 In the nearly two and a half years since Dianne, a 20 year breast cancer survivor had a double mastectomy, she's been amazed that, on the one hand, she quickly learned how to embrace her new normal—and on the other, she still feel like a stranger in a strange land. Wearing Amoena breast prostheses and pocketed bras was a foreign concept to her twenty years ago, but with time and patience, she's come to accept it as part of her day as a breast cancer survivor after a double mastectomy.
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| First, consider which shape will work best for you. The Amoena Balance portfolio of breast shapers offers you four shapes to choose from: • Delta – Now in our modern triangle shape (2SN), the Delta features a rounded triangle shape and a curved back to fit closely to the body • Oval – Tapered at one end, and ideal to wear in a lower-cut bra • Varia – Special narrow shaped breast enhancer that can be placed anywhere that needs filling in • Ellipse – Well-suited for the lower part of the bra cup, Ellipse is a versatile new shape |  |
A New Fitting Method for Thickness
We developed the fitting method below to help you find the best thickness for your breast shaper needs.
Finding the Cross-Cup DifferenceThe cross-cup is the measured width between the front centre of the bra (at your sternum) to the side seam. The method works best if you’re wearing a soft cup (wire-free) bra.
For a more precise measurement, measure in centimetres:
1. Measure the cross-cup on your non-surgery side
2. Measure the cross-cup on your surgery side
3. Subtract the width of step 2 from the width of step 1
4. The total is the Cross-Cup Difference (CCD)
Finding the Cross-Cup DifferenceThe cross-cup is the measured width between the front centre of the bra (at your sternum) to the side seam. The method works best if you’re wearing a soft cup (wire-free) bra.
For a more precise measurement, measure in centimetres:
1. Measure the cross-cup on your non-surgery side
2. Measure the cross-cup on your surgery side
3. Subtract the width of step 2 from the width of step 1
4. The total is the Cross-Cup Difference (CCD)
Now, to find the correct thickness, use your CCD:
CCD < 1 cm = Thin
CCD 1-2 cm = Medium
CCD >2 cm = Volume
CCD < 1 cm = Thin
CCD 1-2 cm = Medium
CCD >2 cm = Volume
FAQs about Balance Partial Breast Prosthesis
Q: What kind of bra do you recommend for a Balance partial breast shaper fitting?
A: The measurement method works best if you’re wearing a wire-free bra that is not padded.
Q: Should Balance shapers be worn in the pocket of a mastectomy bra?
A: Actually, it is recommended to wear Balance directly on the skin and not in the pocket. If you perspire a lot or it is a hot climate outside you can try to put the partial in the pocket as well. We also offer Balance Contact if you prefer an adhesive breast shaper.
Q: Does the ‘CCD’ measuring method work for the Ellipse and Varia shapes as well?
A: This method is only verified for Thin Oval, Medium Delta and Volume Delta, because the Varia and Ellipse shapes are only made in one thickness.
Q: Can the Thin Oval be worn in different positions, too?
A: Absolutely, this kind of shaper can be turned as needed to create the best coverage and symmetry.
Q: Where can I find a certified fit specialist if I have more Balance fitting questions?
A: Use our Store Locator to find a fit specialist near you.
A: The measurement method works best if you’re wearing a wire-free bra that is not padded.
Q: Should Balance shapers be worn in the pocket of a mastectomy bra?
A: Actually, it is recommended to wear Balance directly on the skin and not in the pocket. If you perspire a lot or it is a hot climate outside you can try to put the partial in the pocket as well. We also offer Balance Contact if you prefer an adhesive breast shaper.
Q: Does the ‘CCD’ measuring method work for the Ellipse and Varia shapes as well?
A: This method is only verified for Thin Oval, Medium Delta and Volume Delta, because the Varia and Ellipse shapes are only made in one thickness.
Q: Can the Thin Oval be worn in different positions, too?
A: Absolutely, this kind of shaper can be turned as needed to create the best coverage and symmetry.
Q: Where can I find a certified fit specialist if I have more Balance fitting questions?
A: Use our Store Locator to find a fit specialist near you.
| If you’re reading this, it’s likely you’ve made an important decision, and you’re exploring breast forms. You have come to the right place. Amoena has guided women like you for the past 40 years, and we’re anxious to put you at ease. First things first: We strongly encourage you to rely on the professional services of a certified fit specialist for your breast form fitting and purchase. Amoena retailers and their on-staff fitters are trained and experienced to best help you determine which bras and breast forms fit you and your lifestyle. Many of them are survivors, themselves, and wear our products. For women who have experienced breast surgery, a good fitter can be a lifesaver. |  |
Many women develop long term professional relationships with their fitters and consider them a member of their health care team. Choosing a breast form is a very personal decision; we think it merits personal attention and an in-store experience at an Amoena retailer.
How and When to See the Mastectomy Fitter
About six to eight weeks after breast surgery it will be time to see the post-mastectomy fitter. By this time your incisions should be healed.
A yearly visit to your retailer is a good idea. Women’s bodies change in response to hormonal changes and weight fluctuations. The natural breast will change in response to these factors and a change in your breast form may be needed to maintain symmetry. Post-mastectomy fitting is really equal parts art and science. The fitter will first assess you to evaluate what is needed, then she’ll put her art form to work.
To find a certified mastectomy fitter near you, visit the Amoena Store Locator.
A yearly visit to your retailer is a good idea. Women’s bodies change in response to hormonal changes and weight fluctuations. The natural breast will change in response to these factors and a change in your breast form may be needed to maintain symmetry. Post-mastectomy fitting is really equal parts art and science. The fitter will first assess you to evaluate what is needed, then she’ll put her art form to work.
To find a certified mastectomy fitter near you, visit the Amoena Store Locator.
In this short video, Tracey talks about some of the great lifestyle apparel thats available from Tracey G. Prosthetics and Lingerie. Just because you've had a mastectomy, doesn't mean you can look great in the clothes you wear.
From swimsuits to workout wear to casual wear, we've got you covered. Check it all out at traceyg.com or drop in to our 2 great locations in Maroochydore or Auchenflower. Swim forms are claimable through the federal governments breast prosthesis reimbursement program.
From swimsuits to workout wear to casual wear, we've got you covered. Check it all out at traceyg.com or drop in to our 2 great locations in Maroochydore or Auchenflower. Swim forms are claimable through the federal governments breast prosthesis reimbursement program.
Wearing an Amoena contact Breast Form gives security and self-confidence throughout the whole day. Adheres directly to the skin - no slipping or movement.
Weight is distributed evenly onto the chest wall. Assists in reducing shoulder and neck tension. Perfect for women who have lymphoedema. Features Comfort + temperature equalising material and is Skin friendly.
You will say “It makes me feel like me again”
Weight is distributed evenly onto the chest wall. Assists in reducing shoulder and neck tension. Perfect for women who have lymphoedema. Features Comfort + temperature equalising material and is Skin friendly.
You will say “It makes me feel like me again”
When diagnosed with breast cancer, it’s crucial that women are given the information they need to select the treatment option that’s right for them. Too often, says leading breast surgeon Joanna Franks, they feel pressured, afraid and ill-informed.
 | Jo Franks is a breast and oncoplastic surgeon and lead consultant at UCLH (University College London Hospital). |
Like many people who become doctors, Jo knew from the age of about two that she wanted to go into medicine, and when the time came to choose her vocation, she chose to become a surgeon: “We treat disease, whereas medics just control it,” she explains. “I decided to specialise in breast surgery because I felt it was a field where I could really make a difference.”
Asked what she particularly loves about her work, Jo explains it’s the chance to connect with patients. “I know I am taking them on a very difficult journey but I want to leave them feeling positive at the other end.” She believes it’s vital for women to feel they have a connection with their medical team: “Everyone is entitled to a second opinion on the NHS—not many people know that. So do be sure you feel comfortable with your surgeon and the entire team—after all, you’re going to be entering into a therapeutic alliance with them.”
Lumpectomy v's. Mastectomy? Take Time to Make the Decision
When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, it is a huge shock, and naturally it feels like an emergency: She wants to get rid of the cancer as soon as possible and improve her chances of survival. But, says Jo, in most cases the emphasis should be firmly on achieving the right outcome from a woman’s treatment, which requires that she take some time to understand her options.
Being told you have breast cancer doesn’t mean you must have an emergency operation,” she explains. “For most people there is time to get information and make a decision. We seek information on much more trivial things—think about buying a car or a house, or changing insurance provider—yet for something as important as this we often just do as we’re told, and sometimes regret it later. A lot of these decisions are absolutely irreversible. It’s really important that women know this, and I believe it’s up to us to empower each other as women.”
Long-term Breast Surgery Outcomes
Expanding on her message about patient choice and how women need to be as well informed as possible, Jo continues: “Let’s think about mastectomy. For some women there is no choice but to have one, but nowadays there are lots of options: a straightforward mastectomy, mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, or with delayed reconstruction. Most women don’t know about this and they need time to understand the differences and think about what they want. Women worry that discussing aesthetics is about vanity; this is not the case— it is part of the long-term outcomes.
“There’s a lot of emphasis these days on survivorship, and the right decision at the beginning of your treatment will ensure you feel much better at the end— and for the rest of your life.”
How are medical teams helping women become better informed? “At my practice, if you are given a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment options you are never asked to make a decision at that point,” says Jo. “You have an appointment with a clinical nurse specialist, look at photographs, feel implants and silicone breast forms, ask questions about the procedures, and then— when you are ready— you give your consent at a subsequent meeting with me.”
“There’s a lot of emphasis these days on survivorship, and the right decision at the beginning of your treatment will ensure you feel much better at the end— and for the rest of your life.”
How are medical teams helping women become better informed? “At my practice, if you are given a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment options you are never asked to make a decision at that point,” says Jo. “You have an appointment with a clinical nurse specialist, look at photographs, feel implants and silicone breast forms, ask questions about the procedures, and then— when you are ready— you give your consent at a subsequent meeting with me.”
Some women also have longer to think about their options because their treatment starts not with surgery but with pre-operative chemotherapy or drugs to shrink their tumor, which could make it possible for them to have breast-conserving surgery rather than mastectomy.
Jo asks her patients to bear in mind that no two cancer journeys are the same. “Breast cancer is two words but it is hundreds of different types of cancer. These days we are going down the route of personalised medicine—finding out about the patient’s breast cancer and giving the right drugs and order of treatment for each individual, for better outcomes.”
Facing Breast Cancer Prepared: It Helps to Know what’s available
“When I do a mastectomy without reconstruction for whatever reason, I tell women there is specially designed mastectomy lingerie, pocketed swimwear and breast prostheses that mean they can do everything they did before, and no-one will ever know. Partial breast shapers and the right lingerie can also help with asymmetry in the case of reconstruction.
“The thing is, if you haven’t had to face this before, you would have no idea what’s out there. Knowledge is power.”
At Tracey G we pride ourselves on giving the best experience possible for our clients. We know that sometime in their lives, be it 10 days or 10 years ago, they have gone through a terrifying, life changing event and its our job to make them look and feel beautiful in their own clothes again....thats our expectation of ourselves!
However on some days, our clients go the extra mile to share with us how they felt when they visited us and when they do, we love to share that feedback because to us it means the world!
So Reverend Barrie...thanks a million!!!
However on some days, our clients go the extra mile to share with us how they felt when they visited us and when they do, we love to share that feedback because to us it means the world!
So Reverend Barrie...thanks a million!!!
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