Underwired bras

Public Archive
1

Hi

I am in my 3rd year of remission from breast cancer for which I had a lumpectomy and several nodes removed followed by 3 weeks radiotherapy.

A new shop has opened in my area offering free bra fittings in association with Breast Cancer care I think, so I nipped in for the fitting.

I was a little taken aback when the woman doing the fitting said 'oh, you won’t be able to wear under wired bras will you?. I just answered 'I’m wearing one now and have been doing most of the time.
I was a bit embarassed to ask her why (mainly because I felt I should know).
What did she mean?. I have never been told this before.
Thanks

2

Hi,
The shop assistant was completely wrong and giving inaccurate information. There was once a query regarding a possible link between breast cancer and underwired bras but it was deemed there was no link. Neither has there been any proven links with parabens, deodorants or creams etc. Don’t worry.
Sam

3

Hi
I haven’t worn an under-wired bra since my mx and recon (last October), but I hope to go back to them in the future. At the moment, my skin is still recovering from rads, but once everything is settled, I’ll certainly be giving it a go.
No idea why the lady would think you wouldn’t be in one, so long after surgery/active treatment.

4

Thanks for that Samlou.
I got the impression she was meaning I shouldn’t wear underwired bras after I had had radiotherapy, but I have never heard of this before either

5

I was told I shouldn’t wear underwire following mastectomy initially. Nearly 3 months on I asked breast care nurse who emailed my plastic surgeeon, I had a tissue expander at same time as mx. He is happy for me to wear underwire bras now. However as skin in still numb, nurse said keep an eye on it as may not realise rubbing. I must admit it did catch me in the middle and have gone back to non wired at the moment. But will return one day I’m sure. Not sure about after rads, not had rads yet, probably September.

Hope this helps.

Gaynor x

6

I had a mastectomy with LD flap and inplant 23 years ago and had been wearing underwired bras for years with no problem. I have now started trying the non underwired ones and am finding them more comfortable now. But I had no problem wearing the underwired bras for all those years and still do if the top I am wearing needs one. I have noticed that in John lewis and M&S that the “trained” assistants always say “You won’t want an underwired bra” so they must all be getting the same information when they have been treained to measure us. Hope this helps. val

7

During surgery recovery and rads you mustn’t wear an underwired bra and this is probably what the fitters are told. Maybe they just assume that that’s forever? (Personally can’t stand wired ones anyway as I’ve never found a comfortable one!)

8

I was told not to wear underwired bras for the first few months after mx and immediate DIEP because as Gaynor says we cannot tell whilst numb whether we are cutting into the flesh or rubbing.

Personally I hate wearing bras at all and I will be asking on Friday at my first checkup how long I need to wear one for - I realise it will be for several months until after the wounds heal and the swelling has gone down but I do hope it is not forever!

9

We are all different people and behave in different ways. You had to do what is right for you. I haven’t worn an underwired bra since my diagnosis in 2005 and personally wouldn’t want to but that’s my choice. My hospital told me this was a good idea. I’m happy not doing so as I feel uncertain about underwired bras. I heard recently of a tribe of women where breast cancer was non-existent. Probable reason was that they didn’t wear bras at all. I also don’t use deodorants containing chemicals and try to avoid parabens. I thought the paraben link to breast cancer had been recognised.