A year after Ellen Eddings discovered she had breast cancer in her right breast, after 33 rounds of chemotherapy and radiation at the University of Chicago Medical Center, an irregularity was discovered in her left breast. “I had a bilateral mastectomy in February of 2003," Ellen said. "I thought, why... Read More
A year after Ellen Eddings discovered she had breast cancer in her right breast, after 33 rounds of chemotherapy and radiation at the University of Chicago Medical Center, an irregularity was discovered in her left breast.
“I had a bilateral mastectomy in February of 2003,” Ellen said. “I thought, why me?” Her bilateral reconstruction failed on the right side, and after three surgeries she was at a low point. But a special nurse helped her through the worst of her ordeal, and her four sisters, all from Arkansas, traveled to Chicago to welcome her home from the hospital.
For the next nine years, Ellen made do with off-the-shelf breast forms. She hid behind loose tops, heavy jackets and scarves. “I had to apply the nipples separately and there was often a problem with slippage,” she said. “My breasts looked uneven, and I thought people were noticing.”
The chair of the Curriculum and Instruction Division of the School of Education at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff learned about ContourMed customized breast forms in early 2012. “I called and immediately set up an appointment for a scan at the ContourMed office,” Ellen said. “They were very customer-service focused and set up the scan around my schedule. Within a few weeks of my appointment, I had my ContourMed breast forms. I am totally in love with them – I just put them on and go.”
Ellen’s thousand-watt smile beams when she talks about her life today. She plays racquetball and shoots hoops with her younger son when he’s home from college. She even wore her ContourMed breast forms during a bath at a Hot Springs spa.
“I feel like myself again. I feel attractive,” Ellen said. “One of my students told me, ‘Something about you is different…you look brighter.’”
I am a un-lateral breast cancer customer. I have been wearing several pocket bras over the last 20 years of my life. I also have tried the off the shelve self-adhesive prosthetics and those did not work for me. It felt clammy and uncomfortable. I had met the contour med representative before I had decided to try their products. The representative was very nice and not a pushy sales representative. She encouraged me to try the product. With the insurance I had it was a billable code. So after 6 months I decided to try it. When my custom arrived... Read More
I am a un-lateral breast cancer customer. I have been wearing several pocket bras over the last 20 years of my life. I also have tried the off the shelve self-adhesive prosthetics and those did not work for me. It felt clammy and uncomfortable. I had met the contour med representative before I had decided to try their products. The representative was very nice and not a pushy sales representative. She encouraged me to try the product. With the insurance I had it was a billable code. So after 6 months I decided to try it. When my custom arrived and I put it on oh WOW!!! It felt like I had a breast—it was a part of me. It is hard to explain to anyone who hasn’t gone through what I went through in losing a breast. I wear it all the time. Great projection and comfort. I am also a prototype for the newest custom call a new silk breast form. I get to test it and find any faults if any are there. Well of course I was so excited—I tried the silk for about a couple of weeks. This is my findings so far—(remembered this prosthetic is in production and won’t be ready for at least a year) I am a work horse in my prosthetics—it has to be able to with stand yard work. (Mulching, raking etc.) All day wear fitting, bending, lifting and reaching. It also has to be versatile meaning being able to wear in an underwire and non-underwire bra. After a couple of weeks it has to tear and break down even though I truly love this one even better than my original one and due to the cost it has to last me for over 2 years. So back in the production line. That is okay because I am here for all of the breast cancer patients who has lost their breast and looking for other options to be your representative. I love the contour med custom breast prosthetics and I am excited about the new silk breast form that is upcoming and I would give the company a star 4 (out of 5). That is because the findings that I found in the newest form.
Great Job Contour Med for continuing your goal in helping us out!!!!