Cotton bra sources? Or suggestions?

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I remember having no luck finding a cotton bra to wear during my stint of radiation in 2005. I finally found a microfiber...sling/thing that wasn't exactly a bra, and didn't offer proper support (though it was kind to my skin!). I don't have it anymore, and I'm starting the quest again for a nice cotton bra, as I'll be having rads starting 6 weeks or so. Cotton bras don't seem to come in the larger sizes.

Any advice? Apparently I can live with microfiber, too, but is cotton better? How about something wacky like bamboo? I know bamboo yarn is soft. :)

Comments

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2009

    What about a cotton Sports Bra - I had got mine at Walmart.

  • bethaib
    bethaib Member Posts: 125
    edited April 2009

    I had the same problem finding a non wire bra. I was not able to find an inexpensive bra at Walmart or Target in my size. I did find a zip up the front sport bra at JC Penny, but found after wearing it all day, and over a couple days, that it dug into the side of my breast/underarm area. I ended up returning the ones I didn't wear. But they might work better for someone else.

    I did find some cotton bras at jockey.com, bought soft cup cotton style 1340, that is very comfortable and gives some support as well. Jockey has lots of sizes and many different kinds of cotton bras.

    I also found at Macy's, a Maidenform product called Flexees. It is a light support camisole. There is space built into the camisole that the breasts fit into (unlike a normal camisole that just lays over the chest). It offers some support, and is extremely comfortable. I've worn these quite a bit.  These come in S to a 4XL.

    Hope this helps.

  • idaho
    idaho Member Posts: 1,187
    edited April 2009

    If nothing else try this trick:  Cut circles out of an old cotton T-shirt and sew them inside your bra.  I did this during my radiation and it was wonderful!  Tami

  • Sher
    Sher Member Posts: 540
    edited April 2009

    I always wore the Bali Cotton Double Support Bra (both before and after rads) - purchased at JCPenney's.  It's a soft t-shirt type material.  Very comfortable and I'm someone who has never been overly fond of ANY bra!  

  • Eldub
    Eldub Member Posts: 276
    edited April 2009

    I was also going to suggest a shelf bra cami.  I got mine at Costco (packages of 2 for about $12).  90+% cotton and the rest Lycra.  Very soft.  Not as supportive as a bra, but really good at not rubbing, and a lot better support than nothing (or a "regular" cami).  My girls are Ds and it's worked out well with the cami's - I'm still using them, almost a week out from finishing rads.  I ended up happiest with a size larger than I usually wear, so it was a little loose around and didn't rub under my breasts.

    Best of luck to you!

  • Stickerlady
    Stickerlady Member Posts: 31
    edited April 2009

     I found the perfect Cotton Bra on-line and it is a company that sells Organic Clothing and it is called Blue Canoe. the Website is www.bluecanoe.com. there is a Bra that is called the Jill's Bra and they made it with us in mind. I LOVE these Bra's and will never wear any other Bra. I am alergic to everything and can only wear cotton so this is perfect. They have other styles too and I will try one but right now I like the Jill's Bra. During my Lumpectomy I was so sore for so long that I went without a bra because the sports bra's from wallmart kinda just lay on your breast and this won actually has cups. I LOVE them. Hope You will too. Blue Canoue. Both my Dr's recommend them now. I told them about the Bra.

  • Tabbygirl521
    Tabbygirl521 Member Posts: 193
    edited April 2009

    Wow, thank you everyone! What a bunch of great ideas to pursue. And even a fall-back - lining my existing bras. That never even occurred to me, but sounds like a fine solution.

     Sher, I'm not a bra fan, either. In my slimmer days I often went without, but... yeah. So I'm very interested in checking out the Bali bra even for general use. And Eldub and Bethaib, it's nice to know there is a shelf-bra cami for bigger sizes. I love those, and I gave them up several pounds and sizes ago! Must check these out, too

    Stickerlady, if you don't mind my asking, are you a fuller figure? Jill's Bra sounds great, and I'm wondering how it feels support-wise if so.

     Thank you all - I've gone from frustration to almost excitement here - my surgery will be May 4 and I know I will feel so much better to have this taken care of. Thank you all for so many great ideas to check out.

    Angela 

  • ghety
    ghety Member Posts: 478
    edited April 2009

    Walmart is a great place for inexpensive cotton bras, I found a great front hook bra there for $7. Kohls has a great selection of sizes but a teeny bit pricier.

  • LeggyJ
    LeggyJ Member Posts: 726
    edited April 2009

    Thank you, for the Blue Canoe website!!!  I've tried four bra's since my lumpectomy(+1 margin cleanup, chemo./rads.) and they all hurt, including Bali...

  • Eldub
    Eldub Member Posts: 276
    edited April 2009

    Apologies in advance, if this is not okay to post here.

    If anyone is interested, I have one of those Bali Cotton Double Support Bras in a size I cannot use (38C).  It's basically new - bought just before I got pg and suddenly needed a different size, and I've never been back to 38C.  Pm me if interested.  (I'd especially love to trade for a 34D of the same bra, but I realize the odds of that are pretty remote!)

    Linda

  • susangg
    susangg Member Posts: 2
    edited May 2009

    Natori bras (I think that is the right spelling) are WONDERFUL.. but expensive.  But I LOVE them!!

    good luck

  • LeggyJ
    LeggyJ Member Posts: 726
    edited May 2009

    I got my Jill's bra, in the mail yesterday.  LOVE IT!!!!!  I've been wearing it for last few hours, pain free, and tug free.  Thank you, so much for the tip, Stickerlady!

  • ggb
    ggb Member Posts: 5
    edited May 2009

    Bali makes a sports  bra....they are 98 percent cotton...they are wonderful.  I used sports bras for my radiation, and after my lumpectomy...wow, what a difference between my regular bras.  I'm still wearing them.

    good luck!

  • Missy1960
    Missy1960 Member Posts: 26
    edited May 2009

    Hi, I needed a larger size bra also.  I finally found a couple of options at Junonia.com,  I went with the sleep bra which in fact offers enough support to wear during the day.  I also use them at night because it is more comfortable for me to have support at night.  Good luck.

  • BrittaA
    BrittaA Member Posts: 56
    edited May 2009
    It's so hard to find comfortable clothing, particularly bras while going through treatments/surgery. I did a post on some great resources for comfortable bras and clothing (http://blog.cincovidas.com/fashion-after-breast-cancer-dressing-your-post-op-physique). Check out the Wear Ease line of bras (http://wearease.com/) designed for women going through breast cancer treatments and surgery. Love, strength and survival, Britta
  • moogie
    moogie Member Posts: 499
    edited May 2009

    SOMA is a store that carries lingerie. They have a bra called the spa bra. It is the only one that is comfortable for me to wear, and the saleslady told me that they are always getting BC girls in the store looking for it. I bought one a size bigger, so it did not aggravate my LE. It is buttery soft, supports well, and comes in several colors.

    Moogie 

  • desdemona222b
    desdemona222b Member Posts: 776
    edited May 2009

    I went through rads in 2002, and I found some great cotton athletic bras that worked well for me.  You need to get them in the biggest size you possibly can so they don't bind you at all underneath your breasts.  I also found a light-weight stretchy athletic tank that worked well in lieu of a bra. 

  • desdemona222b
    desdemona222b Member Posts: 776
    edited May 2009

    Here you go - I live in these.  The longer they are, the better.  I got all of mine at Target, but Jockey stuff is super comfortable.  Just make sure you get them really big - they'll still do the job because they're made to fit tightly.

     http://www.jockey.com/en-US/Catalog/Silhouette.aspx?CategoryName=Women&DepartmentName=Activewear&SilhouetteName=sport bras&List=127&Ma=126&cm_re=v1-_-content-_-shop

  • LeggyJ
    LeggyJ Member Posts: 726
    edited May 2009

    Hey desdemona, Wolfie likes your schnauzer!  My dog needed a haircut, though.

  • laurieman
    laurieman Member Posts: 1
    edited July 2017

    My favorite cotton bras are from Exquisite Form. I discovered these a few years back and they changed my life! Helps keep me cool in the Florida hot weather. Check out the cotton soft cup style at exquisiteform.com


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