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Margaret's Story I have had considerable trouble with my breasts for a number of years, I am now 54 and I would say I have had problems with lumpy & painful breasts since my early twenty's. In the early stages it was linked to my period time, but gradually over the years I would say I have had perhaps 1 week out of every 4 when I didn't experience some discomfort. I have had several Mammograms & Ultra Sounds in the last 5 years, which revealed each time lumps that I could not detect by self examination and resulted in having Fine Needle Biopsy, the results of which have always been favourable. Earlier this year I started to experience constant discomfort in my breast's & underarm area, with heaviness in my left arm. Monday June 26th, I experienced severe pain particularly in my left breast and arm, by mid afternoon, at work; I found it necessary to remove my bra in order to have some relief from the pain I also noticed a few days prior my nipples had changed, the colour was disappearing and the nipples were inverting, after 3 days I still couldn't contemplate wearing a bra and had no desire to put one on. I made the decision then to not wear a bra. I found each week brought a new set of symptoms and conflicting emotions; in particular the first 2 - 3 weeks I was very self-conscious of my appearance and thought every one was looking at me and was aware that I wasn't wearing a bra. Gradually this feeling passed, each week I noticed an improvement the general well being, for want of a better term, of my breast's. At the end of six weeks my overall health improved I no longer had a desire to return to wearing a bra and I am amazed at the difference my breast's feel, in particular they feel part of my body and not a separate entity. The colour has returned to the nipple area along with the sensitivity that used to be there and gradually the nipple is becoming more prominent. After five months of being "BRA" free the way I dress is no longer an issue, I find myself looking at clothing in a different way, I feel more feminine and definitely more comfortable. I have found I need to wear either a singlet or camisole top as for some reason my chest seems to feel the cold since I no longer wear a bra. I do not have large breasts, although this now doesn't seem to be a real issue as the freedom experienced in being in charge of the way we dress is liberating, there are lots of loose and stylish clothing available and sometimes all that is needed is a long scarf to disguise the line or fall of the material. I am sorry I didn't keep a more comprehensive diary of the events of the first six weeks as that seems to be the crucial time, and like everything in life once you have made a decision to do something that will enhance your health or quality of life and stick to it, it can only be beneficial for all concerned. I hope that I will never know if I would have been a victim of Breast Cancer, but I am convinced that I had I not taken advice I would have suffered some serious health problems, as pain is not something that is normal or to be put up with. It is your body's way of telling you something is not right. Please feel free to use my name or this letter in any way to encourage other women. |