By Debbie Djordjevic
It’s bad enough being diagnosed with breast cancer. Suddenly your world is tilted on its side and every day seems to bring a new challenge. Thousands of women world-wide are diagnosed every year and thankfully the vast majority live through the pretty awful treatments that are the Cancer specialist’s stock in trade, and come out the other side. At the time all you can focus on is ending your treatment, but when you do finally leave all the hospital appointments behind (for a while at least) those who have had surgery, especially a mastectomy, will now need to get into new routines and think about their underwear differently.
I have had a mastectomy, and with a large breast size have found it very difficult to find lingerie that will take my prosthesis and make me feel feminine. I had heard of the Amoena brand, they had made the silicone prosthesis that was fitted for me by my fabulous Breast Cancer nurse. So I knew they were good at what they did – I just didn’t realise that there was so much more on offer than just that!
Amoena are very proud of what they do for women and they offered for me to trial one of their most popular bras, the Rosalie Soft Bra. I chose a nude colour – I haven’t got one of these in my small and not overly impressive pile of mastectomy bras and was glad the style went up to an E as so many mastectomy bras don’t go beyond a C, especially in colours other than white. A few weeks in and this bra has been put through its paces and has been put in my normal wash several times. I know you should lovingly hand-wash bras but honestly? Who has the time.
It has kept it’s shape nicely as it has the addition of Spandex and it fits well – okay the straps are still quite wide but they need to be, and it’s cut to cover scarring and gives me a great shape without wiring which I find uncomfortable to wear these days. For £35 I think this bra is a bargain and will be ordering a white one to add to the drawer.
Alongside a bra, Amoena also offered me their Aqua Wave Swim breast form to trial. I have been using a swim ‘softie’ – a foam insert that goes into the pocket in my swimsuit. These are great as they can easily be squeezed out but soon lose their shape. I can honestly say that a silicone swim prosthesis has changed my life! Just like my full day-time one, it keeps its shape but is hollowed out so weighs hardly anything. I must confess I have been slipping it inside stretchy cotton bras when I want to go with much less support – under strappy dresses and vests, that kind of thing. It sits snugly in my swimsuit and just rinses off under the shower after my swim – no need to launder to get rid of the chlorine.
Visit Amoena – they have a large range of bras, swimwear and breast forms for all sorts of sizes and requirements and have lots of help and information for those coming to terms with their new body shape.
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