Purchasing a mastectomy Bra??????

Public Archive
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Irene, for what it’s worth I make my own pockets from old, soft, well-worn tshirts.
The first one I made using the pocket that came with the prosthesis as a pattern, but I can’t get on with trying to shove the prosthesis in under the armpit, because then you have to get the whole weight on at once. (I had a broken wrist and elbow in spring, so this was a real problem).

So now I trace the shape of the cup, and make the pocket in two halves, split vertically at the strap but overlapping at the bottom of the cup. That way, I can actually get the prosthesis in when I’m wearing the bra.
The pockets in bought bras that I have (only two, Anita I think) are oversized and I find them uncomfortable when they crease up behind the prosthesis, and with them, the prosthesis slides across the middle of my chest and pokes out of the top of the cup.

Lyn

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Lyn
I have an Anita bra with the same problem but the label which came with the bra said that sometimes the pocket is too big. To overcome this they suggest making a tuck and stitch it to make it smaller!
Why cant they make it the right size for the bra size? Mystery to me.

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I bought a mastectomy bra on ebay too, it’s a Royce, brand new and is great - and much cheaper than in the shops. I’ve also bought a spare prosthesis and a swim one on ebay and they’re great. Well worth a look!

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MrsWC - I think it’s cheaper for them to put pockets in both sides and then there’s no complication with adding pockets afterwards. So the pocket has to be big enough for the remaining breast.

I did take a tuck in the pocket, but it’s not very comfortable - my chest wall is still a bit tender, don’t know how long that will go on, I had the mastectomy in December.
I made my mother-in-law a couple of mastectomy bras last year from taking apart her Anita one - it’s not that hard to do if you are fairly confident at sewing. When I get a minute I’ll do a couple for myself from one that fits me.
I bought one Anita that looks really pretty - and it’s as uncomfortable as #### under the armpit, really saws away at it, so I’m not willing to buy without trying.

Lyn

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I have to comment on this, as finding decent post surgery bras is becoming an obsession of mine. I’m a 38F (dear god!!) and very few shops stock that size - M&S have some but either a wierd shape or the straps are too thin. I have bought some nice bras from Contura Belle and Eloise and found both to be really helpful - just discovered that Eloise have a RED bra in my size - so guess what I’m buying next.
I bought a tankini from M&S which fits well and has good pocket for prosthesis.
I don’t know about anyone else, but as I’m still struggling with body image issues it’s so important to have good bras - by that I mean comfortable and pretty. Theres a tread on here called ‘Remember when …’ on which several people have mentioned walking through lingerie departments without wanting to cry. Who do we need to lobby???

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Just had an idea, charity shop bras. Soft type should be easy to cut up and make 2 new pockets. Will look tomorrow!

Mrs wc, how right you are about this seasons fashion. I have had terrible trouble getting a dress for my daughters wedding and sadly, I have had to resign myself to wearing a cami underneath and yes, this will make me hot esp during flushes.

Irene

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Irene, that’s a bright idea - I have some of my old underwired stretch cup bras still (and I don’t know why I keep them, they’re stuck away in a bag because they upset me) - but the cup would probably make a good pocket and it’s shaped already.
And I’m fed up too with the low cut everything - I seem to be living in t-shirts. Fortunately I now work from home, so I don’t need to look professionally smart very often. Can’t imagine finding something dressy, I’d have to sew it.

I struck lucky in BHS a little while back and found a swimsuit with a straight across front and moulded cups - and ON SALE - £17.50! Bargain, and a nice bright cherry red, not black! I cut the spare cup out of one of the bought bras and used it to make a prosthesis holder across the moulded cup - since my swimming prosthesis is a bath puff, it doesn’t need to support anything heavy.

Lyn

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I have just gone to M&S today and bought 2 non wired lacy bras 40D & 40DD to try. Will then fit a pocket and try and get a prothesis to fit. I agree try before you buy and buy locally so can take back.

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Hmm, if they’re the soft lacy ones I got - they weren’t really big enough to hold the prosthesis for me (don’t know if I said, I’m between a 36F in a sports bra and 38E in Anita) - the cup wasn’t high enough.

And of course that’s what I was wearing (unpocketed) when I fell in the street and broke my wrist - looking down, I could see this big pink blob on the road and had to say to the lovely man who’d picked me up “Er, and could you put my prosthesis in my bag please”. Wonderful man, didn’t turn a hair, bless him.

Lyn

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sorry I havent been on here for a while, busy with researching still on bras…!!

Next do a White mastectomy bra, although their sizes are limited, I am a 32DD but bought a 34D (smallest size), but just to see what it was like, and it was on sale at £5.00. I tried it on, and it was a really good fit (for once), the frontage was nice and curved shape, rather than triangle. it came up high, and covered my two prosthesis, even when I didnt put them in the pockets.
However the pocket lining is made up of Lycra, and Polymead, and felt like nylon, and after my body temperature rose, it felt quite hot and sticky, (usually the pocket linings are either cotton or microfibre), but I contacted Next head office, and got a contact in their Lingerie Buying department, and gave her the comments I had, and asked if she could find out more about the material used for the pockets, but also to see if they will be doing more styles or sizes (more importantly),

She was going to discuss this with their team and get back to me, and I did stress that I wanted a response, and not to be left for weeks without nothing, but that if that happens I will be contacting her regularly to chase up answer. She did agree that she would work with me, on this. At least it is another start, However, for some reason it is only on their website or catalogue in summer, but not on their winter ranges, Again I stressed that we need these bras all year round, it isnt a seasonal item…! she was going to look into that also, I am pleased she was taking what I was saying all on board and wanting to help us. Maybe this is another shop that could help us.

Overall I was really impressed with their style of bra, although very basic and in the dreaded white, at least it was a start.

Also, I have received the Multi-way bra from Royce to trial wear, and I am really impressed with it, at last a multiway that is based on Cup sizes and not bandana style, making shopping for nicer tops and dresses a bit more exciting.

Womanzone have a strapless bra, it is a really good fit, and in cup sizes, it is really tight fitting, making you feel secure, and the prosthesis in the pockets fitted well, it sat across my flat chest wall really good. My friend also tried it on, and found it fitted really well, and she has one prosthesis and a natural breast. At the moment you have to phone Womanzone to enquire about it, they havent updated their website with it yet. Or if you are near their shop then do pop in, and see it.

These two styles of bras are well worth the wait, and now shopping for Ballgowns or different style necklines are good now, I cannot wait for xmas now…

hope this helps, and I am still pushing the companies to get their backsides in gear, and really start delivering what we want. So I am still not giving up this, and sometimes my head is sore from all the bashing against the brickwalls I have done, but just dust myself down and start again…

xx

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Gosh what a great thread. Puppydog you are doing a great job on the crusade for post op bras. I had a dreadful time when i first ahd surgery and wasnt able to find anything nice. I am 38F and had pretty much many of the experiences written about on here. Just a few things I ahve found work for me. I am one year post surgery and find I can wear an underwired bra without a pocket providing it fits snug. I went to Womanszone and tried on lots of different ones which they then ordered in different colours(where available) I also made a ‘pocket’ for a cheap strapless bra I picked up to wear with a dress I would only wear once. It was quite crude but did the trick I sort of used a fabric strip which I sewed from the side bit under my arm to the centre cleavage bit it just helped to hold my soft pros in place. On my full prosthesis and its full(!!) I slip it into the cover off my post op softee prosthesis as I find without a pocket the problem I have is that it rubs my skin and gets itchy and sore.If I feel this is a bit unsecure I just put a pin through the cover and my bra at the bottom. I have a pocket template that I got with my prosthesis and I am sure if anyone needs a template their BC nurse could help or indeed with a softee so they can use the cover. Great idea about the bath puff for swimming! Also one last yadder on but if anyone feels more comfortable wearing camisoles, Red Herring at Debenhams do a fantastic cotton one with lace trim, they come up really high and look really pretty and are a bargain at £7. They come in loads of different colours and dont gape when you bend forward. Not the solution to the ongoing problem with decent/pretty/comfortable/cheap/practicle and coloured range bras we all so want and need but in the meantime ever bit helps.
Great thread
Missi

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hi puppydog you ok? this bra thing is never going to go away is it ! so frustrating when all we want is to look feminine and not bound up in miles of elastic!!! recently i bought a new bra from eloise but had to return it as the size of the pocket didnt match the protheseis must say i was really disapointed asit cost a bomb ,now ive been into asda and lo and behold ive got a lovey cotton one with lacy cups for only £6 it has wide bands under my arm and wide straps ,really comfortable . its about time these companies listened to what WE want . !! keep up the good work ,do hope all is well with you .speak soon .lynn xx

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I will be having a mastectomy rhs in November, followed by radiotherapy, then possibly econd mastectomy followed later by reconstruction. Can anyone advise me what to buy and what I will be given at hospital, I’ve read about softies etc. Has anyone been to Rigby and Peller in London for advice? My very kind Dad has offered to fund my wigs and underwear, so thought it might be worth trying these famous coresetieres as their range looks attractive and they have a mastectomy fitting service.

Lou

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I found when I wore the comfie after the op, I could safety pin it into my usual bras! With a skinny T shirt over the top if it was going to show.
After the prosesthis fitting I hav ehad more trouble.
M and S don’t stock them, Debenhams were ignorant and don;t stock them, Asda had 1 cheap one in white only! and not over pretty tho comfy. Jenners/Frasers ( who should surely have plenty of enquiries) were very helpful, but nothing pretty again, and gave me a fitting then releived me of £45 to take home a bra that I can barely beath in.
So wearing 1 asda bra and 1 adapted old bra. (using the old t-shirt method…ie put a piece of soft fabric against your skin then the prosthesis then the bra, draw round with a pencil and you have your shape. I then made it in 2 pieces, overlaped in the centre and hand-sewn all round.)
dream of opening a shop called “One-off underwear” for all us frustrated and upset shoppers (I too got tearful almost everwhere)
Gillian

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My hospital has a service whereby they sew pockets into bras and swimsuits free of charge. Do ask your breast care nurses if your hospitals do the same.

xxx

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Hi LouLou,
Good luck for Nov. I had mine in Feb and the softie they give you is pretty good. Ive now got an Amoena Boob which is not bad. Lovely new bra and briefs just come in at Nicola Jane. Ive bought all mine thru them. They all suggest that you buy your bra before you get your boob so they can put it into the bra whilst fitting. Oops & Downs is another one to try. Plus Amoena do Bras too. My scar is quite high up so i cant wear any low cut bras so perhaps your initial bra should be a high fronted one. Also have a look at the ones that have lace inserts.

xx

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Hi Ladies,
What a great thread this is. I found a little gold mine of a shop near where I live that was set up by three ladies, two of whome just like us have had bc and were frustrated by this very issue.
Anyone reading this who lives in the west midlands area may find just what they need from Lingerie Illusions, based in Willenhall. Their web site is www.lingerieillusions.co.uk Most of their stock is ameona and they will order what you require if not in stock. It is easier to get a better fit when trying on in a shop than by mail order .

Some time ago I was really cross with M&S selling t-shirts for breast cancer and failing so miserably to provide decent underwear and out-wear that is suitable. We are quite a sizable group of people and one would have thought a worthwile target group of shopper!! Where are the designers?

Rant over
Gentle

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Mand S have some in now with pockets, saw them yesterday in Edinburgh, no use to me now as I have just been reconstructed. They are £18. Being M and S though godness knows how they will fit people
Louise

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hi Louise please can you tell me what M and S you saw those bras in (I phoned gyle branch last week and they said I would have to go through to glasgow) I did get one out of john lewis but rather pricey would love to try the m and s one
Yvonne x

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They were in the Gyle branch yesterday morning, Im there every few days (sad I know) so could be just in

Louise x