when you have to get a breast/ other external body part removed because of cancer...?

Question

do they give you an implant or do you have to wear like a strap on breast? i was just wondering because my neighbour had breast cancer, i dont have it

Answer 1

my aunt had a jelly titty, (a bag of jelly stuff) she used to leave it on the chair and wait for s/o to sit on it hahahah
that was years ago, t'ink you can have plastic surgery now

Answer 2

Look it up and learn.
Sometimes the surgeon does an implant, sometimes the patient elects to wait until after all treatment is done, and sometimes the patient wears a prosthesis.
I had breast cancer in Nov 04, and had a mastectomy. I waited for the implant until all the chemo and radiation was done, then had surgery. Meanwhile, you wear a prosthesis in a special bra. [ they are at least $200, and the ones you can swim with are 600. ]
You can also get implants of eyes, testicles removed for cancer; and they do some fake facial bones for severe facial injuries.

Answer 3

As far as breast cancer is concerned - in the UK it's your choice. You are entitled to reconstruction on the NHS, and there are various options, of which an implant is one.

Some people have reconstruction at the same time as mastectomy; others, either through choice or because it is recommended, have reconstruction at a later date. Still others choose not to have reconstruction at all, and most of them wear a prosthetic breast form, which can be very comfortable and look very natural. Again, in the UK these are free and renewed periodically.

I don't know the situation outside the UK or for other removed body parts. My father lived with one testicle for 47 years without a prosthesis of any kind.

EDIT: Nurse Susan, I have made it clear I'm talking about the situation in the UK where all prostheses and reconstructions are free, you should make it clear you are talking about the situation in the US.

Answer 4

I lost both breasts in the 80's. At that time the only option was to allow for weeks of healing and then begin a reconstruction process if desired (I chose not to).
Now, however, the reconstruction process can begin in the same surgery as breast removal although other surgeries are necessary later for full breast reconstruction.
It is all the choice of the woman. If your neighbor wears prosthesis (false breasts) you will probably be the last to know. :-)

Answer 5

I had a mastectomy and I had to decide if I wanted an implant or not. I had one put in. I know of women who have not gotten implants too. If you don't have an implant, you can have a prosthesis made that you would put into your bra. One woman told me that she had a strap going from the waist to the bra on the side where she had the mastectomy to keep the bra from riding up.

Answer 6

Most insurance companies will cover re-constructive surgery, like a breast implant where possible. If a part of your body were removed that could be re-constructed like a limb then you would get a prostethise.