Just needed to let off some steam here. Still feeling raw most of the time over mastectomy and reconstruction emotionally and with my bra cutting into me I headed off to John Lewis for something more comfortable but firm and supportive.
John Lewis List of mistakes
Mastectomy Bras displayed beside Nursing Bras. DUH betcha we all are pleased about that NOT!!! Why cant they be near the sports bras?
Staff member can see me looking for a size in the mastectomy bras and is a bit of a distance away from me. She calls across “What are you looking for”. Not wanting to shout my size out in public I start to move towards her and she asks the question again, and I call to her to wait a minute please. By the time I reach her I am a bit pissed off and tell her what size and when I am told they don’t have my size I ask if they have any deepsided sports bras as I have had the mast but have a reconstruction and don’t really need the pocketed style. She then passed me over to another lady saying “she needs a sports bra” and off the first lady went.
2nd lady cannot find a sports bra in my size at all, not like I am an awkward size at 34C but anyway she finds a couple of firm support bras that might do. I go try them on and find that they too are cutting into me under the breast line, I am rubbed raw just about so just want comfort. This lady is helpful but by now I have tried on a few bras and feel very upset anyway so ended up in tears and just want to get dressed. This 2nd lady did offer me a cup of tea free and to wait until a very experienced member of staff came back from tea break to help me. So I dry my tears and wait did not bother going to the tea room with my red eyes tho.
The very experienced staff member arrives and yes you guessed it she is the very one who calls out across the store to a lady looking at mastectomy bras What are you looking for. By now I just think well lets get a comfy bra or 2 and get home so VESM brings a few and the first one is a Sloggi, she is pleased to tell me it is very comfy with very little support - IS SHE DEAF!!! The others are not too bad tho so I try them but she then asks me why I dont just go braless at home, I tell her again that I have a reconstruction and she just looks blank when I tell her that I need to wear the support bra thru the day.
So Marks out of 10 for John Lewis from me are BLEEEP so that the moderator is not shocked at my choice of words.
i have to say, thats a lot better than the service you get in Marks and Spencers!!! i had a recon, they offered me a bra with a pocket in it!!! ok, would be good to stash your money when your having a night on the town!!!
Alisonxxxx
hope you don’t mind me joining in. i went to my local john lewis and they were very helpful and the bra was very comfortable for a couple of weeks, but after lumpetomey and radiotherapy plus lymphoedema I’ve changed shape and the bra feels tight. so i am worried about the lymphoedema, when i mentioned it to my BCN she said there was someone who would come to my home and measure me and help me get the right bra. may be your BCN is able to help in a similar way
I am so sorry to hear about your experience at John Lewis but you must tell them in a letter or email. They will really want to know and will let the ladies involved know how they let you down - then follow up with training etc. This wont change what happened to you i know, but it hopefully will improve things for any other ladies in your position.
I know this because I work for John Lewis although am off at the moment having just started Chemo. They really do care honest.
hi all i have found JLewis at cheadle excellent they arrange for pockets free the staff/partners there decided this not all do , still find the choice limited though I dream of a non wired coloured bra with matching pants in my size 38E the wiring seems to be the problem big girls = wires! M& S left me upset & horrified last year sent for pocketed bras nobody’s prosthesis would have fitted through that mini gap still dreaming xjan
Have just had a mast and have been looking for nice bras I went on the Amoena site and found some lovely sets they also do swim wear. Have you tried looking on there???
Thanks for your messages, much appreciated. Karen, strangely enough I was in at the local cancer support group and saw the amoena catalogue and was just online this morning having a look, some lovely items there for sure thanks for the tip. Apparently their new catalogue will be out in the next few months time too. Jan you might find your dream matching set there, have a look it is amoena-online.com best of luck to you all.
Just having a scout round and saw your thread and just to let you know tesco do a really comfortable cotton sports bra with firm support no underwired. They only do it in white black and that funny toffee colour they call skin!! but they are only £5. I had a WLE on the 10th Jan and as lost a cup size have on one side have found it more comfortable to walk around with support to stop the girls jiggling around and rubbing. I even sleep in it. Dont know if this is any use to you.
Definately complain to John Lewis they take complaints really seriously.
Good Luck Shonagh xx
Just found your post, have you tried asda they do full support bras I am a 36E and have manged to get some very nice bras from asda and only cost £7 they even have a little lacey bit so look nice to, would complain to John Lewis as I am sure they would be very interested in what has happened to you and to make sure that this does not happen to others you never know you may even get some nice gift from them.
Thanks I have been to Asda last night and bought sports bras there £6 black and white and how comfy are they, wow, lovely. Like the sound of the lacy number from Asda at £7 so will have a look at them next time I am in it would be good to wear something a bit prettier. I was not going to bother complainging but due to all the comments here and mainly the thought that I would not want anyone else to go thru this I will write to them today and let you all know what John Lewis respond with.