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Breast Cancer Resources: Regaining Normality After Breast Surgery
By Courtnee Tate
 
After breast cancer surgery, patients may be left to find options that can help them feel complete again. The options range from reconstruction to external breast prosthesis. For patients eligible for reconstruction, a plastic surgeon is able to provide options that best meet the needs of that patient. External breast prosthesis is another option to reconstruction. The prosthesis can vary depending on breast size and shape. The type of surgery the patient undergoes to remove the tumor will also determine the prosthesis needed.

When a breast cancer patient is fitted with a post-surgical garment, the goal is to regain symmetry of the breasts and improve normalization in appearance. A proper bra fitting alone will often correct problems with asymmetry caused by breast surgery. About 75 percent of women wear the wrong bra size! Once a patient is in a bra that fits properly, then the prosthetic can be fitted.

Breast prosthetics are made in different shapes and sizes to account for different breast shapes and sizes. The most common breast prosthesis is made out of a silicone material. This external form is put into the pocket of the post-mastectomy bra. Prosthetics are also available for women who have had a lumpectomy or for women who have had a change in breast size due to radiation. When a woman chooses to wear a breast prosthesis, she can also choose to add a self-adhesive nipple to the prosthesis to make it look more like the natural breast. Self adhesive nipples are also available in different skin colors and shapes.

Women can also choose a custom breast form that is made to mirror the natural breast. ContourMedâ has designed a technology in which a laser scans the existing, natural breast and the chest wall on the mastectomy side. The breast form is made to fit like a puzzle piece on the chest wall and replace the missing breast. A patient can also choose the color of the form and the color and shape of the nipple to best match her natural breast. If a patient received a double mastectomy, the laser will scan both chest walls where the breasts have been removed. She can then choose the cup size, nipple size and color, and form color. The custom form adheres to the chest wall by using magnets that are placed on the woman’s skin. The magnets connect to steel discs that are built into the breast form. This keeps the breast form in place.

A woman who has a pacemaker can also wear this form without the magnets because it fits into the pockets of the mastectomy bra. The custom form allows women to wear normal lingerie as apposed to post mastectomy garments, giving women tremendous freedom of choice!

While there are many options available to breast cancer patients post surgery, the goal is to help women feel good about their appearance. Even though the differences may not always be visible, it is important for a woman to feel she is normal again after breast cancer surgery. This has a tremendous effect on her self-image.

-Courtnee Tate is a certified breast fitter in the Image Recovery Center at the Baltimore Washington Medical Center.