Going back to work

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Beth41
Beth41 Member Posts: 16
edited June 2014 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
Going back to work
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  • Beth41
    Beth41 Member Posts: 16
    edited March 2008

    I had a left mastectomy done 4 weeks ago.  I'm going back to work in 3 weeks.  I am concerned about what type of bra to wear.  I tried on my old bra and used a soft form and it looked great.  My doctor told me he didn't want me to wear a bra that would dig into my incision and this bra is very tight.  So now I don't know if I can wear this bra or have to buy something else.  I work with animals and my job is very physical so I need to make sure I have a secure bra.  I would greatly appreciate any info. 

    Thanks,

    Beth

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  • shrink
    shrink Member Posts: 936
    edited March 2008

    Have you tried camisoles with pockets?  If you work with animals, why wear anything at all under your clothes unless you're uncomfortable that way?  I prefer it myself unless I'm going somewhere special.

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  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited March 2008

    Beth41,

    I know what you mean.  I'm 6 wks out from my mast/SNB and I can't wear a bra yet.  I still have some puffiness under my arm from the SNB that gets stuck in just the wrong place with a bra.  I am not well-endowed, and I like to be comfortable (not stylish), so I've been wearing "casual" bras for years.  I can't even wear those.

    I tried some really soft, stretchy sports bras (mostly a wide band of tight jersey fabric, with no cup).  They squish me too much and force the soft, puffy under-arm tissue up above the bra band.  Doesn't work at all.

    Someone awhile back suggested trying a bra that is a size or two (in band size) bigger than you usually wear.  I haven't done that yet, but it might work.  The other option is to buy a stretchy camisole, like shrink suggested.

    In the meantime, I wear loose T-shirts around home and try the layered-look when I go out.  If necessary, I wear a soft, sleeveless undershirt beneath my first layer.  It's not optimal, but with my small breast size (34B/36A), it has been OK.  I think I could get away with it at work.

    OTOH, I don't have to hold squirming dogs, mean cats, or rearing horses anymore, since I'm retired.     :)

    otter 

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  • Beth41
    Beth41 Member Posts: 16
    edited March 2008

    I have a softee camisole but it has no support whatsoever.  I'm a 36B.  It definitely will be noticeable if I go to work not wearing anything.  I don't want to look any different than I did before.  I don't want my coworkers feeling uncomfortable around me so I want to be the same to them.  I can't wear a sports bra (It does squish too much).  I only had one lymph node removed but I do have some swelling under my arm. 

    I'm going to see if I can find a bra strap widener?  to make it bigger.

    Thanks for the suggestion.

    Beth

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  • SusaninSF
    SusaninSF Member Posts: 1,213
    edited March 2008

    Beth,

    I wore a soft, post-surgery mast bra that fastens in the front. Amoena makes one caleld the Frances Front Closure Leisure Soft Cup Bra. It is very soft stretchy cotton and not tight fitting. I put a foam form into the pocket and nobody noticed anything.

    - Susan

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  • Beth41
    Beth41 Member Posts: 16
    edited March 2008

    Susanin, I looked at the bra you mentioned but it doesn't look like it has much support.  Before I had the mastectomy I had problems finding bras with good support.  I finally ended up with a t-shirt bra from victoria secret.  Thanks for your input, though.

    Beth

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  • SusaninSF
    SusaninSF Member Posts: 1,213
    edited March 2008

    Beth,

    Ah, yes. Not a lot of support. Glad you were able to find a bra that works. I did wear really loose tops until I had a regular prosthesis. I even went to work with my drain for several days. I showed it to the guys I work with but they seemed pretty unfazed. Very few people knew I had a mast. They knew I had some kind of major surgery but I didn't tell them exactly what. I had my mast about a month after starting a new job so I didn't feel like talking about it.

    - Susan 

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  • Believer0711
    Believer0711 Member Posts: 351
    edited March 2008

    Hi Beth,

    Check out www.tlcdirect.org, part of ACS, and reasonably-priced.

    Hope you find what you need...

    Take care,

    Aurora

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