All too often, we encounter patients who, after undergoing a mastectomy, suffer the additional misfortune of a failed attempt at surgical reconstruction. The process can leave patients with uneven chest walls that rule out off-the-shelf prosthetic solutions. In these situations, women can sometimes go for years without being told that they might have other options.
When finding the right form, I always describe it as when a bride-to-be finds the perfect wedding dress and says, “This is it!” and they start crying. For many women, emotionally speaking, the arrival of a custom nipple or breast prosthetic is almost the same experience.
According to the Center for Disease Control, more than 200,000 women get breast cancer and more than 40,000 women die from the disease. Most breast cancers are found in women who are 50 years old or older, but about 10% of all new cases of breast cancer in the United states are found in women younger than 45.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and at Chambers’ Apothecary, we carry a variety of products and services that are designed to help breast cancer survivors reclaim their lives and feel like themselves again.
Pink Perfect Adhesive Nipple Prosthetics
For women who have undergone unilateral or bilateral mastectomies, we offer adhesive nipple prosthetics by Pink Perfect. Each prosthetic is custom made by an artist based on a cast of the patient’s nipple before the procedure, a cast of her remaining nipple or she can select one from a book that resembles what she had before in terms of shape, size, color and texture. The prosthetics have a surgical-grade adhesive that can be worn for up to three weeks. It is waterproof so it can be worn in the shower, ocean or swimming pool, and flexible enough to move with the person as she performs her daily activities.
ContourMed Breast Forms
ContourMed Breast Forms are, generally speaking, for women who have tried several other options, and they were either not a candidate for certain procedures or they unsatisfied with the results. Perhaps their reconstruction failed and trying again is no longer an option. In these cases where previous attempts at reconstruction have left her chest walls scarred or uneven so off-the-shelf prosthetics leave gaps, ContourMed Breast Forms are the best available solution to make her feel like herself again.
First, we scan the patient to create an image that we can send to ContourMed, and they make the form that uniquely fits that patient. The process typically takes three to four weeks from scan through delivery, and they are detail-focused to match skin color, nipple color and other qualities.
ContourMed Breast Forms are prescribed based on medical necessity, so patients who aren’t good candidates for an off-the-shelf solution, then this would be our next step. Most commercial insurances cover it as long as there is a medical necessity form, and as always, we take care of the paperwork to see if you are approved.
Lymphatic Drainage Massage
If you haven’t heard, Chambers’ Wellness Center – located upstairs from Chambers’ Apothecary – is now open and fully operational, and one of the services they provide is Lymphatic Drainage Massage. Many mastectomy patients have their lymph nodes removed, which can leave them susceptible to lymphedema. For this reason, we have always carried arm sleeves and gloves to help manage lymphedema, but now our own Randi Weist administer can show you how to perform a Lymphatic Drainage Massage to help keep it under control.
Don’t go another day without feeling like yourself. If you have any questions or would like to be fitted for a prosthetic, visit us in downtown Chambersburg or call us to discuss your options.
Nancy Mazariegos
DME Specialist and Mastectomy Fitter
Chambers’ Apothecary
278 Lincoln way East
Chambersburg, PA 17201
717.263.0747
