My RO didn't say anything about bras?

CAMommy

I had my orientation yesterday and they didn't mention bras at all. I read through what they gave me and still no mention of bras.

I see so many say no underwire on here. I've got big girls, I almost always wear underwire. Is there a reason why not?

I will ask the RT next week, if I can remember. My brain isn't so good anymore at remembering things since getting this dx.

Has anyone done radiation treatmentstill wearing underwire?

tazbear89

Not sure about during rads, but both my PS and BS said front hook seamless sports bras, but I had bmx with immediate recon and maybe that is the difference. Maybe call Monday and ask. Good luck to you.

labelle

I think most people simply find underwire bras to be uncomfortable during radiation. I found wearing any bra at all to be painful by the time I was done with RADS and only wore one to work. At home it was au natural.

I think I bought 2 new bras a week for awhile there hoping to find one that worked for me, but the first to go were my underwires. Unstructured styles w breathable cotton and jersey materials worked the best for me. I don't think there is any medical reason not to wear underwires, but I don't think you will want to.

luvmygoats

CAMommy - I found underwire bras poked right into area of SNB. Still haven't tried them. I wanted less jiggly/bouncy all around so I wore lovely - not - sports bras from WallyWorld. I was wearing scrubs mostly and it was hot sticky so whatever made me comfy. I felt much better bound down. I had one nicer bra for church wear. Has the RO given you any cream suggestions for rads? Surely with your LX being so fresh he has some specifics and with Canadian protocol too. I will say that I wore cheap camis over my bra and even the Aquaphor I had to use washed out of everything. I put my bras in the lingerie washer bags with towels and they washed beautifully. Oh yes as labelle says "free boobing" when you can. I had some irritation under boob but most of mine was nip area.

You'll want easy on/easy off stuff since most of your time will be dressing/undressing. Take a bag with your cream in it and put it on there. I had 7:30 rads and went on to work. I took a fanny pack with my cell, keys, creams into rads. We had tiny lockers for our stuff and the fanny pack or something similar helped to not lose stuff among bra/cami/scrub top.

Keys-Plez

I start my radiation on Aug 17. Is it better to have sports bra that keeps you snug ir a cheap loose one that barely qualifies being called a bra. I've got C/D sized girls. So there's a lot of bounce there.

I'm new to this website, so forgive me if I break a few rules.

cookiegal

OK not to freak you out but I couldn't put on anything but a loose tank top at the very end of rads. I was stuck at home. Most of the time I wore sports bras or I had some post surgical bras that insurance covered, or I tried the ACS radiation cami.

Here is my advice, honestly kmart/walmart have the best and cheapest stuff.

Buy a bunch of cheap sports bras in a mix of sizes. Some days you will double up and wear two, some days you will want lose, some days you will just need a change.

Look for stuff that is not racer back. You can have some racer backs, but if you are large breasted they will start dragging on your neck.

Also they will get goopy with aquaphor too.

I literally bought the same fruit of the loom three pack in three different sizes. Some days I would wear a larger over a smaller or what ever. Kmart also had some decent sports bras that resembled bathing suit tops. (I wore one of them swimming for years actually)

Kohls has a very lightweight bra that my BCO friend in England LOVED but I was never really comfy in.

Just buy the cheapest stuff and have options. if you blister you may need the really lose sized up.

I am large too and I swelled like crazy during rads.

OK hope I didn't freak you out completely!!!!! Good luck!!

cookiegal

Oh for what it is worth, I finished rads in february and didn't really wear an underwire until May.

luvmygoats

Keys-Plez - No rules here other than play nice which you are certainly. All questions welcome. Same with me C/D and I really did not like to bounce. I'm not a bra liker anyway, 1st thing I take off when I get home. I bought front close sports bras from WalMart I think about $6.00 but that was 3 years ago. Your MO should (though not always I've read on here) have suggestions for creams to use. Aquaphor over the counter is common. There are others to use that can be ordered online OTC. My RO wanted Aquaphor and prescription X-Clair cream.

Howdy Cookie.

CAMommy

they gave me a ton of aquaphor samples. They also recommended a cream they sell, meda- something. Or said I could use aloe Vera. Said aloe Vera from my own plant was best. We so have a huge aloe Vera plant.

I have all cotton front closing sleeping bras I bought for the lumpectomy. They are comfy but off little in support. I also bought some camis to wear at home or under clothes if bras irritate me too much. Sad to say but after 3 kids and breastfeeding my big girls droop. I'm worried more about irritation under them. Will going brakes cause irritation on the underside?

RO did say with Canadian method there is less irritation to the skin than with traditional, but I run a high risk or breast shrinkage/hardening.

Keys-Plez

Ok. So I'm thinking cheap sports bras of multiple sizes. I have some hook in the front that I bought after my lumpectomy. They are very comfortable, but snug and kinda keep everything in place. I also bought some of those over the head sports bras that you buy in a 3 pack. Those were very comfy for sleeping after a week or so after surgery. So am I ready to go? I work full time so I have to dress business casual every day. No floppy tatas.

luvmygoats

CAMommy - Miaderm cream? Google radiation therapy creams and you'll see all kinds OTC. Usually the drier/freer at home you can be the better. Cream/hydrate/eat protein for cell renewal. I also used DH's old cotton hankies underneath to lift/dry a bit. One hint though I never tried it was to turn stuff inside out, camis and even pull on bras so the seams were outside not rubbing.

Keys - sounds like you are ready to go. Might look for a cami or 2 to go over bra - should be on sale this time of year. Yup same for me, flattened under my scrubs but not floppy tatas.

I did use after I finished therapy some lovely Calendula cream - California Baby. DH recently absconded with my jar to this bathroom.

CAMommy

miaderm! That's it! But I think I'll stick with aloe at least to start. And aquaphor.

cookiegal

OK for some reason MSK hates on Calendula, but after I was done they did prescribe me silverdine cream which did help. It also worked when a procedure site on my ankle was very slow to heal.

hodgy

Hi CAmommy! I learned very quickly that an under wire bra will cause A LOT of discomfort as you get further into radiation. The first couple of weeks the radiation is a breeze. Then, your breast becomes very sensitive. Try a sports bra! I'm a size 34 DD.... and I can tell you that a sports bra was very comfortable. I wore it to bed also as I got further into treatment. I also kept wearing it for a couple of weeks after treatment until the sensitivity ended. Don't forget to use the Aquaphor... it helps, too! Best wishes to you!