Bras during radiation

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pat01
pat01 Member Posts: 1,005
edited February 2019 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I had my initial visit with RO a couple of weeks ago, and go for mapping this coming Wednesday.  The nurse told me to get some all cotton sports bras, and definitely no underwire (though I'm not sure why?).  I've also read on these boards to do the same thing.  Went to Walmart, and just couldn't find anything appropriate, the sports bras just squish everything together.  I was thinking you want the radiated breast by itself and not squished.  So should I be looking for cotton cup bras?  Very confused with this bra thing.  Would appreciate advice from those of you that have already been there.  Thanks.

Pat

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  • ktab96
    ktab96 Member Posts: 126
    edited August 2011

    Definitely avoid the under wire bra's and you definitely want something cotton and comfortable.  I used an Anita sports bra during radiation.  They are pricey but it was worth every penny to me. 

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  • YramAL
    YramAL Member Posts: 1,651
    edited August 2011

    I wore my underwire bras all the way through treatment. I don't know how large your breasts are, but I'm a DD and I needed the underwire to lift and separate the girls so that I did not have skin on skin contact. 

    Mary 

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  • pat01
    pat01 Member Posts: 1,005
    edited August 2011

    Thanks ladies - two very different opinions.  I'm a C-D cup size, and in a sports bra I just get squished together, not separated.  I wound up buying some cheap all cotton sports bras with shirred fronts in a size that is one larger than I would usually take, so it's not so binding.  Can't go without a bra for work (well, I could, but would get a lot of stares Tongue out), and wondering about going without a bra in general, as the underfold would be worse with no bra.

    Pat

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  • TooManyCocktails
    TooManyCocktails Member Posts: 182
    edited August 2011

    The doctor doesn't make you take your top or bra off during rads???  I had a double mastectomy so it wouldn't matter to me anyway. 

    What are the "tattoos" for?  How can the doctor see them if you have a bra on? 

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  • Megadotz
    Megadotz Member Posts: 302
    edited August 2011
    • TooManyCocktails  -- great screen name!Wink

    Here's a bit of clarification:

    • The bra is off during the radiation treatment
    • The tatoos are used to position equipment so that the right area receives the radiation
    • The radiation makes the breast very tender and the cotton bras are so that area doesn't get more irritation.

    Also the area gets very red like a bad sunburn.  On my follow up visit after the treatment ended I told my RO, that I alway expected to get that bad of sunburn on that location, iwould had a really good vacation on tropical island.

     Hope this clears things up a bit.

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  • TooManyCocktails
    TooManyCocktails Member Posts: 182
    edited August 2011
    Thanks for the info Megadotz.  I went way out to left field on that one.  Must be chemo brain! Embarassed
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  • Blinx
    Blinx Member Posts: 280
    edited August 2011

    I picked up a bunch of cotton bras at Walmart, in a larger size. Some of them looked like short tank tops, but were not sports bras. Very comfy, not too supportive, so I wore these at home.

    I also had some underwires that I just took the wires out of. At Target, I picked up a bra expander tab, that I could use with my regular bras to make them a little looser. They have these at lots of stores now.

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  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited August 2011

    I wore a old full slip from the yr of the flood.cut off the bottom and put a old bra on top of it.My RO cracked up when he saw it.called me Madonna.When i came home from tx.I wore just a tee shirt.Im a DD and everything hurt.I wish you luck and Painfree days.God bless.huggggggs K.

    When you finish the rads come to visit us on the after rads thread.We have lots of great info there too.

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  • Bren-2007
    Bren-2007 Member Posts: 6,241
    edited August 2011

    I couldn't wear a bra during radiation.  When I needed to go out, I wore a shelf camisole with a blouse over it.  I couldn't bear to have the elastic band under my breasts.

    When I was at home I wore old t-shirts that I could throw out because I had so much goop slathered on my breast to prevent burning.

    Bren

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  • Melanie_Ann
    Melanie_Ann Member Posts: 414
    edited August 2011

    I've worn an underwire through my whole treatment. Im a D and feel like I need the support. Plus I'm not fond of wireless bras. Since I've been getting redder, I just wear a bra out, but nothing at home. It seems to help. I think everyone is different and you'll find what works for you. I will stress though, to keep your skin moisturized with whatever cream they recommend. I feel like that's what has helped mine stay intact.

    I have 3 more! =)

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  • Blinx
    Blinx Member Posts: 280
    edited August 2011

    And, if your team is using markers on you, be prepared to say goodbye to whatever you end up wearing... permanent stains on my things from aloe goop spreading the marker ink. (I have tatoos, but they always circled them with sharpies).

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  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited August 2011
    when you finish the rads you end up throwing everything away....except the tatoos.they are forever but you really have to look hard to find them.....Please be careful with the underwire bras..My BS said never to wear them again.Good luck.hugs K
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  • KittyGirl2011
    KittyGirl2011 Member Posts: 537
    edited August 2011

    I'm at 10 days out now from my lumpectomy and was wondering if anyone has had the Brachytheraph radiation?  That was mentioned as a possibility for me from the surgeon.  I see the ONC on Aug 9 and will find out more about what he wants to do now for therapy.  Kitty

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  • KittyGirl2011
    KittyGirl2011 Member Posts: 537
    edited August 2011

    Fruit of the Loom front closure sport bra has worked so far for me.  Have had to wear one 24/7 since the lumpectomy on 7/22.  I'm only a C cup but keeps the girls from moving around so it doesn't hurt.  Kitty

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  • cellomomof5
    cellomomof5 Member Posts: 71
    edited August 2011
    I strongly recommend Coobie bras. They are comfortable, soft and relatively inexpensive.  I know a number of women on another bc forum who love them.  I have them in several colors - they look like camis under shirts.
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  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 1,584
    edited August 2011

    Like BinVA, I didn't wear a bra during radiation. I too wore tanks with a long sleeved shirt over that (it was late Winter). Although I'm really fair-skinned, I never burned and I'm attritubing that to going braless.

    After rads, I bought a lot of cotton bras at Kohls. They were Bali Style 3036. I think I've seen them at Walmart too, or at least something similar, but oddly they were in the maternity section near the exercise clothing. I remember the ones at Kohls had a hangtang for buy one get one free. You had to send off my mail for the free ones and since the ones at Kohls were already on sale, they ended up being very inexpensive.

    The Coobie bra that cellomom linked to looks very comfortable too.

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  • Maybe484
    Maybe484 Member Posts: 170
    edited August 2011

    Like Kittygirl2011, I swear by the front hook-and-eye closure Fruit of the Loom 100% cotton sports bras.  I hate Walmart, but that's where I bought mine.  Good luck!

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  • teriholmes
    teriholmes Member Posts: 3
    edited February 2019

    You should google Chabner XRT. This is a new product designed by an oncologist for woman going through radiation treatment for breast cancer. Watch the video and read about it. I was in the test group. The product is wonderful. You can wear it during the complete process and it is FDA approved. You get fitted for a bra prior to treatment and it is yours throughout the process.

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