Hi Ladies
I’m now finally facing the bid M on Thursday, but I am not prepared.
What bra do I need first off in hospital?
Should I invest in a masectomy bra?
Will a normal bra hold in place?
Im a 34DD, so cant really do without one!
Normally, I sleep in one also!
Help and advise needed!
Lisa
Hi Lisa, best of luck! I’m a DD as well. I bought a mastectomy bra from Asda £8 and really comfy.I only wore it on the day I was going home with the comfie supplied by my breast care nurse. The rest of the time in hospital I just wore my hospital gown as they want to check your wound quite often to make sure it’s alright. I would think that a normal bra would hold the comfie in place, but it will hold it against the wound, whilst you can use the pockets of the mastectomy bra to keep it away from pressing on the wound itself. I would put off buying anything really expensive until you can see where the wound actually is, as I ordered a couple of bras from Nicola Jane but had to return them as my wound was very high up (I always had high breasts) and the bras didn’t really cover the right area even with the straps pulled up.
Also I now think it is a good idea to sleep in it too, especially when you have to answer the door to the postman still in your pyjamas - at least I was symetrical - although I wouldn’t sleep with my real prothesis in, as for our size they are quite heavy!
Maggie
Hi Lisa
You may find Breast Cancer Care’s publication, ‘A confident choice’ helpful to read. It contains information about buying bras and clothing following breast surgery and has a list of specialist bra companies at the back, here’s the link:
breastcancercare.org.uk/docs/bcc_prosthesis_web_0.pdf
Hope this helps.
Best wishes
Lucy
Hi Maggie
Asda? Do all Asda stores sell them?
Lisa
We have two Asda stores nearby. The smaller one doesn’t, but its fashion section is only one aisle. The larger one in the next town had them in the bras/pants section, although they are in polythene and not on hangers like some Asda bras.
Hi Lisa
Our local asda’s dont do them, but what a great price. Maybe there is a big Asda local to you? I’ve bought a Royce Silver Style 736 on line - it was pricey at £28 but for my needs (ie the recon) I need to wear it for several months as a surgical comfort thing. royce sell in shops like Debenhams too - their cheapest bra is around £18. You can get them all on line. M7S do a great range - ask assistant! Also, my bc nurse had loads of other leaflets (none of which i picked up of course!) for various companies - all very reasonably priced, and you’ll want something nice as it’s for a while. My aunty, who wears a prosthesis, has a stick on one and wears a normal bra, but she’s someway down the line now so all healed etc…
Speak later! Td xx
I invested in two from Amoena…my BC Nurse gave me the catalogue they are so comfy, a bit pricey at £25 but well worth it! They fasten at the front which is good so you don’t have to struggle to get your arms around the back…unless of course you have someone on hand to help.
I’m having my “M” on Wedesday…I’ve already had a WLE on the same breast.
Good luck with yours.
Take care
Sue x
Hi Girls
Been into town. I thought M&S would have them in - since they are always advertising breast cancer awareness! But no, they had sold them all in the sales, and no more in yet!
However, when a group of young girls came in and wanted measuring, one yelled out ‘Im a 34DD!’… well, the tears just started, so I bolted into the changing rooms with some softie bras!
The lovely lady there told me that her friend didnt use mastectomy bras, that the prosthesis sticks to your skin, and that she uses a particular range of normal bra - I tried one on… and bought 3!
I dont think they will need a pouch with these, and look rather pretty too!
Anyway, until I experience it all I wont know! I have 2 sports bras and some comfy ones for now.
Lisa
I have to say i didn’t much like the look of them, but mastectomy bras are really comfortable.
I’m on rads at the moment so it suits to have the prosthesis away from my skin, but will use non pocketted bras when everything has settled down.
Has anyone used those prosthesis that stick to your skin? Are they any good?
thank you
Pauline
Hi everyone
Just to say Breast Cancer Care have produced a publication called ‘a confident choice’, it includes lots of information on prosthesis, mastectomy bra’s and many types of clothing. If anyone would like to have a look at copy please follow the link below:-
breastcancercare.org.uk//docs/bcc_prosthesis_web_0.pdf
I hope you find this helpful.
Kind regards
Sam
BCC Facilitator
My husband’s Aunt had a double mastectomy and she tried the stick on ones, but did have a few embarrasing situations where one slipped or moved around. She says that they are fine in the cooler months but in the summer your sweat forms a barrier between your skin and the sticky gel and they don’t feel quite so safe. I’ve been told that I can’t have one of these until the end of the year when all my treatment has finished, but to tell you the truth my normal prothesis is so heavy that I can’t quite believe that one that size would actually stay put.
Best of luck for Thursday X
HI
I had my mastectomy on the 2nd May and came out of hospital 3 days later, My husband went to M & S and bought me a really nice mastectomy bra, its really soft and comfortable. Just need to buy a decent boob to put in it!!!
Debs x
Debs -
where’s your thread - my bookmarking system isn’t working!!!
Td x
Where to buy breast prosthesis which wont be such expensive? Are they also availabel at Debenhams or M&S?
Thnx