Forum Discussion

Yamo's avatar
Yamo
Member
10 years ago

Wearing underwire or sports bras

Hi everyone,

It has been a long time since I have been online. The new website looks great and looking forward to navigating around it.

It is going to be almost 12 months in August since I have had radiation treatment and being on tamoxifen. All is going good besides a few minor hiccups every now and then. 

I have been exercising and going to the gym all throughout my ordeal and it has been my greatest stimulus for recovery. I am so much stronger and fitter than ever before. There are days where I just don't have the energy and that's when I either take it easy by doing low impact exercise or just give myself a break from it totally.

I wanted to ask about wearing an underwire bra, whether this is ok or should be avoided completely? I have large breasts and need support while exercising and hence wear underwire sports bra. However, some professors recommend not to wear them at all. Your comments and advise would be highly recommended. 

  • Yamo's avatar
    Yamo
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Geng & others

    Thank you so much for your responses. I still wear underwire bras during exercise due to support and to avoid bounce.They are comfortable however I find that it marks my cancer breast more than the other,probably due to scarring. But I get this when I wear normal bras anyway and with clothing especially when I sleep face down.

  • Geng's avatar
    Geng
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Yamo and others,

    I am nearly 3 years post diagnosis and had lumpectomy/sentinal node biopsy then 10 days later a full axillary node clearance. Followed of course by chemo radiation and 5 years of Arimidex. I am a C-D cup. I wore "sports tops" without underwire for about 4 months after surgery then the same old soft comfy underwire bra until a few weeks ago. It really was time to get something new. My Rad Onc has no issue with underwires but did comment that a lot of women say the outside lower part of the breast can often be sore due to weight of the breast and the location of the underwire. I went and had a fitting and feel much more supported now.

    I have also been running since January this year and my exercise physiologist strongly advised a fitting for a sports bra. The one I got was really tight to begin but we have grown accustomed to each other and it works really well for running. Its ugly and definitely in the industrial model category, but nothing moves and Im really confident running now.

    stay well

    Geng

     

     

  • Carol's avatar
    Carol
    Member
    10 years ago

    I was advised to wear sports bras initially although didnt for some 9 months until scaring and radiation burning had subsided hence took it very gently when doing exercise with my 18d boobs. Actually was even for a few months until radiation treatment!

    surgeon told me to wear underwire bras again at I guess the 2 year mark. i was sooo glad to not have to keep fidgetting to keep the darn thing in place. Do have to be very careful when purchasing since some models rub on my surgical scar on left of left boob. the first ones I bought were from target and had padding on shoulders and over the underwire. still have one left 7 years later. ALthough I did show it to the berlei bra focus group day, it seems not to be an option they wish to use.

    Carol

  • Dianne_Radloff's avatar
    Dianne_Radloff
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hello Yamo,    I am small busted, and had a partial Mastectomy and Rads, because of scar tissue I have never found an underwire bra that is comfortable, although I know of many BC ladies that have gone back to wearing them once they are healed and do not have problems. There  are many options available and I would suggest it is trial and error finding a bra that suits, best of luck,  Di

     

  • MaggieR's avatar
    MaggieR
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Yamo.

    Great to hear your doing so well. I'm in the midst of my rads and will be on tamoxifin soon.

    I'm with HIT, I thought the use of underwire as a BC cause was discredited and so its ok post radiation.

    Btw.  I'm bigger busted too and hate the wobbles when working out - it hurts my bc boob so I have to hold it, lol.  I've read about a new bra designed by industrial designers in the USA but it looks like its not being produced yet. trusstlingerie.com

  • CarmelS's avatar
    CarmelS
    Member
    10 years ago

    The only time I had a doctor mention an underwire was to say you might want to wait till you heal properly till you get back into them, mainly so it didn't cause any more scar tissue with the pressure of the wire.

    Carmel

  • HIT's avatar
    HIT
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi  There is such an avalanche of info out there.  And you know after meeting so many people over my 15mths of treatment in the chemo ward none of the "causes of breast cancer"make much sense.  The majority of women I've met were skinny minnys.  There was sporty girls and not so sporty ones.   There was low fat and high fat diets, (one even was very close to being a vegetarian,she had occassional chicken/fish).  Many breast fed there children,, many led healthy lifestyles, few didn't drink alcohol at all, many social drinkers, all different nationalities.  Way too many young women.!!!

    The underwire bras?  I thought they had disproved that as long as the wire was around your breast and not cutting in to it.  So I would say make sure the bra is well fitted and most of all supporting and comfortable and go for it.  

    Pam