The Right Fit: Clothing After Breast Cancer Surgery

Even if you’ve only had a minor lumpectomy, your chest keeps changing after breast cancer surgery, and this makes bra selection difficult.

Have you ever carried a spare bra in your purse because you know any bra you choose to wear could become extremely uncomfortable at any point during the day? I have. Even now, nearly a year after I had a lumpectomy for very early stage (1A) breast cancer, I still sometimes throw a spare bra in my purse if I’m going to be out all day. I haven’t needed to make a midday bra change in a few months, but the impulse remains.

Women who’ve had mastectomies and reconstruction have had major surgery and can face true hurdles in finding the right undergarments for their changing bodies. If you’re among this group of women, please talk to your breast cancer navigator or your cancer center’s social worker. Many programs are available to help you obtain the specialized bras you need — often at no cost.

I, however, had only a lumpectomy that was small enough I didn’t need any reconstruction — not even a breast lift on the other side to make my chest look even. Surgery was followed by radiation. In the first weeks after the lumpectomy, I was instructed to wear a compression bra. After that, I was told not to wear anything with an underwire for the foreseeable future. One reason is breast surgery can cause some numbness, so a wire cutting into or irritating the edges of new scars may not be felt, and this could cause an infection.

Comfort, style and function

Comfort matters, yes, but I also don’t want my bra to show under my clothing, push bumps of fat out in unattractive places, or make my breasts look saggy. And, if I’m being honest, I want this foundational undergarment to be a net plus to my overall appearance. I want to feel like I look good, and self-esteem is an important component of cancer survivorship.

In the months since my surgery, I have purchased at least a dozen different bras. I’ve returned lots of them, kept some and given a few away after discovering they were comfortable for only an hour or two. Especially during the first six months post-surgery, I just never knew what was going to be comfortable, and some days, I changed my bra as many as three times (so a four-bra day).

No longer an underwire girl

Pre-surgery, I had been an underwire girl. Post-surgery and post-radiation, since underwires were not allowed, I had to buy a whole new bra wardrobe. It was a changing wardrobe, too, since bras that were comfortable shortly after my surgery became uncomfortable during radiation or didn’t provide enough support when my swelling went down.

I asked other survivors which bras they liked. Most said nothing was comfortable. One survivor, who actually runs a bra store, asked me to tell her what I found because she still had trouble with bras. A few women directed me to brands they’d liked or to an online boutique that had been helpful. There was a lot of trial and error. Mostly error.

The nine-bra, five-day vacation

This brings me to the five-day trip on which I brought nine bras.

It had been nearly six months since my lumpectomy and four months since I’d finished radiation. My surgery wounds were fully healed, and my skin only retained a little bit of post-radiation sensitivity. I still had some pain in the area where 14 sentinel lymph nodes had been removed under my arm. Day to day, I never knew which bra would be comfortable or whether a bra that was comfortable when I put it on in the morning would be torturously painful within hours or halfway through the day (hence the backup bra).

So, as I packed for a vacation that would include attending a wedding and a cocktail party, my pile of bras was large. On the airplane, I’d wear a front-zip, high-compression bra that would pair nicely with my compression arm sleeve to reduce the risk of lymphedema. Its high compression meant I’d want to change shortly after landing, though.

I had a bra for walking around the city and doing daily yoga; I packed bras that looked great under clothes but would sometimes begin digging into my skin within hours. I added a soft bralette to sleep in because too much movement could still cause discomfort. Then, a minimalist, triangle-cupped bra that left my axial lymph node area completely bare and could be used on days when that area was irritated. I also grabbed a lovely lace bralette that usually was too scratchy for my skin but sometimes surprised me by being the only comfortable bra in my arsenal. Finally, into my purse, I shoved a bralette that was always comfortable for a full day but very unflattering.

I wore six of the nine bras during my five-day trip.

The search continues

I haven’t really found a “Goldilocks” bra, although I’ve found a few that are good on most days. I still keep trying new ones. My surgeon recently gave me the OK to try underwire bras again. My shape and sensitivities have changed, though; even with my small lumpectomy, so many of my “pre-surgery” bras just don’t work anymore. The hunt, unfortunately, continues.

P.S. Try lots of bras to find ones that work for you. Also, your size may have changed or may still change, even with minor surgery, so be prepared to experiment with sizing.

7 Tips for After Breast Surgery Underclothing

• Speak to your cancer center’s breast cancer navigator or social worker for bra programs.
• Select a compression bra with a front zip for convenience and for airplane travel to reduce the risk of developing lymphedema.
• Carry a spare bra in your purse for days with the potential for discomfort. In Florida, there are additional considerations regarding heat and humidity.
• Breast surgery can cause swelling, so don’t be afraid to try many bras, even those outside of your normal size, to find the one that works for your changing shape.
• Select a soft bralette to sleep in to reduce pain from excess movement.
• Consider the shape and texture of a bra to avoid sensitive areas like lymph node surgery or radiation sensitivity.
• Ask other survivors what works for them.

Tags: bra fit, life after cancer, patient story, Rochelle Broder Singer, Survivor experience, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center