Cancer Society

Pericardial Mesothelioma – Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prognosis & Basic Facts For You to Know Author: Bello kamorudeen

Pericardial mesothelioma accounts for about half of all pericardial tumors and is extremely rare. This cancer accounts for about 6% of all mesothelioma cases, these tumors are typically diffused and tend to cover the whole heart.

Pericardial mesothelioma affects the pericardium which is the membrane made up of mesothelial cells that surrounds and protects the heart. This membrane has two layers:
A} an outer layer called parietal pericardium
B} an inner layer called the visceral pericardium {epicardium}

Cause

Unlike in the case of pleural mesothelioma, there is no clear link between this cancer and exposure to asbestos fibers, but a number of patients with pericardial mesothelioma have a history of exposure to asbestos.

Some schools of thought believe that it is the inhaled asbestos fibers in the lungs that travel via blood from the lungs to the heart, although this theory is not supported by conclusive evidence.

When asbestos fibers get lodged in the pericardium, the body is unable to excrete the asbestos fibers and they remain stuck in the pericardium. These fibers over a long period of time cause the pericardial cells to undergo changes that result into cancerous transformation.

The cancer cells divide without control and they eventually lead to the thickening of the pericardial membranes eventually causing development of the tumors. These changes lead to the accumulation of fluids in between the two layers which combined with the thickening of these layers result in the compression of the heart.

Symptoms

Most of the symptoms are caused by the accumulation of fluids and the thickening of the pericardial layer. The common symptoms are:
A) Heart palpitations or irregular pulse (arrhythmia)
B) Chest pain
C) Murmurs (abnormal heart sounds)
D) Cough
E) Dyspnoea (shortness of breath)
F) Fatigue
H) Fever or night sweats
I) Orthopnoea (breathlessness on lying down)

These symptoms are not specific for the cancer, making the clinical diagnosis very difficult.

Diagnosis

After getting a clinical diagnosis a series of tests can be done to locate the cancer and identify the cancer cells.

-MRI, Magnetic Resonance Imaging

This is useful in assessing and determining the extent of development of the cancer.

-Biopsy

This involves the removal of pericardium tissue or fluid for laboratory test to confirm the presence of mesothelioma cells.

-Chest x-ray

This helps to identify the tumor, there is a characteristic shape of the heart on the x-ray film when there is a tumor of the pericardium.

-Chest CT scan

This also helps to identify the tumor.

Treatment

Pericardial mesothelioma patients are not usually suitable for surgery, except in rare cases where the cancer is diagnosed very early and surgery may be done to remove small localized tumors.

This type of surgery is very risky because of the proximity of the heart.

Palliative treatment is often the only option for treating pericardial mesothelioma, this type of treatment is aimed at improving the patient’s quality of life and reducing the severity of symptoms caused by the accumulation of fluid in the pericardium.

Fine needle aspiration may be done to drain the accumulated fluid surrounding the heart. Radiotherapy could also be used to shrink the tumor to alleviate the symptoms caused by the compression of the heart by the accumulating fluid. The proximity of the heart and lungs however makes this a very risky procedure.

Prognosis

The prognosis of this type of mesothelioma is very poor, about 50 -60% of all cases die within 6 months of diagnosis. Occasionally few patients survive for longer periods following treatment with partial surgical resection and radiotherapy.

Donate Cars and Join in the War against the Breast Cancer Author: Qayam smith

“Life is not fair to all. We all have our shares of happiness and sorrows. And I am no exception. My so-called the perfect world shattered the day when I detected a lump in my left breast. Initially, I took it lightly and actually do not pay much attention towards it. But, after some months, the constant pain and heaviness of the breast took me to the clinic of a nearby physician. I wasnt sure how I was feeling at that time. All I could remember was uneasiness and a fear to face the unknown reality that I was averting from some months now. The fear turned into a reality when the doctor broke this unfortunate news to me. My prime concern was losing the structure of my body. Many questions start hovering into my brain. Am I on the verge of losing my feminine prowess? How will I face my family, friends and acquaintances? Will I be able to live normally? I was depressed and confused. I wept and cursed myself again and again. Why me? Fortunately, I am blessed with a supportive and understanding family. My husband Paul assured me that his love will pull me out of this unforgettable period of my life. Even, my daughter Samantha, stood for me and nursed me like a mother. Call it the self will or constant support from the family, I decided not to give up so easily instead I decided to fight and determined to win this war. Barbara Smith“

This is not only Barbaras story but millions of others too who are living under the fear of this deadly disease called breast cancer. Media has taken up the challenge to spread awareness on this by encouraging women to come out of the shell and know its dreadful consequences.

Many non-profit organizations have developed unique methods to encourage people to join the war against breast cancer. You can donate your car and make your valuable contribution for this noble cause. Many automobile donations for breast cancer organize urge people to come up and donate their vehicles and avail tax deductions. In fact, you can minimize the paperwork by donating car to organizations working for helping breast cancer victims.

So, why wait? Join the war against breast cancer and donate your cars in support of your commitment the suffering women.

Mesothelioma Surgery – Do You Know the Different Types That Are Available to You? Author: Bello kamorudeen

There are three main modes of treating mesothelioma, these are; Chemotherapy, Surgery and Radiotherapy. Surgical procedures used in treatment of the disease are of three types;-Diagnostic Procedures, Palliative Procedures, Potentially Curative Procedures

Diagnostic Procedures

Diagnostic surgery is a necessary step in confirming and staging mesothelioma.

Thoracoscopy enables a physician to examine the pleural space and to take multiple tissue biopsies under direct vision. In up to 98% of cases, a definitive diagnosis can be obtained. Often, chemical pleurodesis aimed at reducing the accumulation of fluid in the intrapleural space, can be accomplished during the same procedure. It is also possible to gauge the extent of the tumor, and to see the possibility of removing the tumor surgically. While less invasive than an open biopsy, it can only be performed on patients where tumor has not completely blocked the pleural space.

VATS, or video-assisted thoracic surgery is an alternative to thoracoscopy, although because of its more invasive nature, it could lead to seeding of the tumor {dislodgement of fragments of the tumor by contact}. By using small incisions on the skin, the surgeon can view the pleural space with the assistance of a camera, and obtain sufficient tissue samples for analysis by a pathologist. Extent of the tumor (i.e., pleural involvement, chest wall invasion) may also determined, and recommendation as to the type of debulking {shrinking} procedure necessary can be made at this time.

Mediastinoscopy is sometimes used as an aid in staging extent of disease when enlarged nodes are seen using imaging techniques.

Laproscopy is used in mesothelioma patients in cases where imaging techniques suggest possible invasion of the tumor through the diaphragm. This information can be important in evaluating a patient for potential pleurectomy{complete removal of pleura on one side} or extrapleural pneumonectomy{complete removal of one lung}.

Palliative Procedures
Palliative surgical procedures are those which treat the symptoms of mesothelioma, without aggressively treating the disease itself.

Chest Tube Drainage and Pleurodesis is considered the most common of palliative treatments. Fluid build-up, or pleural effusion, is most often the first symptom which will prompt mesothelioma patients to seek medical attention. Once this effusion has occurred, it is many times persistent, returning rapidly after initial thoracentesis (draining of the fluid). In order to eliminate this problem, the pleural space must be closed. This is accomplished by use of a talc slurry or other sclerosing agent which produces an adhesion that causes the layers of the pleura to stick together thus closing the pleura space.

Thoracoscopy and Pleurodesis is done in conjunction with VATS using a powdered form of talc versus talc slurry. Both this and chest tube drainage and pleurodesis will be only effective if there is no tumor encasing the lung which restricts its expansion.

Pleurectomy, used as a palliative procedure, may be performed where more extensive surgery is not an option. In these cases, it is understood that all visible or gross tumor will not be removed. It is considered the most effective means of controlling pleural effusion in cases where the lung’s expansion is restricted by disease.

Potentially Curative Procedures
These procedures are performed with “curative intent”. Their goal is removal of all gross disease, with the knowledge that microscopic disease will most likely remain. Adjuvant therapy (another form of treatment in addition to the primary therapy) in form of chemotherapy and or radiotherapy is given to eliminate any residual disease.

For Pleural Mesothelioma:
-Pleurectomy/Decortication is usually performed on patients with early stage disease (Stage I and selected Stage II), and attempts to remove all gross tumor. If it is found that all tumor can not be removed without removing the lung, this may be done at the same time and is called pneumonectomy.

-Extrapleural Pneumonectomy is considerably more radical than other surgical approaches, and should be carried out by surgeons with great expertise in evaluating patients and performing the procedure itself.

For Peritoneal Mesothelioma:
Cytoreductive Surgery is aimed at removing all or nearly the entire gross or visible tumor in the peritoneal cavity. In order to treat any remaining cancer cells, Intra-Peritoneal Hyperthermic (heated) Chemotherapy (IPHC) is then delivered to the abdominal cavity. The type of chemotherapy drug used may vary according to the physician’s preference.

Surgery is usually combined with other types of treatments to achieve maximal result during treatment.
Patients should also educate themselves about mesothelioma and treatment options and reach out to available resources to make coping with a mesothelioma diagnosis easier.

Mesothelioma Symptoms Author: Mike Howell

Since mesothelioma is such a rare form of cancer, many people who develop mesothelioma symptoms have never even heard of this disease and are unaware of its symptoms.

Most of the body’s internal organs are covered with a protective sac called the mesothelium. Mesothelioma cancer occurs when malignant or cancerous cells appear in the mesothelium. The lungs, heart, and abdominal organs are the most commonly affected organs. Of these, the lung lining (plueral mesothelioma) is most typically infected.

Exposure to asbestos is almost always the cause of mesothelioma. Prior to 1975, asbestos was one of the materials commonly used in the manufacture of building materials. In most cases, symptoms of mesothelioma do not appear for 20 to 40 years after exposure to asbestos.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, malignant mesothelioma caused 2,704 deaths during 2005. So, even though asbestos has been used sparsely since 1975, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that deaths caused by mesothelioma will peak during 2010.

Until it reaches advanced stages, this form of cancer provides very few obvious symptoms. It remains dormant for years; however, when it becomes active it quickly attacks the mesothelium and becomes almost impossible to treat successfully. The CDC estimates that 75% of the people who discover symptoms will die within one year of being diagnosed with this cancer. The remainder will die 6 months to several years later.

Plueral mesothelioma (cancer of the lung lining) represents approximately 3 out of 4 of the cases diagnosed. Typical symptoms of this type of mesothelioma include shortness of breath and or/chronic coughing. Of course, since these symptoms are similar to those of allergies or the common cold, it does not occur to most people that they are infected with this type of cancer.

Peritoneal mesothelioma (cancer of the stomach and intestines) also exhibits symptoms that are not obviously recognizable as cancer, such as anemia and fever.

It is important to understand that mesothelioma generally takes decades to develop, but once mesothelioma symptoms are discovered (properly diagnosed) it quickly becomes aggressive. The best course of action is to become aware of the symptoms and to immediately seek diagnosis and treatment.

Abdominal-Peritoneal Mesothelioma Info Author: Bello kamorudeen

Mesothelioma tumors of the peritoneum include benign, malignant and cystic.

Although peritoneal mesothelioma is the most common of these, it is very rare with an annual incidence of 1-2 cases per million persons. Only 10-20 percent of all mesotheliomas arise in the peritoneum. Peritoneal malignant mesothelioma occurs more commonly in adult males but also occurs rarely in children with equal sex incidence.

Malignant mesothelioma occurs mainly late in the fifth decade of life, the benign type in the fourth decade and the cystic type in the third decade. The non malignant type are common in women.

Cause
The link with asbestos exposure which is well established for pleural mesothelioma is not clear for peritoneal mesothelioma.

Symptoms and Signs
-Abdominal pain which may not be limited to any specific region of the abdomen but may be migratory.
-Abdominal distention and complaints associated with partial bowel obstruction are frequent
-Ascites (fluid in the abdomen,) may be present
-Abdominal mass/swelling may be present

Diagnosis
-CT scans frequently show tumor masses and ascites (fluid in the abdomen)
-Laparatomy and laparoscopy for multiple biopsies {the surgeon opens up the abdomen surgically to look into the peritoneum directly and take samples}

Treatment of Peritoneal Mesothelioma
It is treated with combination therapy:
A. Peritoneal radioactive P32 followed by whole abdomen radiation is used often
B. Chemotherapy:Combination chemotherapy with doxorubicin is a very important secondary component.
C. Surgery:Surgical treatment is done mainly to debulk (reduce the size of the tumor by cutting of parts of the tumor,) and treatment of intestinal obstruction.

Prognosis of Peritoneal Mesothelioma
The prognosis of peritoneal mesothelioma is dismal with median survival of about 1 year after presentation. Death usually results from progressive bowel obstruction.

Can a Cold War of Aggressive Thoughts Lead to the Development of Cancer? Author: The Original Christians

What happens when we fill our brain with thoughts of aggressions? What happens to our body? If we assume everything is energy, then where does this energy go to?

Our thoughts are energy forms. We irradiate this, and when we are aggressive it can be perceived. Not only through our deeds, but you can feel it in an aggressive person. These energies not only radiate to without, but they also radiate to within, and they influence our whole cell state, our body cells absorb this. Our nerves absorb it. And it leads to the fact that, in the true sense of the word, a war takes place in the organs. One organ fights against the other, the nerves direct this aggressive behaviour, and we get sick.

We could say that poisonous substances literally gain access to our nervous system through this behaviour in our world of thoughts.

These warlike thoughts lead to a discharge in the nervous system and the nerves secrete poisonous substances in the body. In the book, Cause and Development of All Illness, a mighty revelation of Christ given in 1986 through Gabriele, the prophetess and messenger of God for our time, Christ points very unmistakeably to this fact. He says here: Highly tensed nerves secrete toxins which, depending on the vibration of the body of an individual, either detrimentally affect susceptible organs or poison the whole body. Through the secretion of neurotoxins, a so-called nerve fever can develop, which, via the central nervous system, sets all the nerves in vibration, so that the entire organism is heated up, that is, it becomes overheated.

In a fight, our whole disposition becomes overheated with these aggressive thoughts. This uproar is felt even in the cells, and we say that an inflammation develops or an illness is inflamed. Poisonous substances are secreted via the nervous system and released into the body.

So, couldnt we say that war begins first in our thoughts? Often it begins with our desires, with our cravings, with our passions. Then, when we dont get what we wanted, aggressions start to develop. Feelings of hatred, envy and hostility follow, and all of this goes into our body. First and foremost, we are leading a war against ourselves and this war makes us hard. This hardness goes into our cell structure that is then only attuned to negativity. A lack of harmony develops and in our body, little energy flows.

Then this hardness takes over more or less. For the deadening of our sensations is a requisite condition not only for leading war, but also for developing coldness both in our cells and in our heart. With the proliferation of our covetness: I have to have that or I demand this or that from my neighbour, this is then manifested in a malignant growth of our cell state, in cancer, and cancer expresses itself in a cold growth. The cancer infiltrates the body, drawing it into a bottomless pit. Since cancer is sometimes treated by warming the cells, it can take this coldness from the cells, this coldness, that rules us, and is the warlike aspect in us.

The cold war in us then escalates at some point in time, and then it is no longer a cold war, but a cancer that destroys our whole life. So we can say that we go from a cold war into a cold cancer.

More about the significance of the nervous system in the development of illnesses and blows of fate can be found in the book: Cause and Development of All Illness What the Person Sows, He Will Reap. A must reading for those who would like to know how a complete healing takes place through the Spirit via the nervous system and the spirit consciousness in each cell of the body.

Mesothelioma Chemotherapy – Do You Know the Schedule of Treatment and Common Side Effects? Author: Bello kamorudeen

Chemotherapy Schedules

How often you will receive chemotherapy will be determined by your doctor, taking into consideration factors such as the stage of your cancer, the types of drugs you receive, the anticipated toxicities of the drugs and the time necessary for your body to recover from these toxicities. The doctor may also consider whether the goal of the chemotherapy is to control the growth of the cancer, or to ease symptoms associated with the disease.

In general, chemotherapy treatment is administered in “cycles” – a “cycle” being defined as a period of treatment followed by a period of rest. This cycle allows the cancer cells to be attacked by the drugs, and then allows the body’s normal cells time to recover. The combination of drugs used, the length of time to administer the drugs, how often they should be repeated and the number of cycles recommended have been analyzed very well in clinical trials.

For mesothelioma patients, the “standard” treatment is a combination of Alimta and cisplatin, administered IV, with a 10 minute infusion of Alimta followed by two hours of cisplatin, given in 21 day cycles. Modifications to this schedule may be made according to what your doctor feels is appropriate in your particular case.

The number of treatment cycles, or the length of time between the beginning and end of chemotherapy may vary, however in general, 3 to 4 cycles of treatment are given before response is evaluated; 2 to 3 cycles are considered a minimum to assess for effectiveness. After response to the treatment has been determined, the following criteria will be used to decide whether chemotherapy should continue:

If there is shrinkage of the tumor, or the disease is kept stable, chemotherapy may be continued for as long as it can be tolerated and there is no disease progression.

If there is continued disease progression, chemotherapy will be stopped, and the patient will be given alternative options.
The goal of setting a chemotherapy schedule is to make treatment as effective, timely and trouble-free as possible, but while the drugs are working to kill cancer cells, they may also affect healthy cells causing side effects.

Common Side Effects of Chemotherapy Includes:
-Fever of, or greater than 101 degrees
-Nausea
-Diarrhea or constipation
-Fatigue
-Tingling or numbness in the fingers or toes
-Ringing in the ears
-Bruises or rashes
-Sores in the mouth or throat
-Reduced white blood cell count {neutropenia} making you more prone to infections. For this reason your full blood count should be monitored closely.

Be sure you report all over-the-counter and prescribed medicines to your physician. Don’t take aspirin unless it has been approved by your physician. Ask your pharmacist if aspirin is part of the drugs you want to purchase.

Stay away from people who have colds or the flu. Chemotherapy can compromise your immune system and lower your resistance to germs.

It is normal to feel sad, angry or afraid, however, letting these emotions get out of control can affect negatively your overall well-being. Look out for the help of family, friends, your doctor, a counselor or a support group.

Chemotherapy treatment should be a cooperative effort between you and your doctor. The interaction that takes place is important to your health. It will not only help you feel better, but will also address any potential problems with improper communication.

Patients should educate themselves about mesothelioma and treatment options and reach out to available resources to make coping with a mesothelioma diagnosis easier.

Mesothelioma Lawyers and Mesothelioma Lawsuits- Do you need them? Author: Bello kamorudeen

Why File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit ?

Every year, thousands of people die or become ill due to the negligence of asbestos manufacturers. If this has happened to you or a loved one, you should look for a mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible. You may have been powerless to prevent current medical problems, but you do have legal options. Hire a lawyer with extensive experience and knowledge of asbestos claims to help you receive compensation from those responsible.

Mesothelioma cancer, which is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure, and other asbestos-related illnesses are attributed to negligence of asbestos companies who knew about the associated health risks and decided not to tell employees or leak this information to the general public. As early as the 1920s asbestos companies were completely aware that their product not only causes harm to human health, but that it could also lead ultimately to the death of those exposed to the harmful asbestos mineral.

By the 1930s and ’40s, medical evidence had clearly linked exposure to asbestos to the development of lung disease and deadly asbestos related cancers. Asbestos companies had been extensively warned of these dangers, but instead of choosing to use alternative substances (and many were available at the time), the industry chose huge profits over the preservation of human health. It is because of these unethical actions that asbestos manufacturers are held liable for the undue suffering they caused many people suffering from asbestos related disease.

As a result, those with mesothelioma have the right to seek compensation from the asbestos companies through the court system because of their criminal actions. Filing a Lawsuit against these companies that are responsible for your asbestos exposure will not only bring justice to the corrupt asbestos industry, it will also give you the necessary compensation for the costs, as well as pain and suffering, associated with asbestos-induced illness. The following include some of the expenses for which you can pursue compensation:

Lost wages
Medical bills
Group support for you and your loved ones
Funeral expenses
Travel expenses relating to medical treatments
Expenses not covered by health insurance

A mesothelioma lawyer can review even add more expenses that could be covered under your lawsuit, as each case varies. Make sure to save all medical and financial records relating to your asbestos-induced illness for this purpose.

Aside from providing these sorts of documents and answering questions about your condition and how you may have been exposed to asbestos, you will not have to be involved with other stages of the case. Mesothelioma lawyers understand that their clients are far too ill and concerned with spending time with their families to deal with the details of filing a lawsuit or attending trial. For this reason, mesothelioma lawyers handle every aspect and detail of the case.

Types of Lawsuits

There are two types of lawsuits you may rightfully file in asbestos injury cases. If a family member has passed away from an asbestos-induced disease, you can file a wrongful death suit. In a personal injury claim, the individual suffering with an asbestos-related illness must be the one to file suit. Specific rights in these lawsuits depend on the county and state where the case is filed.
Employees of companies who used asbestos are not the only individuals who have rights against asbestos companies.

Although the vast majority of cases are between employers and employees, other groups have rights as well. For example, if you have developed an asbestos-related disease because a spouse or family member worked for a company using asbestos, you may also have a case. Asbestos fibers readily attaches to and travels well on clothing and hair, making it easy to track home after working around the material.

Having a mesothelioma lawyer is essential to successfully file suit against a corporation in an asbestos-related case. Although you have the legal right to pursue compensation, the entity being sued also has the legal right to try to disprove your case, and this is why it is so important to hire an experienced mesothelioma attorney who has the knowledge and experience to bring justice to those responsible for your illness.

The Best Cancer Treatments Author: john daniel

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Cancer is one of the biggest threat of people around the globe and even more dangerous than terrorism. The top 3 causes of death are heart problems, stroke, and cancer. These three can be avoided through simple regular diet and exercise. But the thing is were not quite educated to deal with this thing and most people are caught by surprise. While taking care of yourself definitely can’t hurt when it comes to keeping cancer at bay, it often just isn’t enough Just keeping cancer away is hard enough – try fighting it off after it has already plagued your body is not easy.

The One Minute Cure provides the best cancer treatment, it oxygenates your body, which has been shown to destroy cancer cells, tumors, viruses and bacteria scattered around your system. This unique product is a completely natural carrier for oxygen that destroys unwanted cells while keeping your body in tact. I do not have Cancer, but there are people out there who experience tremendous breakthrough using this product and remember and its documented. Did the One Minute Cure work for them? Read more in my blog and dont forget to watch the 5minutes video presentation to find out! And you will discover that this is one of the best cancer treatments.

Cancer is a very stinging disease. You’re not playing with your life, and no medical advice should be taken for granted that’s not under the supervision of a professional doctor. Dont stop any prescription for your cancer treatment unless advised by your doctor, and inform him of any homeopathic cancer treatments that you are using in addition to your medical treatment. Once your body has start to recuperate, you may stop the treatment once your doctor gives you the go-signal, but you’ll want to continue the One Minute Cure for all diseases for health purposes.

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How to Choose and Fit a Mastectomy Bra Author: Jenny Schweyer

Navigating the world of mastectomy bras and prostheses can be daunting for breast cancer survivors. Breast surgery is a difficult transition to negotiate in and of itself. Trying to shop for a mastectomy braand mastectomy prosthesis afterward shouldn’t and needn’t add any further angst.

Fortunately, today’s mastectomy bras come in all of the same styles and many of the same colors as regular bras. This makes it relatively simple to find one that is comparable to a style that one may already be used to wearing. In fact, modern designs include the regular shoulder-strap style as well as cross back and athletic mastectomy bras and even strapless for formal wear.

A client should start by getting fitted with a mastectomy prosthesis as soon as healing is complete after surgery. These are sometimes referred to as “breast forms,” and are typically made of silicone gel inside a soft, flexible plastic shell. They come in a vast array of cup sizes, colors and shapes in order to match as closely as possible the existing breast (in the case of single mastectomy patients.) A mastectomy prosthesis may or may not be fashioned with a nipple, depending on a particular client’s preference.

Clients who prefer may also have a custom prosthesis formed. This can help produce a breast form that more closely resembles the remaining breast in the case of a single mastectomy surgery. Customized forms are considerably more expensive, but may be important in making a client feel better about the way she looks.

Mastectomy bras are designed with pockets inside the cups. The mastectomy prosthesis slips snugly inside the pocket. For this reason, it’s important to choose a bra that fits correctly. A properly-fitted mastectomy bra will ensure that the breast form rests firmly against the chest and doesn’t slip from side to side, up or down.

Choosing the right fit differs depending on whether one or both breasts have been removed. Single mastectomy patients should choose a breast form in the same cup size as the existing breast. The right prosthesis will fit closely to the chest without any gaps or air pockets. It may require trying several different shapes to find the best fit.

Double mastectomy patients can choose any cup size when it comes to breast forms. Most patients feel most comfortable choosing prostheses that are the same as her former cup size. However, it is possible to choose a smaller or larger cup size if preferred. It’s usually recommended in this case not to go more than one cup size larger or smaller. It’s also recommended to choose a shape that is most similar to her own breasts and that conforms to her body shape/type. This will help to make a more natural transition.

Once a client has found the right prosthesis, she should use them to help fit the new mastectomy bra. They are fitted the same way as regular bra is fitted. First, a tape measure should be wrapped around the chest where the lower fold of the breast or breast form meets the chest. The total circumference will determine the band size of the mastectomy bra.

Next, the tape measure should be wrapped around the chest over top of the breasts/breast form(s). It should rest against the nipple or the highest peak of the breast snugly but not tightly. The first measurement (chest circumference) should then be subtracted from the second measurement (chest plus breast circumference.) The difference determines the proper cup size.

Mastectomy bra manufacturers may use different cup sizing charts from one another. Even different styles of bras made by the same manufacturer may have different sizing charts. It’s important to compare this cup size measurement (chest/breast circumference minus chest circumference) to the manufacturer’s sizing chart to determine the correct cup size for a particular style of bra.

A proper-fitting mastectomy bra will rest firmly against body but will not cut into the skin. It should not leave marks or indentations in the skin after removal. It will hold the mastectomy prosthesis firmly in place. In the case of a single mastectomy, it will appear undetectable from the remaining natural breast. Whether a client has had one or both breasts removed, the mastectomy bra should feel comfortable, and most of all, should look good and make her feel proud to be a breast cancer survivor.