Our patients’ stories: overcoming breast asymmetry

High school can be hard enough on a girl’s self esteem. But for Kate*, typical rites of passage — like shopping for a prom dress — were impossible. After trying on dress after dress that didn’t fit, Kate ultimately settled on something in black, with draped fabric to strategically cover her chest. Alterations made the gown wearable, but Kate still worried about whether her date would notice something that had begun to seem increasingly unusual to her about her body. Kate suffered from severely asymmetrical, or lopsided, breasts. As she moved through puberty, her right breast grew beyond a D cup size, while her left breast never developed more than an A/B cup. It’s a condition that’s common and often overlooked, and extreme cases like Kate’s can cause young girls great distress, research has shown. By 13, Kate noticed that her breasts looked different from those of her friends and sisters. “I kept hoping the problem would fix itself,” she recalls. “But it kept getting worse.” Like many teens with breast conditions, Kate didn’t think there was anything that could be done to help her, so she adjusted as best she could. She and her mom, Susan, describe the teen as a reserved, well-liked girl who enjoyed being a part of many school activities and hoped to become a teacher after college. Kate did not let her asymmetry stop her from playing sports, enjoying the beach in the summer and trips to the mall with friends. She...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Our patients’ stories Source Type: news