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I am 24 years old - turning 25 next week - and I have breast cancer.
I recently had a lumpectomy and although that surgery went well, my doctor couldn't get all the affected tissue, so she recommends a mastectomy. Oof. It's not scheduled yet, but it will probably happen within a month or so.
Right now, I'm faced with ... a few tough decisions. I could have surgery and reconstruction on my right, then have a reduction on my left a few months later, or I could have a double mastectomy and reconstruction all at once. I also need to choose either implants or a GAP flap for reconstruction (my doctor and I settled on those as the 2 best options for me).
I've been busty my entire life and currently fill out a 32G. I'd always planned to have a breast reduction at some point in my life, so I'm content with being a smaller size eventually! It's just the idea of not having my natural breast(s) that hits me hard. My new breasts will undoubtedly be a huge adjustment (or, rather, a 'smaller' adjustment, ha!), but if I can avoid more needles and surgeries in the coming decades, it'll be worth it.
Plus, I rather look forward to bra shopping and not spending $60+ per bra! (I encourage women to spend good money on comfortable, supportive bras if they can; I spent $120 and $90 on 2 bras, respectively, right before my diagnosis, and although I hated parting with my hard-earned money, they are worth every penny. The quality is amazing, and they keep me looking and feeling good even post-lumpectomy.) In addition to simple, utilitarian bras that I purchase for support, I really lust after sexy and/or feminine bras. Some of the most beautiful bras are only made in smaller cup sizes, so I'm excited to finally be able to walk into a department store and find my size! (I've gotten the whole online ordering thing down, for sure.)
I'll hopefully be either a 32C or 32D when this ordeal is over... I was a D cup in early high school and a C cup in middle school. Never really got the chance to wear Victoria's Secret Pink or anything else in neon colors!
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Shared on Aug 30, 2012 Flag this
Thanks for the link, the test was very interesting! I think it helps a lot in understanding which shape your breasts actually are.
Sadly, the picks the website did for me would pretty much all not fit so that's sad :( It knows so much about my breast shape and then picks out bras that wouldn't fit at all or aren't even produced in my size. o_O
Anyway, some of the style and cut suggestions are okay. Even though I already found out much more about what I need than what the site suggests for me.
By the way, you mentioned the wire shaping problem: I don't know which wire shape you need, but some companies produce bras with wires in other shapes than the "normal round one". For example Curvy Kate uses the Nike-sign-shaped wires. And maybe if you compare other companies (although I see that you already tested a lot of bras) and find wires that fit better? Or exchange wires in bras for some which you bent or found in the right shape?