Wearing underwire or sports bras

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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