Learn more about custom breast forms through our interview with cancer survivor and devoted ContourMed customer, Laura.
We always love hearing from breast cancer survivors who wear ContourMed breast forms—especially women who have gotten multiple forms from us! Laura Walters, a ContourMed customer and a breast cancer survivor, and learn a bit about her story!
Tell us a little about yourself: what is your name, where are you from, and what do you do?
My name is Laura Walters, and I am a retired banker from Dillsburg, Pennsylvania.
When and how was your breast cancer discovered? What was the diagnosis?
I had a great OBGYN. He ordered a base line when I was 37, and a second mammogram when I was 39. My cancer, which was calcifications/grains of sand sized showed up on the mammogram. I was diagnosed with INSITU Carcinoma.
How did you and your family deal with the news?
My husband I and were told of my cancer on our 8th anniversary. He took it harder than I did. I knew when I had to go see the doctor after-hours that something was wrong, so I wasn’t as surprised as he was.
What kind of treatment did you seek, and was it successful?
I decided that I was going to have surgery, as I would be 99% cancer free with no adjunct treatment.
What were your thoughts when you decided not to undergo a breast reconstruction?
I am a very strong person. A survivor. A breast is just a breast. It does not define me as a person and my life would continue on as before. I also considered that having a breast was not worth all the surgery required.
Getting expanders to stretch the tissue, then the process of stretching, then having the implants placed under the chest wall was not something I wanted to go through. No thanks.
What is a piece of advice you would give another woman facing a breast cancer diagnosis?
Look at all of your options. What is right for one patient is not right for another. Read all the information you can before making a decision. It is important to be informed.
Would you recommend ContourMed custom breast forms to another woman who has had breast cancer? Why or why not?
First off, I LOVE my ContourMed form.
The first breast form I had was not from ContourMed because they didn’t exist yet. It was silicone, and I had it for 10 years—I took great care of it. I always kept it in its cradle and kept it clean.
When it was time to get a new breast, ContourMed had just come out. I went in, had my scan completed, and got the most AWESOME form ever. It weighed a couple of ounces. I loved that form and wore it until I put weight on.
I contacted ContourMed to find out where I could get a new one, and I was put in contact with Wendy Carter. We completed our scanning and I had my breast in three weeks. I LOVE, LOVE IT. They are light weight, require no special bra and last forever. Easy to wash, dry, and put back into the silky bag. I would suggest trying one to anybody who has had a mastectomy.
ContourMed is committed to providing custom breast forms to women who have had breast cancer. To find out more about ContourMed and your options regarding breast forms, contact us by calling 501-214-6080.