Cotton Radiation Treatment Bra

Options
Pattimills2017
Pattimills2017 Member Posts: 41
edited May 2018 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I am possibly starting rads in June.  Before I go spending more money does anyone recommend the cotton radiation treatment bra on Amazon or is there another cotton bra of recommendation?  I am large breasted. Any recommendations will help.  Thanks sisters.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Runrcrb
    Runrcrb Member Posts: 577
    edited May 2018

    i wore my regular bra through out. Lots of aquaphor on my skin but no special bras. I got tired of buying crap I didn’t need. My RO suggested a white cotton hanky between skin snd bra if things were rubbing.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited May 2018

    I had to stop wearing one completely. I'm not large breasted so I was able to get away with it, but I couldn't stand the way the material was rubbing. Nails on a chalkboard...

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited May 2018

    I feel like old, kind of stretched-out exercise bras work about as well as anything. You might even get something from ebay, maybe a size larger than normal. They do tend to get a little stained with the markings and lotions and what-not. And super tight is just annoying. But definitely go cheap.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • JosieO
    JosieO Member Posts: 314
    edited May 2018

    Hi Pattimills2017,

    I just started my third week of radiation, and my skin is still soft using aloe vera. I’m large breasted, but continue to wear a Playtex 18 hour bra that is like a sports bra. Right now my skin is not getting anything greasy, and I like the support. So I am managing

    I’d say experiment with what you have.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited May 2018

    I'd say go large, as your breast may swell a bit during radiation. Go cheap if you can so you don't mind if you can't wash lotions out of it. Most of all, go SOFT and loose. I'm not sure I'd go with cotton, frankly, unless it's well worn! I stumbled across camis made by Jockey that were an ultra soft fabric - I think they called it "Elance" - and those were wonderful. They were lightweight, washed and line-dried very nicely, and most of all were kind of silky and cooling on my skin. I bought several sizes and ended up sleeping in the large.

    My skin did great, too, using a LOT of straight aloe vera (NOT the kind w/alcohol added) which I kept in the fridge. I also used a few other products (Emu oil mostly, recommended by a friend who's a radiation onc.) The horror stories you read do NOT necessarily apply to every woman. Just stay out of the sun between now and RT and start moisturizing your skin; whether you start RT in June or not your skin will thank you!

    Edited to add: a lot of the stuff marketed as suitable for use during treatment is overpriced and not particularly useful or necessary - shop with a very skeptical mindset! :)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Georgia1
    Georgia1 Member Posts: 1,321
    edited May 2018

    My experience was that the type of bra dodn't matter - what made a difference was rotating types of bras so my skin wasn't getting chafed repetitively in the same spot. So I switched from a regular bra to a sports bra a lot, and used the calendula cream religiously. Best of luck to you.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ctmbsikia
    ctmbsikia Member Posts: 1,095
    edited May 2018

    I just went without a bra and will continue to do so until I'm all healed.  Today is my last treatment!!!!

    100%cotton anything will do, cami's or t-shirts.  I spent maybe $20 on these-some my size and some 2 sizes larger so could let some air in there!

    It was sort of a pain being large breasted and not wearing a bra-had to do the layered thing.

    Best wishes to you!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Pattimills2017
    Pattimills2017 Member Posts: 41
    edited May 2018

    Thank you all for the responses.  I did order a bra off of Amazon but I guess I'll have to wait and see what effects I have.  I love all the suggestions.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Pattimills2017
    Pattimills2017 Member Posts: 41
    edited May 2018

    Congratulations on your last treatment.  I know as you look back you probably realize that what seemed like an eternity before you started now looks like you blinked and it was over.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited May 2018

    ctmbsikia - Congratulations on finishing radiation! I'll bet you can hardly believe it's over. Good luck going forward.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sdianel
    sdianel Member Posts: 49
    edited May 2018

    I ordered a front close bra made from bamboo. Breathable and easy to put on and off. We’ll worth it.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nonomimi5
    nonomimi5 Member Posts: 434
    edited May 2018

    I bought a front zip up cotton sports bra from Amazon.

    Women's Zip Front Sports Bra Wireless High Impact Active Yoga Sports Bras White L, Sold by: Wanayou-US $11.26 ,

    I received a similar bra from the hospital after the surgery. I wear the bra over a very thin and soft cotton t-shirt so it does not irritate the skin and it absorbs the oiliness of the aloe and aquaphor. I wear a loose shirt over it. I started my 16 session rads today.

    Good luck

    Mimi

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories