Episode Guide
Breasts
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In this second of four specials, the Embarrassing Illnesses doctors will be concerning themselves with breasts and all matters mammary. In an effort to encourage women to bring their breasts out into the open, they’ll be taking their medical expertise to the capital and setting up drop-in clinics in the East End and West End of London – in the imposing surroundings of Shoreditch town hall, and conveniently, in a bra shop in the heart of Covent Garden.
First through the clinic’s doors is a huge pair of double ‘J’ breasts, swiftly followed by 40-year-old Alyson. After 20-years of back pain and misery from carrying around a whopping 5 kilos on her chest, she is desperate to see if Dr Harper can reduce her burden by referring her for breast reduction surgery.
Former breast cancer sufferer, Cheryl, whose breast removal and problematic reconstructive surgery left her with only one breast, also visits the clinic to see Dr Jessen. Her mastectomy is a painful reminder of a part of her life she wants to leave behind. And now, two years on, she feels ready to try reconstructive surgery again.
Jacqui seeks Dr Harper’s advice about reshaping surgery for her deflated breasts and inverted, misaligned nipples. Now approaching the menopause, Jacqui’s breasts have started to sag. However, breast reduction surgery in her thirties means that her nipples have not quite succumbed to gravity in the same way, remaining artificially high.
Anna, whose once buoyant bosoms lost their fullness after childbirth and breast feeding, also visits Dr Harper to see if she can put some bounce back in her life. Anna has lost so much volume from her ‘C’ cup breasts that she is down to trainer-bra size. And with her dwindling chest now impinging on her relationship, she has finally been spurred into action.
On the subject of motherhood, Dr McKenna receives a visit at the Shoreditch clinic from a support group for British mothers who discuss how the long term benefits to mother and child from breastfeeding far outweigh short term discomforts. However, in Anna’s case, her breasts and her spirits are in need of an urgent lift.
Among the clinic’s many patients seeking breast reduction, reconstruction and reshaping, there is 22-year-old Keelie, who simply wants her breasts to be the same size. And after years of teasing and unhappiness, Keelie decides that surgery is the only option to correct her markedly mismatched asymmetric breasts. The procedure isn’t for the faint-hearted, but it’s surgery that will transform her life for the better.
Sometimes it’s simply the pursuit of bigger or more attractive breasts that can cause problems. Women seeking breast augmentation may be searching for a confidence boost, but sometimes the results leave a lot to be desired. It’s this that brings Ruth and Mina to the Covent Garden clinic in search of advice.
But it’s not just misshapen breasts that the doctors are presented with. The much-feared breast lump is also a prominent concern, which sees broadcaster Tracey Cox making a surprise visit to the Shoreditch clinic to get something off her chest. Meanwhile, Chloe visits the clinic to see if the doctors can actually remove something from her chest…a growth!
Unfortunately for men, women don’t have the monopoly on breast problems. In fact, having breasts at all is a big problem for a man, which is why Abdul Ahmed brings his man boobs to the clinic in the hope that they can be removed. Abdul might feel out of place attending a clinic dominated by women’s problems, but we’ll get to see the results of his consultation in Thursday’s programme, which is dedicated entirely to men.
To mark this ‘breast special’, Dr Jessen also dons a special suit (complete with fake breasts!) to show women in a London market exactly what to look for when checking their breasts for lumps. Women of the capital – there is nowhere to hide!
And don’t forget – you can watch our self-check guide about how to check your breasts by clicking here, or you can get the guide on your mobile phone by texting BOOBS to 84444…
The EB team would like to thank:
Angelica Kavouni
West London Clinic
Transform
Against Breast Cancer
Breakthrough Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer Care
Breast Cancer Campaign
Cancer Research UK
Playtex
Sh Women
Elaine Sassoon
Pink Wishes
Breast Chek
Carolines Campaign
Avent
Truly Scrumptious
Woman’s Own
Pregnacare
Tetbury Hospital
Comments and Questions
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hi there i am 19 and i have a 1 year old daughter, i breast feed her and now my boobs have dropped and are saggy. this is making me very self concious andn very depressed. its affecting the tops that i wear and i feel like i have to be covered up all the time, i am finding it hard to find bras that fit properly but because of the sagging i cant find a bra that fits and that doesnt hurt to wear. please is there anything i can have done on the nhs. all i want is them lifting and made full again i will do anything to make this happen.
hello i am a 24yr old mum off to i have small breasts and one seems bigger then the other i dont take my children swimming i tryed once wearing breast fillits wen i took my children swimming and one fell out so i dont go swimming any more.i went to my doctor and they said that is just how your made,i have had councing but that hasnt helped i have been on depression tabs also that didnt help.i cant take my top off infront off my partner i dont like having sex anymore cos off my breasts its ruining my life can you help me?dont no what else to try.
Hi, My right nipple always seems really itchy, in winter when it is very cold they get so hard that the can crack and bleed, thankfully been ok this winter but the constant itching when the left nipple is touched is really starting to bug me
mine are like this too, i try really hard not to itch them but it's really hard not to, mine dont bleed and this is the first time it has happened to me. my mums getting a little worried and wants me to go to the doctors but after 2 weeks still hasn't, im not sure i want to go to the doctor with it. after i itch it my nipple starts to become slightly sticky, and is leaving scabby marks on my bras. i haven't changed my washing powder either.
I haven't changed mine either, it's really strange I know exactlt what you mean when you say they get sticky and doesn't it sting and slightly burn after! I have been putting sudocream on at night but during the day then scab just rubs on my bra. Drives me mad but I like you don't want to go to the doctor because it feels so trivial, I might phone a chemists instead and see what they say, then I will post you the reply LOL
i am 17 years old. i started puberty when i was 7 and my breasts have got very large, i am at 36D. i have recently started growing hair on my face, and i my clitoris has enlarged. it looks like a small penis. my mum says it's natural but i am really scared i am turning into a man. can anybody give me advice pleasee??
im 21 and iv got 1 inverted nipple, they both use to be inverted but the right one corrected itself. what are my ptions to correct the left one permintaly?
im 15 nd have inverted nipples nd im to scared to go see my doctor the only person i have told is my best friend but she keeps trying to make me go but im scared to nd i wont take my top off in front of anyone i dont no what to do please help
I am 20 years old and have very large breasts, size 34G. the problem is my nipples. they are at the bottom of my breasts, so much so that when i look in the mirror you cannot even see them. this is really getting me down, any suggestions would be grateful.
i am fifteen years old and im very self concious.And dont have any confidence maybe this could help? i know i havent properlly developed but my right breast is incredibly smaller than the other? help please?
Hello I'm 17 and for a couple of years I have noticed small spots on my nipples, random inside and small ones all around the nipple. Is this bad or an ordinary thing? Thanks ~
I have this too, i wondered what it was, but dont want to go to the doctors.
I went to see my local women's clinic and was told that I must lose weight, especially from my breast area since I seem to store my fat there!!! I have tried to do so and except for my breast, I am quite skinny. I now can feel and see my ribs but no weight lost from my breasr. Please advise on what to do now. I am a 45 year old mother of three with a size 34FF (I was measured at 33 FF but the closest bras size is 34FF)
