Bras post lumpectomy

[SimoneePim]

Breast Cancer Care nurse recommended M&S Post Op bras, and I found the non wired 'padded type' that she suggested very comfortable after WLE and node clearance in May, and am still wearing them now - only bought 2, a black one and a beige one for respective tops I might be wearing, and with this weather, easy to rinse and dry quickly.  I feel I am getting value for money out of them  -  although I would say that it took a lot of trying on to find the right size, so no other shopping and some time to spend in M&S changing room!! - didn't ask for assistance, just went with what was turning out to be the most comfy, which has been a 34D, lol, a size I have never worn in my life before, but these bras continue to give comfy support through current R/T.  All the best.

[Quaggie]

I'm waiting for my WLE at the beginning of August and have planned to go shopping for bras on Friday, but the thought of it is just making me so anxious as I'm not sure what to buy/look for.  There are so many different pieces of advice.  

I was originally going to avoid sports bras as a lot of them are pulled over the head and my surgery notes suggest avoiding this for a while.  Also I find bras with deep bands on the bottom edge quite uncomfortable especially when I sleep.  And how do I judge what size I need??

As if having BC wasn't stressful enough! 

I'll post back here if I have any great insights while shopping on Friday! 

[pecan]

I see this is your first post, so I am offering you a warm welcome.

With regard to the op site being painful, it's surprising how little feeling there actually is in the breast, so the cut is sore, but not half as sore as you expect it to be.

[pecan]

I suppose it depends on how big your boobs are.  I bought the soft vest type, and then found it was far too painful to try to pull it on over my head, so I ended up using the existing bras, the ones that were more seamless and less lacy than the others.  It also depends on where they cut you, as I found that in certain positions the cup would lie across the scar, which was also a bit painful.

Having said all that, most people recover far more quickly than I did (diabetic), so they aren't needed for too long.  It's when you get to the radiation stage that you rethink bras again.

Cathy

[Bugs]

Hello all, new to the breast cancer group. Going for lumpectomy next Friday. Have read all sorts about bras after the op, good support, sports, soft, I still have no clue. I have all of them ready to go but I presume a soft bra would be the best as the op site will be sore. Has anyone any advice?

[mustardandgrey]

Hi, Armanas!
The swimming costume sounds like a great idea! i'm having the op on Monday and think I should probably have bought a larger size bra. Hope you're healing well.

[mustardandgrey]

I'm so glad I found this thread!

I'm booked in for a WLE and SNB on Monday, and I have really struggled with bras.

At first I was told ''front opening'' but failed to find any on the high street, except a scratchy nylon lace one in Debenhams.

Then the lovely breast care nurse told me back opening would be fine, preferably cotton.

I ended up buying one lycra anti jiggle bra, which I've now discovered is very fiddly (two layers of bra fastenings at the back), two M&S soft cotton crop top bras which are really comfortable and two soft M&S ordinary bras.

I think my favourites are the cotton crop top ones.

But now I'm wondering if I should have bought a larger band size for the first few days after the op?

I never expected to spend so much time hunting for post surgery bras, or for it to be so frustrating!

[Madwoman]

Hi

I understand where you are coming from. I eventually bought 'a magic bra' from an advert I saw in a magazine from a firm called Chums. They were front fastening and they are sold in dress sizes not cup sizes. When two breasts are not quite the same size they seem to somehow still fit you. They also give you the support you need. Also they were not expensive - £12 each. I am now 10 weeks post WLE and almost finished 20 sessions of radiotherapy and aithough my breast is red and tender from the treatment the bras are lovely and soft and do not rub.

Wishing you well

[Amanas]

I have just had a lumpectomy on Wednesday. I bought a non-wired bra and had sports bras thinking they would do the job. They did not. I was very uncomfortable and the bras made the pain worse. I was rooting around in my wardrobe for anything at all that would do and came across an old swimming costume! It was a size 18 from before I lost my weight to a size 12 and it only had a form of a lining like a crop top inside it. Just put it on and oh joy! So far it is wonderful in comparison. Lightly supportive but no tight straps across the shoulder and back. I now feel that I might get some decent sleep. It’s also easy to put on as you do so from the bottom up! I assume there are a lot of swimming costumes like this that might be good, at least for sleeping anyway.

[dizzcat]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I'm really useless at tech stuff, especially as my brain seems to be mush at the moment so I've only just managed to find my thread! It does seem to be an issue for ladies with bigger breasts, that we seem to not really be caterered for. I have spoken to Macom and they suggested the Signature bra as it moulds to fit. As it's by band size they did suggest ordering my usual band size and the next one up which will give me better cup coverage. I'll let you know how I get on. I have some from M&S but have had to go up a band size to fit the cup size which is too big really before I've even started to wear them, but the post surgery Ines are lovely and soft. I've just got a pack of 2 Slimma tops from Simply Be and had to go for a size 20/22. They've got just enough coverage for cup size and will need to take up the straps and take them in a bit,, but they'll work to sleep in! I hope this helps any other ladies and thank you all for your help 😊

[Chaffinch17]

Glad that I found this, I was about to ask the same question myself. I only had a day between being told that I needed surgery and having it. The leaflet that I had said get a front opening sports bra, no advice from breast nurse at all which surprised me. I hadn't even thought about it. I headed out to M&S on Thursday and they weren't much help either just found the sports bras and took me to the changing room. I expected the lady to come back to see how I was getting on and offer other sizes, but she didn't so I got dressed and went back out and just grabbed a few other sizes myself to try on. I am normally a 36D ended up buying a 36DD for first few days and my normal size for later. Not bad for support and comfort but as you say it is my underarm wound that hurts the most at the moment, only had the op yesterday. Sore around my ribs but I don't know if that is the bra or where I have been tugged about during surgery. Don't think that I could get anything over my head at the moment so I will persist as I am. I really feel for you larger ladies, you don't realise how much your boobs weigh and move until they hurt!

[SueW]

Should have said I am 42dd and got the extra large x

[SueW]

Just to say wearing my Asda one now and actually really comfortable xxx

[Mygel2]

Hello everyone.  Great thread, very useful.  I was very fortunate to receive a post op bra for free.  The hospital were I live gives out Amoena bras to all ladies who have breast surgery, they are paid for by a charity .... ABC (After Breast Cancer).  I don't know if they supply bras all over the country or if it is a local charity only.  I did also get a zip front sports bra from M&S.  The sports bra has a good amount of compression and is slightly more comfortable on the boob than the post op bra, but the post op bra is more comfortable on the underarm wound.  I'm going to order one of the Macom bras to see how that feels.  If anyone else decides to order a Macom bra I found a discount code 'Mybreast' that knocks a few quid off.

All the best

Michele xxx

[Anniej]

Dizcat, have you tried a nursing bra? I'm a G cup and found crop tops didn't do that size . My M&S lady sorted me out with nursing bras as they open at the front. I only bought 2. Once I got some movement back I bought Asda soft  pull on ones for 1/4 of the price. Not too bad a fit and with removable inserts, so a bit of protection over my scar. I was able to sleep in the Asda ones no prob. Nice scoop neck so nurses able to get in to check boob without removing bra. Another plus is that there are no metal fastenings so when I went for X Ray's and scans I didn't have to remove them. 

[Xena75]

And front fastening is far easier for the first week.
Also, as its a bit ouchy shifting you boobs about once the bra is on, I found leaning forward into the bra when doing it up most comfortable, as boobs were lifted slightly when you stand up right rather than being squashed to your torso!

[Xena75]

Hi dizzcat. Ugh- this is one of the most annoying things isnt it?!!

I'm 30H and I looked everywhere. I can't believe bravissimo don't have any front fastening / post surgery bras either?!!

If I could buy again I would but a MACOM. These are bought by band size. The cup size stretches to fit.

I ended up having to buy 34G from M&S as I ran out of time as left my search too late (didn't relied it would be like searching for a needle in a hay stack!)  These are just irritating me no end!

The best of the bras i  bought is a sports top style, this holds them nice and still, but for some reason the band is borderline too tight (so something wrong there) and although cup looks ok, i can tell its too small as its borrowing from the straps and hurting my shoulders.

The other is too big in the band, moving all over the place,and again borrowing from the straps and hurting shoulders.

If I need any more surgery I'm investing in a couple of Macom!!!

Also you will want at least two, one on,one in wash. I'm washing mine every day/every other day, as I'm paranoid about being stinky because you can't fully wash your armpit due to the dressings and I was told to avoid deodorant too!!! 😬

[SueW]

I have brought some post surgery bras from Asda website in perpetration for my op x no bones very soft and front fastening not sure if they would be any good for you but was 2 for £15 can't say how they are post surgery yet as my op not until Tuesday x

[ladybowler]

dizzcat

Have you tried M&S I know they do H cup soft non wired bras?

[pecan]

Somebody on another thread recommended this site for bras.  I bookmarked it for later, after I have had mine.  I have a similar size problem, except that it's 42G instead of 34.
https://www.macom-medical.com/post-surgery/bras

[dizzcat]

Hi. I am newly diagnosed with breast cancer. I had a lumpectomy about 3 weeks ago and have to go in next week for more tissue to be taken out. I am really struggling with bras. All my old ones just feel really uncomfortable. I am still waiting to see what my treatment will involve but know I will need a nice soft bra and soft but supportive bra. The problem is I am a 34 GG/H and I can only find suitable bras up to a G cup. All the pullover crop top type ones to sleep in just aren't big enough for my cup size. I've looked in town where I live and online. Any one have any help or advice please? Thank you.