Masectomy Bra Sizes

[Helenbythesea]

I like Nicola Jane t shirt bra, it allowed for swelling and slightly different sizes.

[BerkshireLass]

Thanks lolly73

[lolly73]

Nicola Jane do a bra called Rhianna that comes in 32g xx

[Seabreeze]

Hi,
I had a lumpectomy and wanted something soft post op - while it does up at the back (so may not be ideal for immediately after a mastectomy?) I found the bravado seamless silk maternity bra great (available at loads of stores including John Lewis). They only come in small, medium, large and ex large and are supposed to be for up to D-ish cup but if you size up a bit, great for post surgery and radio. I wouldn't run in it but not bad for the time when softness is the priority! The bras have a small foam disc removable via a pocket (which also provides a degree of softening for anyone having lumpectomy near nipple). The slots to the pocket aren't huge and having had a lumpectomy I didn't try this, but you could probably push some of the soft fibres in a soft pocket into the bra or even into a soft stocking into the cup? While soft, the bra is not made of cotton, hence I used some cut up old 100% t- shirt material on the skin side. It all healed really well (even with my sensitive skin through radio). The radiotherapists said it was perfect and that I couldn't do any more.
Re longer term:
Double check Nicola Jane since they do 2 or 3 G/F styles in size 36. Ok not the most wonderful but...
Check Debenhams online - they have a spot fabric bra in larger cup sizes which is quite soft and actually looks more like a never had an op bra! I'm still hunting but let's share if we find other stockists. ASDA does a couple of larger cup bras and one which has quite good post op ratings, M and s about 1 or 2 but both look a bit frumpy. Bizarrely amoena (tired, spellings slipping!) don't do any large cup mastectomy/post op bras at all - shame on them!
Hope that helps and all the best with the op.
I'm still hoping to track down some more good post op bras since ideally want one for a shell prosthesis.
Anyone else discovered some good larger cup bras?

[Jo_BCC]

Hi ladies,

Here's the link to BCC's Vita magazine, hope you enjoy reading.

http://www2.breastcancercare.org.uk/publications/health-wellbeing/vita-magazine-bcc125

Take care,

Jo, Moderator

[booksandwine]

Hi i read in the vita magazine the bcc publication that George at asda now do post surgery bras v good price and some good reviews seeming to come out. You could look there or I have worn crop top style but you need to lift arms for these.

Hope helps

[BerkshireLass]

Helenbythesea - looked at the Bra Clinic on line (bit far north for me) but as with all the others just nothing for post-op in my size.

geeC - thanks for advice but unless I can get a bra that is the right size nothing will be comfortable.

[Helenbythesea]

I ende up using a suppository!

[rosie14]

Hi Berkshire lass!
I had DH mx in July and sourced mastectomy bras from the Nicola Jane Website. She also,has a tool on the website for,working out what size bra you will need. As I was having double I got a smaller size instead of,38dd I got 36 d. In addition to the bra I ordered the softy inserts for the pockets . These are great as you can add the amount of stuffing you require and I have had to reduce it as I have had the tissue expanders inflated!

[geeG]

The Glasgow unit recommend no under wiring/ usual size (worth checking your cup size as mine had changed since I last bought a bra)/ back fastening and using bra expanders - if you get several you can use several if necessary to start with, reducing as you progress.
I have found the 3 regular bras that I bought quite uncomfortable at times - have been told by some that nursing bras are good, other folk say the post-surgical/post-mastectomy bras are good.
After four and a half weeks of 24-hr bra wearing I am longing to sleep without it! I had a R Mastectomy with DIEP reconstruction on 3/9/14 and they have done a great job - looks fab - and relieved not to have to cope with the psychological impact of a missing boob. These past few weeks have been quite demanding - but well worth doing and certainly "do-able". (Worst for me has been constipation - having extremely regular bowels all my life this has been a shock - get advice from nurses ASAP - and don't be fobbed off with 'drink more fluid' or 'walk around more' - the anaesthetic and painkillers are the cause. Lactulose should help ensure softness and senna if necessary to assist movement have been the advice I have gleaned since…also regular prune juice or syrup of figs may be useful …). With all best wishes x

[Helenbythesea]

Contact the bra clinic Susan COOPER, excellent afvice

[Faith50]

I would say definitely go up a band size for the swelling and you may be able to go down a cup size with the larger band which might help source a bra. Could you try some on in advance? Good luck and hope all goes as well as possible for you.

[lolly73]

.

[BerkshireLass]

Well I guess 34G might be easier to source than 32 🙂

[lolly73]

up a band size x

[BerkshireLass]

Thanks for replies. I hadn't even realised that post-surgery bras were different to masectomy bras! I'd just thought of them both as post surgery so hadn't appreciated the difference. So will focus on post surgery for now.

Mysticalmoo - have tried lots of googling, but getting nowhere. Had found Nicola Jane and Amoena but zilch in my size.

Mel66 - never had a sports bra, I did try a few years back, but could never find one to fit - things may have moved on now of course

Lolly73 - did you go up a cup size or band size or both?

[lolly73]

I am 10 weeks post surgery and still can only wear post surgery bras. Standard mastectomy bras tend to be thinner sides and straps and cut in my swelling in the wrong places. Def need front fastening and comfort ones to begin with and I was told they need to be very tight to prevent too much swelling. Good luck xx

PS I had to wear a bigger bra size than normal at first due to swelling

[Mel66]

I bought a couple of post surgery bras before my MX and reconstruction. They're very similat to sports bras, front fastening with hooks and eyes. I know a lot of ladies just buy regular sports bras.

I'm now 12 weeks post op and although I have bought some non-wired mastectomy bras, they're still not really very comfortable for more than a few hours and I tend to live in my post surgical ones unless I'm going out and wearing something that requires something a little less industrial looking underneath.

And yes... mastectomy bras are the same sizing as a regular bra .:)

[Mysticalmoo]

Hi.

I was given a bra to wear by the hospital so check with your breast care nurse.

Also there are companies that specialise in post mastectomy bras. If you search online for "mastectomy bras" you will find "Nicola Jane" and "Amoena" and there are others...

But best first point of call would be the breast nurse ... They even gave me catalogues.

Good luck with your chemo x

[BerkshireLass]

I am currently undergoing chemo and will be having the operation around Christmas (hopefully just after rather than just before if I get my way).  In the meantime, it occurred to me that maybe it would be good to have at least one post-operative bra available in advance and this is where I have run into a snag.

I am normally a 32G (not an easy size at the best of times).  Looking on-line masectomy bras just don't come in this size.  I am right to assume that a masectomy bra would be  the same size as a pre-op bra?

Has anyone else had problems with bra sizes?

(PS absolutely zilch at M&S (they never fit anyway) and figleaves)