Breast cancer clothing: Bras, scarves, accessories, and more

When you're first diagnosed with breast cancer, the first thing most women will think is, “Am I going to die?” As you begin to learn to live with your cancer diagnosis, you may start to think about other things, like, “Will I go bald and how will I look?” It may sound frivolous, but ask any breast cancer survivor and she'll tell you that she thought a lot about whether to splurge on that real human hair wig or what she'd look like in a swimsuit.

Feeling good about how you look is an important part of feeling good about yourself in general. No one deserves to feel good about herself more than a woman who's surviving breast cancer. Fortunately, women with breast cancer have a mind-boggling choice of wigs, scarves, and specialty bras and swimsuits, designed with their needs in mind.

Not your grandmother's mastectomy bra

When Theresa McLeod, who manages a boutique at a cancer centre in New York, started fitting mastectomy bras in the 1970s, there were three bras and two breast forms. Today, there are hundreds of styles and they range in sizes from 32A and AA up to 52DD. “You can really get anything you want”, McLeod says. “Within the last three to five years, options have really expanded. You can get microfibres, V-cut bras, lace appliqués, and a huge selection of seamless styles.”

Kate Rubien, manager of another cancer centre boutique in the US, agrees. “Not long ago, we were excited to get black bras”, she says. “Now we have all kinds of colours, one bra comes in mint green, blue, burgundy and pink.”

Mastectomy bras still look a bit different from regular bras. Because they include pockets for breast prostheses, they often cover much more of the breast than regular bras. You can also ask to have a pocket sewn into your own bra to accommodate a breast form.

You should be fitted for a mastectomy bra by a certified fitter and the forms or "cumfies" are usually supplied free on the NHS. Many hospitals have specially trained prosthetic advisers who can help women who need breast forms and pocket bras after a mastectomy. Once you've got a good fit, you can buy beautiful mastectomy bras and comfortable breast forms in specialist shops and online at Amoena or Bouncing Back. Debenhams and Marks and Spencer also carry mastectomy, or post-surgery, bras.

If you've had a lumpectomy and don't need a full breast prosthesis, you may still want to get a small breast form for symmetry. Or you may prefer a "moulded cup" bra that is pre-shaped and easily filled out.

Other options available include a soft camisole that women can wear during their post-surgical period with pockets to hold drainage tubing and bottles. There is also an array of self-adhering nipples and nipple covers for women in various stages of reconstruction.