MT1
    MT1 Member Posts: 223

    Last night I dreamt that my pool program teacher inserted implants into my body. They were downward drooping, bullet shaped things. I held them to my body. They felt heavy and strange. I looked down and saw my breasts (the breasts I used to have, not the implants from the dream) with my nipples. The color of my nipples was so real. This is the first time I had a dream about my breasts. It was so strange. I do miss having nipples. 

    Funny thing is, I don't miss having breats. It is so good to feel this way. In the last few months I have made such progress pertaining to my body. I finally dont care what or if people think about or see my flatness. This body is becoming me again. That feels good. It is a relief, really.

    I have joined up with the Flat and Fabulous group on facebook. I don't know that I can utilize it in any sort of way. Facebook is strange. Maybe that will be the light topical place to meet other Flatties. I feel quite loyal to this forum and all of you gals. You have become important to me. 

    :)

Categories

Join Us on Zoom: Upcoming virtual meetups. Read more...
Give your account some personality! Add a profile photo.