I was one of those privileged to be invited to take part in the filming of a short documentary, which can now be viewed on You Tube. I am not sure if it’s OK to post the link here, but I’ll put it in and if it’s deemed inappropriate then hopefully the mods can remove the link but not my post. If the link does get edited out, please feel free to PM me for it.
It would be interesting to know what others think of the film and of the issues we raised.
My biggest bugbear as far as fashion for ladies with BC is concerned is that none of the specialist mastectomy bra companies make anything in my size. I know I’m only a 30B but I still want to wear a pretty bra & I can’t be the only smalled boobed lady this has happened to. I wrote to one company & complained but all they said was that the bras are made in Germany & German ladies tend to be bigger busted than UK ladies (did that explanation help me, I think not!!). I was also told to just buy a normal bra and “pop” the prosthesis in but the trouble is bras that size don’t have much to them & my “jelly tot” soon fell out!. I got so fed up in the end I went in for a reconstruction.
I gave up on the “specialist” shops/sites; not only are they expensive but their bras are really ugly.
M&S website is actually quite nice. Search for surgery bra.
Trying to find nice summer clothes is a nightmare.
What a great film. Would have liked to see more of the photographs in the American collection. Hope it makes people sit up and take notice. Gok did do a naked special with a woman who’d had a reconstruction from her back and so had a big scar. He helped her not to be afraid/ashamed of it. I’ve got a vague recollection of Trinny & Suzannah doing a special with breast cancer women.
The thing we were looking at was stuff on the high street, not specialist shops - the things that any woman can buy. The girl doing the research was aware of the Gok Wan programmes and had used them as part of her preliminary work
RevCat LOVE the cat. So laid back. As for you …Stop flaunting all that hair …green green. I so want that style soon. I didn’t realise we had been mixing with a stars of film and stage. As usual all you said was purtinant and so true.
I agree with all the points. Personally with a bilateral mastectomy …two fat pointed wings that need removing, and lymphoedema on my ribs, getting a bra to fit the size of my expanded (ex size 16 bra 38d) chest is impossible. Bras ride up with bilaterals which is fine if you can wear a silicon prosthesis because of the weight, but with lymphoedema that is impossible…they are too heavy. Contact are the answer but not always possible after Radiotherapy. I get Amoena camisoles and cut off the bra fastening , pop softies into the pockets , and tuck the ends in my knickers to stop everything riding up. Even these are uncomfortable, a soft cotton pocket would be so much better for sensitive skin. Many a day I have had my softies touching my chin…pretty…
Perhaps it could be brought to the attention of George at Asda . They have supported breast cancer for many many years although some ladies don’t like the ‘tickled pink’ slogan. I couldn’t give a monkeys about such things as long as they help. The problem with objecting to corporate slogans in the way it has been done is these companies could just remove their help. They were one of the first if not the first high street type of shop to produce cheap post surgery pocketed bras. They were too ugly in that they were sports bra in shape, but they were just £6,
Remember ladies pockets can always be put in pretty bras on the NHS woman’s zone do them very well.
I have bought a long sleeved insect proof blouse from ROHAN for the summer’s mosquito invasion on the boat. It is really ugly and the material looks like thick nylon. At over £40 it wasn’t cheap. So it’s loose linen this year I think for posh wear. Bring back the kaftan and Flower Power - as a child of the sixties those long flowing dresses were cool and pretty.
I hope the campaign goes well
Night all
Cackles
Thanks Revcat, I’ve just posted it too and didn’t see yours! Never mind, I’ll leave it on and see what happens…the sharing is going well. By the way, I think you look lovely in your red coat xx
Well done RevCat - what a powerful message and what a potential customer opportunity that the fashion industry are ignoring. Perhaps the Look Good Feel Better charity could be of help with this campaign as they do so much for hair and make-up products - any ideas how to get them on board with this one?
Brilliant awareness RevCat, we need more of this out there and we all need to be ambassadors of the cause.
You know… I’m a few months away from my mastectomy and I hadn’t thought about simple things like bras and clothes which won’t show the surgery scars or the lopsidedness - I haven’t even asked about prosthesis etc, what they look like etc. So food for thought for me too.
I too thought the American pics were brilliant and would like to see more.
A really thought provoking little documentary, glad I watched it! I don’t have a great deal of problems, for me it’s mainly comfy bras that look nice without being underwired. I had about 4 years solid where I just wore sports bras all the time - not the sexiest of garments, they are so drab.However,I do notice in the mirror that the breast I had the lumpectomy on is higher than the other now - the nipple is about 2 inches above the other one, so I am constantly adjusting bra straps to compensate. My left arm is always slightly bigger compare to the other one too, so in summer I prefer 3/4 length sleeve tops - again these are not always easy to get and sometimes they are very old fashioned for a youthful 50 year old! I have a couple of loose sleeved, hip length kaftan style tops for summer that I bought for a holiday in Spain 3 years before I was diagnosed. I have worn them to death, but they cover all bases so I’m taking good care of them. I only wear them in summer and launder them very carefully, I’ve even repaired the embroidery on one. V necks are difficult as well as I’m sometimes aware my tattoo in the middle of my cleavage is on show. Not a big deal as it’s a pinprick, but I’m sure people who don’t know my history think it’s a dirty mark lol.
Well done, RevCat, I’m just a week out of my mx and my bra is really uncomfortable every time I wear it. I think I’ll start a trend of making PJs and dressing gown fashionable! Although, I got my bras from Bravissimo and the ladies there were very helpful, but still they are plain white, sports bras, which dig in under my arm where I had the lnb and clearance.
How does one start to set up a campaign?
I’m not at that stage yet, infact don’t know if I will be as having lumpectomy 23rd Feb, hoping for clear margins but it’s possible I’ll need MX.
You look so good on film, a born natural I’d say. Reading everyone’s comments here highlights how under provided the High St is for MX ladies, so kudos to you for bringing attention to the subject.
Have to say you don’t half suit your red duffle coat, and loved your curly hair, though it looks great now too. Can’t wait to have hair, curly or straight … just want hair!
Well done, and maybe there’s a new career awaiting you on retirement. Well if Ann widdecombe can!!!
RevCat thank you for this - looking good is feeling good is keeping strong!
Newc43 I found camisoles with secret support the only comfortable thing to wear for two weeks after surgery. Had Mx so I just pinned my softie in when I got home. An early visitor asked my sister if I hadn’t had the op! I got mine in Primark but I think M&S have them too. I also bought sloggi crop tops for a great price in Matalan - before Christmas so they may not have them now but you can buy from sloggii website…
Don’t know how it is in other parts of UK but in Belfast we have a local cancer charity where they do a fitting service for bras and swimsuits. Two months post-surgery I invested a small fortune in two pretty and dainty bras by company called Amoena. The fitting itself was a revelation - I went down 2 cup sizes!
Happy clothes hunting to all you stylish amazons,
Kathleen
