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Cancer

Find advice & support if you or someone you know has been diagnosed with cancer

Post surgery bras - breast cancer

10 replies

saltandpepsi · 21/10/2025 04:21

My friend has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and her treatment plan includes surgery (after chemo). 😔 it has not yet been decided whether she will have a lumpectomy, a single or a double mastectomy.

I am looking for recommendations for good post operative bras. From my research I have found people saying that post-op bras can be expensive, and I would like to get my friend a voucher for a good supportive and comfortable bra, in the hope that it is one less little thing for her to worry about.

My problem is, there are so many out there and I am in the fortunate position not to have any experience in this area. For those superstars out there who have come though this horrendous ordeal, would you mind giving me some pointers of what’s good and what’s not out there? Ideally I would like to get a voucher rather than an actual bra so that she can choose what she likes, especially given that she doesn’t know what type of surgery she will be having yet.

TIA Mumsnet warriors out there!

OP posts:
doublec · 21/10/2025 05:35

Am truly sorry your friend is in this club but it's a well-trodden path, one many of us have been down, and has amazing survival rates. Research into breast cancer, not to mention treatment, particularly surgery has come a long long way. If she is having chemo first, then surgery, that is because they want to see how the tumour responds/if it can be shrunk. This in itself, along with other factors will determine whether it will be breast-conversing surgey (lumpectomy), a mastectomy, or a double mastectomy.

It is really thoughtful of you to want to do something like this. But, and forgive me for being so direct but you're getting ahead of yourself. Additionally, this is something covered by the hospital and/or Macmillan (who will refer). Regrettably, am on holiday at the moment so unable to take a look at the brand, but IIRC, it is Amoena). It is standard practice to wake up in a bra after a mastectomy. (I say this from experience, have had two mastectomies a year apart). Your friend will be advised/fitted by someone who knows what they are doing, so for now, you really don't need to do anything. However, and at the same time, am not sure what the procedure is for a lumpectomy as my last one was over a decade ago. In those instances - I have had five - I was taped up and advised beforehand to buy a soft comfortable bra, no wires. I went to Bravissimo for this but these are pretty easy to buy. Many opt for crop tops like Sloggi, something that can be stepped into and pulled up rather than pulled down. What is more important IMO is ensuring that everything is within easy reach as they won't be able to raise their arm(s). Ditto clothing that is easy to put on. Ergo, front fastening items are important for the first few weeks, longer if she's having a mastectomy. If she does need to have a mastectomy, a mastectomy pillow from this seller would be brilliant, I still have mine. The seller is a wealth of information and happy to answer questions.

An even better purchase would be this book. Tell your friend to only read what is applicable to her as and when she needs the information. There's no point getting ahead of herself not least because cancer plans are ever changing, and there's no point worrying/thinking about treatment she likely won't need.

To return to bras, it is also worth considering if your friend will be having any reconstruction? Also, will she be having a skin saving mastectomy, or will be an aesthetic flat closure? (I had this). If opting for reconstruction, some have it immediately, others do not but have an expander put in place. Also, will she be having radiotherapy because again, that will inform the kind of bra she will need. Ultimately, for the first few months, the bra(s) the NHS provide will be best. They're not the prettiest but they're the most functional for the purpose. They will hold a prosthetic (also provided by the NHS) should she choose to wear one. (Again, I did not wear these, although for the first few months after I was able to sleep on my front again, I did get a knitted knocker to even myself out when I slept!)

As mentioned, I have had a double mastectomy, albeit in two stages. It took me eighteen months or so until I started thinking about buying new lingerie. So, to return to your original question, if you still really want to buy her some pretty lingerie, wait until you know exactly what they end result will be. And if you still want to proceed, I can recommend Love Rose Lingerie - the woman behind it has had breast cancer and really lovely. Instead, why don't you buy her a pretty camisole to sleep in/wear over her recovery bra? I know this was something I loved getting, as were some vests with the secret support panels.

Wishing your friend all the best 💐

As an aside, I know you mean well but please, not all of us like the term warrior. Cancer isn't a battle to be fought, and to a degree, it implies those who succumb haven't fought hard enough. This is never the case at all.

ranoutofquinoaandprosecco · 21/10/2025 07:53

@doublecsays, what a lovely thought but you don’t know what your boob(s) will be like until after surgery, what type of foob if any works for her etc.

Maybe buy her some nice soft pjs for after surgery or lounge wear that’s easy for her to get on, so front fastening zips if possible.

RampantIvy · 21/10/2025 07:59

Our nearest large M and S has a wide range of post surgery bras.

Enigma54 · 21/10/2025 12:12

Great advice from @doublec
I also echo the point about being a cancer “ warrior”. We really aren’t, we have no choice but to deal what is thrown at us.

PoptartPoptart · 21/10/2025 20:12

As others have said, it really depends on what route her diagnosis and surgery takes her.
Just from personal experience, I found some great post surgery bras in M&S after my lumpectomy. They had a really good range of sizes and styles.

I also got one from the Cancer Research UK website which I used to sleep in:

https://shop.cancerresearchuk.org/products/cancer-research-uk-post-surgery-comfort-bra

Cancer Research UK Post-Surgery Comfort Bra

Introducing the Cancer Research UK Post-Surgery Bra: a bra developed by us with breast cancer patients at every step of the way.

https://shop.cancerresearchuk.org/products/cancer-research-uk-post-surgery-comfort-bra

saltandpepsi · 22/10/2025 06:46

Thanks for the advice everyone! Lots to think about. I would definitely be going down the voucher route and hadn’t planned on actually buying her a bra as like you said, she doesn’t know what she’ll need yet. The great thing about a voucher is she could also buy something else (pjs/pants etc) if she decided that would be better. She LOVES slippers and has many many different kinds, so perhaps she could even use it to add to her collection if that makes her happy! I was really just looking for advice on whether anyone had a great (or rubbish) experience with anywhere in particular. There some good suggestions above so I will look into those (m&s is great because there are plenty of other things to spend the voucher on if preferred - even nice food, but also like the sound of supporting love rose lingerie, although their lines are limited to post surgery so wouldn’t leave as much wiggle room if she decided not to go for a bra)

I am sorry to have caused offence with the warrior comment, I have tried to edit my post to remover it but wasn’t able to. I suppose it comes down to naivety on my part, I have a lot to learn in order to support my friend in the best way I can, and now know to avoid that phrase. I absolutely meant with the upmost respect to anyone who is going/has been through it. It is also fantastic to hear that the NHS provides bras post surgery for mastectomy patients that sounds like a great step forward! When my friend and I were looking through the NHS and McMillan websites together when she was first diagnosed, they didn’t mention that and just gave sign posts to types of bras to buy, or grants to apply for if financial support was required.

thanks again for your help

OP posts:
doublec · 22/10/2025 11:42

@saltandpepsi
As someone with a double mastectomy, no reconstruction, who does not wear falsies, I still love wearing a bra (and matching knickers)! Like we all said, your intentions are wonderful, so thoughtful, but it's much to early to think about these things as yet. For now, concentrate on supporting your friend the best way you can. And yes, slippers are great!

The best thing your friend can do is to either call Macmillan or visit one of their drop-in centres, should her hospital have one. Maggie's will also help with advice but I wasn't a huge fan but that's maybe because I loved the Macmillan person I met the day I was diagnosed and she was very much there to support me and give advice. Ultimately, and as I said, your friend is regrettably walking a well-trodden path. But the amazing thing about this is that help is there, it's just a question of her either calling Macmillan or asking her assigned breast cancer nurse. (Website will only do so much, the real value in Macmillan is their staff who are only too happy to help either in person or on the phone). They will absolutely guide her. Like I said, there's no point getting ahead of things until you know for certain what the diagnosis is, treatment too. I say this from experience.

Apologies if I came off a little harsh over your warrior comment. You were doing what you thought is right, mostly because the media has a habit of using language in a way to try to make things more palatable, to add a narrative that simple doesn't exist . Both my parents died from cancer. In fact, I am the first in my family to get a cancer diagnosis and not die within six months. This isn't because I am a warrior and fought this harder than they did, it's just that I had a more treatable cancer, one that has had billions of pounds spent researching it. They did not. Language matters, and the use of warrior implies it's about fighting and those who do not fight didn't want to win hard enough. Cancer really isn't about that. One has two choices with cancer, you either hide from it or you deal with it in whatever way gives you the best chance of not dying from it. And that takes me back to some cancers being more treatable than others. I read once that breast cancer is rarely a medical emergency, but it is an emotional one. I firmly believe this is the case. Cancer is the easy bit, it's dealing with how it affects one emotionally, one's sense of self, one's confidence, one's appearance, one's day to day life, that's the real task at hand.

PoptartPoptart · 22/10/2025 14:40

@saltandpepsi the other thing I found hugely helpful after my surgery was front fastening PJ’s / nightdresses / hoodies, etc.
I was told to avoid lifting my arm above my head initially, so front zips or buttons or poppers were much easier than clothes I had to pull over my head.
Again, an M&S voucher would be ideal for this.

doublec · 22/10/2025 15:19

PoptartPoptart · 22/10/2025 14:40

@saltandpepsi the other thing I found hugely helpful after my surgery was front fastening PJ’s / nightdresses / hoodies, etc.
I was told to avoid lifting my arm above my head initially, so front zips or buttons or poppers were much easier than clothes I had to pull over my head.
Again, an M&S voucher would be ideal for this.

Agree with this! However, desperate times call for desperate measures - not only did I learn to put sweatshirts on without raising my hands above shoulder level, I also learnt how to put my hair into a bun using one hand/not raising my arms either!

Wsiw71 · 01/01/2026 20:20

I found front fastening bras dreadful as they rubbed my scar. It's best to wait until after operation to see what is right. M & S do ordinary bras (no wires) that can have pockets attached. VAT is not chargeable on mastectomy supplies.

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