ABC T-Shirt Bras

mthomp2020

ABC T-Shirt Bras

mthomp2020

I'm just getting started finding a form/bras since my single mast in August.  There are only 2 providers approved by my insurance company within reasonable distance, and it seems that they have very limited stock.  So finding something to work is going to be quite an endeavor!  If I go out of network, insurance will not reimburse me anything at all for a form or bras, so I'm pretty much stuck.  For the bras it's not so much of a problem, but I really don't want to have to plunk down possibly over $300 for a form if insurance won't cover any of it.

Has anyone here tried the new ABC petite T-Shirt bra?  I've tried on the regular T-Shirt bra, but the bra strap is wide, and it hits the edge of my port, plus the wider straps seem to press into the top of my shoulder.  Since I'm a large A/small B, I don't really need that much support.  The thinner straps don't bother me like that at all.  These also run pretty large cup-wise - I needed the AA in the one I tried on!

Also, has anyone tried the new Amoena Leila bra?  I've tried the one that I think is called Nadia?  Its seamless, and has a double layer stretch cup.  It was actually quite comfortable.  The only issue I had was it made my smallish breast look even smaller!  It seemed to push tissue from the side foward.  Many of these mastectomy bras seem to compress your remaining breast.  I certainly don't need that!  The seamless ones don't give you much lift either, which at 54 I'm in need of a bit of that.  The foam lined bras do give you that lift without having seams.

I was wearing stretch foam-lined contoured bras prior to my mastectomy, and loved how they helped if you didn't quite fill out a B cup, and they give you a really nice smooth, rounded profile.  A cups are usually too small for me.  Since I still have one breast, I definitely have a real fitting problem here!  So far, there aren't too many mastectomy bras out there with the formed seamless cups.  Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Binney4

Hi, m!

If you have a bra from before surgery that you're comfortable with, you can always sew a prosthesis pocket into it yourself (or have a seamstress or a handy friend do it for you). Even with limited stock at your local boutiques you should be able to find a prosthesis you like, or have them order others for you to try.

Best wishes to you for finding a comfortable fit!

Binney 

mthomp2020

Well, I do have comfortable bras from before surgery, but they're all underwire, and the way they're cut the form would stick out of the top.  I had axillary node dissection, so it's probably not a good idea to wear underwires anyway.  There are a couple of non-mastectomy bras that I'm going to try after I get a form and see if they work. 

Hopefully the manufacturers start updating mastectomy bras a bit.  Just because you're in your 50's doesn't mean that you don't like to look nice in knits!

Riverwoman

There are some pretty ones here..

http://www.undiebox.com/index.php?c=128&d=2028&w=24&r=Y

You can take the underwires out.. just snip the outter edge of the seam that hold it in.. and push it out.

That has worked for others.. I used to do that before surgery. I couldn't seem to find a bra I liked, without wires.. so I just snip snipped.

caaclark

I have not tried the Leila or the ABC petite t-shirt bras (did not even know that they had petite sizes so I will have to check those out soon!) but I have the Amoena Tina.  The Tina is really comfortable and so cute!!  In fact, it is one of my favorites but it only comes in brown.  I am a 32/34 A in mast. bras.  Before my mast. I always wore a 34B but either the mast. bras run big or I was kidding myself all those years thinking I was a B cup.   My other absolute favorites are the Anita mastectomy bras.  I cannot say enough good things about Anita.

SusaninSF

If you are having a hard time find a good mast bra you might also consider getting a contact prosthesis. I use the Amoena Tria Contact Lite. It sticks to your chest so you can wear it regular bras without a pocket. Check out www.breastfree.org for more about forms and bras that have worked for many of us on this board.

OLBinNJ

I'm a 34 A/B, and I love the ABC petite T-shirt bra in a 34A.  If cost is an issue, try the Amoena 126 leisure form.   It's foam and inexpensive, and you can either pin it into a regular bra, or use it in the ABC bra.    Since I'm small, the lightness isn't an issue.  I have the Amoena contact light form which I like, but I think I'm a little too flat for it to really stick well.  Also, after a few months, the stickiness isn't as strong so I end up using double sided fashion tape to help hold it on.  It's easier to just use the mast bra most of the time.  I also take the underwires out of bras.  Wearing underwires can lead to lymphedema, something you really don't want.

Anonymous

This is the best place I have found for bras

PostMastectomyBras.net

Beesie

Please be aware of "docrob".  He was on the board a few days ago as "docbob".  Who knows what name he'll use next. 

Based on the advice that he offered on the weekend, it's pretty clear that he's not a doctor.  Best I can figure out is that he's being paid to promote certain websites.  The website might be fine, but just be cautious.