Fashion After Surgery

FashionAfterSurgery

My mother-in-law was a breast cancer survivor.  A plucky war-bride who was a true English Lady. She survived her cancer with radiation and radical surgery in the sixties. Many in my husbands family were not lucky to live as long as her 84 years--as breast cancer seems to run rampant in their genetics.  So the subject is very near, very real to our hearts.  Last year I launched a fashion business.  It is geared, as we say to "real women" in sizing and made in Canada. During our first fashion shoots one of our models started a conversation about her own mother--herself a model and beauty pagent winner of years ago.  The comment was that her mother after breast cancer surgery couldn't find clothing to fit quite right. That has always been in the back of my mind along with our designer.  We would like to do something if possible, but don't truly understand the issues that women in these circumstances face.  If anyone would kindly care to participate in this sort of discussion, we would really like to know.  What do women survivors need, want and look for in the fashion industry?  What hasn't been recognized?  Are there specific fabrics and certain styles which become more issues than others?  We would appreciate hearing about your perspectives.  Thank you very much

FashionAfterSurgery

We have since made a connection with a rep. from chapter of the Breast Cancer Association in ON and they are interested in what we may be able to do.  Are in the process of designing a signature suit dedicated to the cause and will donate profits to same. Any suggestions?

FashionAfterSurgery

Also have contacted people from the CAPS program, and are considering having Charity Fashion Show as well as having scarfs and bandanas made to donate to their group...

sunshine2003

Hi - Great idea.  I do  have trouble with clothing and it is sometimes annoying.

My situation - I'm 52 - quite fit, active and work full-time in a very active job (kindergarten).  I had a modified radical mastectomy 5 years ago.  My frustration with clothing is that I like v-necks - more complementary - but so many are too deep - ie. wrap dresses.  Even some round or square necks appear ok at first glance - but I'm uncomfortable with the gap.  You see, I didn't realize, but breast tissue starts right below your collar bone and downwards - totally flat - in fact my collar bone seems to stick out more because of the removed tissue.   I have a gap above my bra towards the centre of my chest which is important to conceal in a complimentary way.  I don't want to look dowdy and old - I don't want to wear high necklines all the time.  I've decided against reconstructive surgery because for me it would be extremely invasive and disruptive to my life.

So, if you can figure out a line of clothing - that is fashionable - for my age group - complimentary for a mature figure (normal BMI but I'm 52! so there's some lumps and bumps) and conceals that chest area I'd be very happy to look seriously at it.  I would also include leisure clothing - basically what I wear at work) - with built in bra shelves - athletic shirts with nice necklines

  

Binney4

FAS, here's an interesting web site with fashions for single-breasted women:

http://www.chikaradesign.com

And you might check out the ShopWellWithYou web site for ideas of the kinds of problems cancer patients face with clothing. It's an organization that offers clothing/shopping tips to women after all kinds of cancer.

Lymphedema (swelling of the arm or chest) is a common side effect of breast cancer treatment (between 15 - 40% of women treated for bc develop it at some point post-treatment, and then it's for life). There's a woman named Sandra Tullio-Pow at the School of Fashion at Ryerson University in Toronto who's beginning to work on fashion ideas for these women. Perhaps you'd like to link up with her to share ideas. Personally I think she's a little off base because her focus is on trying to camouflage the arm compression garments (impossible anyway) rather than "celebrating" them, but for brainstorming purposes you might find her research useful. Along the same line, LympheDivas (www.lymphedivas.com) offer a line of classy compression garments for arm lymphedema that you might find interesting.

Good luck with your project! If you have a fashion show of post-bc fashions, be sure to include some "models" wearing lymphedema compression garments, as that will help those of us with lymphedema gain some much-needed recognition.

Thanks!

Binney 

Beesie

I think one of the more common issues for women who've a mastectomy with reconstruction is that the two sides aren't always completely even.  Whether you have a single mastectomy or a bilateral, you're not likely to end up with perfect symmetry.  In my case, it's hardly noticeable when I'm nude but it can be more noticeable in clothing.  A sheer or silky material that falls smoothly against my chest seems to highlight the unevenness.  In fact, a plain round neck t-shirt, particularly in a light colour, is probably one of the hardest things for me to wear.  

For me, the types of clothing that work best are v-neck polos (which never fall completely smoothly or open completely evenly on both sides, so any lack of symmetry isn't noticeable),  blouses where I can leave the top few buttons open (no one would notice that one side opens slightly higher than the other), baby doll type tops or any top that gathers above or over the breast (and completely high the lack of symmetry) and tops with asymmetrical patterns or designs (in which case my lack of symmetry simply blends into the design).

KatherineA

Confident Clothing Company is your solution. I started this company because when I was 50 I was diagnosed with stage 3 grade 3 BC and had a bilateral mastectomy. Please check out our website www.confidentclothingcompany.com I needed clothing that was fashionable, feminine and comfortable. I couldn't find any so I designed my own. The Cool Chemo Tops are designed to accommodate drains and can be worn with or with prostheses. Once the drains come out you can remove the drain pockets and continue to use the clothing. The arms are cut to allow for possible swelling from lymphedema. They are also made of wicking, easy care material (hot flashes). The peplum waist draws the eye away from the chest and they button in front for easy dressing.

We are in full production and the clothing can be purchased online. You can contact me at kathy@confidentclothingcompany.com