@jessica79 I'm 70 yrs old now. I had lobular carcinoma cancer in 2015 with a mastectomy of my left breast. My husband has been very supportive about the lack of one breast for the last 8 years. I hate the prosthetics and prosthetics bras. I wish I had gotten a new breast reconstruction when it happened. 2018 I got both knees replaced. They say the results are either good or bad. Mine's been very painful.
The only good thing is I can get up now but I can't walk for long time periods. Also for the last 3 years, my husband has had dementia and I'm his caretaker. I'm going 11/17/23 for a consult on making the right one smaller and getting a new left one. Can anyone tell me how bad the recovery from this will be. My mastectomy was easy peasy. Everything healed wonderfully with no pain. My 42 yr old son thinks I'm crazy and "no one does this kind of thing". I know he is only worried about "the pain".
@jessica79 do what you need to do for you. Jessica, do you.

I know it’s difficult to see yourself at first. I had a bilateral mastectomy 3/23. Being 70 I decided not to do reconstruction, I just wanted to get the surgery over with and not face anymore surgeries. It took me a month or so to really look at myself naked in the mirror. It was a shock to see but I said to myself “those breasts were diseased and they had to go. I am much healthier without them.” ( I had ILC in the left breast and IDC and a small area of DCIS in the right breast) I think I look like a pear. Small on the top and then it just gets bigger from there with my stomach and hips. Now I am just used to it and I am relieved that those diseased breasts are no longer part of me. I don’t find the official prostheses that comfortable to wear. My surgeon’s nurse at Mayo told me about the Athleta Empower pads. They are lightweight and very reasonably priced. You get 2 for the L or R side for $10. Their website says one to wear and one for the wash. They come in a little zipper bag that you can put them in for machine washing. So of course I had to buy 2 sets, one L set and one R set. Before surgery I was a size C or D depending on the bra and I ordered the size D which I think is comparable to a size C cup. I wear them in a soft sports bra, I have some by Jockey and also one from Coobie and they have a little soft modesty insert that you can remove through an opening in the bra. Since they have that opening you can slip the Empower pad in. They are very comfortable. I buy the Jockey bras from Macy’s and the Coobie bras online. When my husband and I are having our “romantic” times I wear one of the bras with just the little modesty inserts in it. I just feel better having something covering my flat pear top and it’s very comfortable. My husband has been wonderful about everything, it’s just me feeling better about myself during those romantic times. I hope this helps you. Sending Love, Healing and Wellness wishes to you. ❤️

Jessica, you're not alone with these feelings about body image. You may appreciate this related discussion:
- Anyone feel devasted about how you look & feel? And guilty too?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/oncology-doctors-reply-to-0-625-propecia-prescription/