Looking for some advice from you all. My mum had a mastectomy in June and is currently having chemo. At the time we bought two bras from M&S and gave them to the hospital who stitched in the pocket and posted to my mums house which was great. These bras cost £20-00 each and I was just wondering if there are any other shops/websites that you can recommend. I have been on ebay and Nicola Jane but wondered if there were any others as feel that £20/£25 is a bit steep for just everyday bras?? But if it has to be then fine - just thought I would ask??? Thanks, Maree
Breast Cancer Care have published a booklet called ‘A Confident Choice’ which contains practical information about bras after breast surgery, you can read it via the following link or order a copy from our helpline on 0808 800 6000:
I too found the price of mastectomy bras astronomical, but bought about 3 before I had a go at stitching pockets in my own bras - just cut up some old stretcy t-shirts and sewed them in around the edge of the cup - leaving a gap to put the prothesis in. Works a treat, and I’ve found that I can now buy really cheap bras (eg from Primark - who have a lovely range) and adapt them. Give it a try - you don’t have to be brilliant at sewing - I’m not! Best of luck anyway.
Love and hugs, Jean xx
I bought bra’s from www.simplybe.co.uk the are lovely and come in white and beige and were not to expensive if i remember correctly. Also as a previous lady mentioned i had a go at making my own pockets and they turned out great and it is not too difficult. I bought a pack of 2 soft bra’s from tesco for £3.00 and cut out the cups which gave me 4 cups so i was able to adapt 4 existing bra’s for £3.00! bargain.
Women who have had a mastectomy are entitled to have the VAT taken off the cost of a mastectomy bra. Some sotres will volunteer this info. In others you may have to ask.Your mum will be asked to fill in a form to do this. Mastectomy bras do tend to be expensive but I’ve found they are worth it to get a bra that fits well and carries a prosthesis well. And getting 17% off helps a little bit. I’ve also found it helps to go to a shop where they are properly trained in measuring and fitting women who’ve had a mastectomy.
My mum went to johnlewis and they were really really good, measured her up etc, got the people in stiching deparment to stitch a pocket in and she even got VAT off because she has to have a bra!!! They are really good!!!
Hi All
I had a mastectomy two weeks ago and have found wearing the softie with M&S and Ward Nurse measured bras very uncomfortable. They seem too tight around the chest and I swear the softie wants to ride up and knock on my chin.
Could it just be early days yet or have both ladies fitted me incorrectly? I have abandoned the bra at the moment but don’t particularly like the lopsided look.
Pin your softy with a safety pin to your bra at the side and the bottom, this works a treat.
I have been overweight for years and ballooned during chemo. I am going to weightwatchers which I know works and the weight is now coming of. I have already dropped a cup size and my bras are much more comfortable.
I was wondering, if my real boob gets much smaller I would need new bras and of course a prothesis. Does anyone know at what point I can get a new one through NHS? My argument is that they should encourage weight loss to those overweight and should just provide me with one but my friend tells me they only replace them if they wear out / get damaged.
Mastectomy bras can be very expensive. I treated myself to 4 new ones after my op, that cost £100 and since then I have less money and am dreading having to buy new ones, but excited that I may one day be fit and slim again!
I was told by BC nurse that I would be entitled to a new prosthesis regularly - not sure how often. Think it might have been two or three years but if I needed a change for any reason just to phone her and she would organise it.
Im glad to read this as i did not know that these kind of things were there to be offered. My mum has to have a masectomy on her left breast in a few weeks, she does not want reconstructive surgery, it is nice to know that prosthesis will be offered. I want her to feel as beautiful as she has always been.
Hi Irene Just read your thread you sound like you are feeling a lot better now. I got another 2 post mastectomy bras yesterday from Asda they are very comfortable and only £8 each. I bought a really expensive one it was £35 from the internet so I just keep that one for best. Regarding you losing weight I phoned my BC nurse last week about a new prostesis and she said I could have one because I have lost weight. I joined Scottish Slimmers 5 weeks ago and have now lost 13 lbs which I am so pleased about. So if you get in touch with your BC nurse I am sure you will get one especially as you have lost weight as she did say thats the only reason you get one as its normally every 2 years. I do hope you continue to feel well and to keep up with your Weight Watchers I also hope you are copeing being back at work. You Take Care Love Linda xxxx
Can anyone tell me where I can find a suitable bra
I am in the larger size group and am finding it very difficult to find a bra to fit me 48B/C
I have a prothesis but only a ordinary bra which is doing the job but if I move about a bit the obvious happens and ‘Camilla’ as I have called it tends to make an appearance
Thanks
They don’t have a huge selection but you’d probably have 5 or 6 to choose from. They also have the advantage of being in the UK. They’re not cheap mind but then none of them are. Can’t say how good the bras are. I’ve sent for one to see what it’s like and if it’s any good will possibly order more.
I heard this tip on here and this may help you. Buy yourself a normal bra in your size (not too low at front though). Buy another cheapo one made from soft stretchy material (sports/t-shirt type ones). Cut up the cheap one and use these cups to make pockets in good bra (sew in by hand). Or Cut up an old t-shirt and do same. Sew along top (cleavlege side), bottom and lower part of side. Make sure you leave a gap big enough to get ‘Camilla’ through! Oh yeah, my hospital have a service were they get pockets sewn into your own bras. Not used them myself but worth conntacting your BC nurse. I think she said it was £5 per cup.
Re me: I phoned my BC nurse who I must say was surprisingly reluctant to let me have a new prosthesis yet. She wants me to get much smaller (I’ve lost 17lbs now), because she wants to avoid giving me more than another 1! She suggested I use my softie with some stuffing taken out to make smaller!
I agree that I don’t need one just yet but I am currently a 42B, and aim to get back to a 36B, so I will def look very odd inbetween times!
Linda
Thanks for your kind words and well done you! I feel 100% better now being a size 16. I had crept into a size 20, but want to be a 12 again so 3 more stone to go! Have masses more energy too and am using an exercise bike most days. Life does seem to be returning a bit more to normality.
Hi Irene I went to the hospital on wednesday for my check up everything was fine I have been discharged from the clinic now and only have to go once per year now unless I have any other symtoms. My BC nurse was there as well and she asked me how I was doing I said the only problem was my prostesis as it was too heavy. She said come with me so we went to her room where she fits all the prostesis and she opened the cupboard and fitted me with a new light weight one. It is fantastic I love it I also went straight to Asda and bought 3 new bras they are only £8 each I already had one of the Asda bras on and my BC nurse said what a lovely bra she couldnt believe it was so cheap and comfortable. As you probably know I live in Scotland (JUST MOVED BACK 11 MONTHS AGO) I do stil think its a post code lottery with out treatment and anything else we need IE wigs etc it does get me really mad when I hear of women having to pay for these things its just not fair.They even gave mr my digital thermometer for nothing so it is pretty good here. I have just started a new job here its at Glenmorangie the whisky distillers we get lots of cheap bottles so everyone is having a bottle of whisky for christmas. Anyway if I was you I would definitely ask again for a new prostesis and you have done so well with losing weight I am delighted for you as I know weight was a big issue for you as it was for me. I was at the slimming class last week and a new lady came in to join.S he said to the leader that she has breast cancer and through having chemo she had put on 3 stone The leader said to her very loudly for us all to hear. Its not the chemo that makes you fat its what you stuff into your mouth. Well I nearly fell off my chair It took a lot of courage for that lady to go there in the first place she had no right what so ever to say that. I will not be going back and neither is the ladyI spoke to her outside afterwards and she just burst into tears. Anyway the lady and I are off to weight watchers to-night I am only going for a bit of support for the lady. I did feel like phoning up the head office about her but thought we will just join another club instead. Anyway I have gone on enough about me I do hope you keep well and I hope all the family are well too You Take Care and keep up the good work with your slimming Lots Of Love Linda xxxxx