Prosthesis Offers Options for Life after Breast Cancer

One in eight women will fight breast cancer at some point in her life. Those who lose a breast will have to decide to live without it, have surgery or use a prosthetic.

Enid Fisher of Bloomfield is one of those women. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer 20 years ago. In the years following, both of her sisters were also diagnosed with breast cancer.

"I went to my primary care doctor to get a physical, and while he was examining me he told me he felt a lump," Fisher said.

Her treatment included chemotherapy and a mastectomy.

"I said. ‘OK doc, just take it off,’" Fisher said.

Following the procedure, she decided not to have reconstructive surgery, but chose to investigate her options for a prosthetic.

"A lot of women just don't want to have any more surgery so they come in and they get fitted to a breast prosthetic," said Maria Colasacco, owner of Contessa Corset Shop in West Hartford.

Colasacco said most of her clients are breast cancer patients and they have many choices. Prosthetic breasts are made of several materials, including silicon.

"There's a lot of options. There's different forms. Every year they come out with a new form. There's lightweight. There are forms for swimming," Colasacco said. "They feel whole again. They look in the mirror (and think), ‘Oh my God, I have a breast again.’ So, that makes them feel really good."

The  prosthesis has made a huge difference in Fisher's life.

"How they can fix you up, no one can tell. You wear the right undergarment and you look good," she said.

Contact Us