Breast prosethisis after mastectomy for cancer

Nonna,

Glad you posted.
Sounds like something needs to be done ASAP to stop the rubbing under your arm.
One possibility for a prosthesis to start rubbing would be if one has lost weight.
Another possibility might be if one started to do some new activity/movement.
Another possibility if the prosthesis is getting worn down(smaller)........
        and am sure there's other reasons.
Getting a prescription for a new prosthesis and getting a fitting by a certified fitter
sounds reasonable.

If the area around one's surgery/radiation site continues to feel uncomfortable, a check with one's
provider would make sense...........following the general guideline of a symptom related to one's
treatment area that lasts longer than 2 weeks to be followed up with one's physician just to be
safe and sure (or sooner if a major/significant symptom).

Prosthesis insurance benefit will vary by which insurance one has.
Just call the Insurance information number on one's card.

The TLC website of the American Cancer Society has the following info for Medicare patients:
Medicare/Insurance    *****Do check with Medicare itself for current Medicare benefits*******
http://www.tlcdirect.org/medicare.aspx
One needs to use a Medicare provider.
A "Reimbursement Fee Schedule for Bras and Prosthetics" is published by Medicare for
the purpose of determining the amount allowable. This amount varies from state to state, and
can be lower than a store/catalog's prices.
Medicare Part B pays 80 percent of the Medicare-approved amount.
   The TLC site of the ACS has the allowable as:
       1 Silicone Breast Form (2 Forms for bilateral surgeries) every 2 years
             or one Foam Form (2 Forms for bilateral surgeries) every 6 months.
       4-6 Mastectomy Bras annually, or as many as are medically needed/indicated by your doctor.
            Additional Bras may be prescribed as a result of surgery and/or loss or gain of weight



With caring and positive thoughts,
Grateful for today............Judy

Edited by Grateful for today - May 19 2013 at 11:47pm

Dear Barbara,

Edited by Lillie - May 21 2013 at 8:36pm