Yesterday was yet another new experience: buying a non-underwired bra. This was actually a milestone (for me) because I had needed to overcome decades of resistance to the idea first. So I went off to M&S, where a suitable bra was pointed out to me. But from the start I could sense there might be disappointment and even a physical struggle ahead. Because despite being the correct size and super-stretchy, the bra seemed suspiciously small. For a while, I simply stared at it in the way that people with lots and lots of hair must look at those tiny latex swimming caps. And I thought: ‘Life is full of challenges. That’s just how it is. Please, get on with it.’
A good approach with difficult tasks is to break them down into stages, so I set out to do that. Very carefully I inched my way into the bra, feeling not unlike an enormous squid deliberately entangling itself in a fishing net. Halfway through the process, I caught a glance of my ridiculous self in the mirror. To be honest, it was really a little awkward. Suddenly, I was sure that this is not the image M&S are trying to promote, when they involve ‘real women’ in their advertising campaigns: it would be a step too far in testing people’s acceptance of imperfections. I knew that this was not an entirely helpful attitude, so I quickly reminded myself that the bra definitely had a lot of potential to offer ‘firm support’. And at times like these, support is something of value, no matter what form it may take. So I wriggled on.
The good news is that I did manage to get into the bra. And it fitted just like a second skin (not surprisingly). The not-so-good news is that I soon had to take it off, for the MRI scan. Because although it is fine to wear a non-underwired bra for a CT breast scan, it’s not possible to wear any type of bra during an MRI one.
As I haven’t started my cancer treatment, I am going to have to choose my battles wisely. The reality is: nobody should have to fight with their underwear. Maybe I will work on my ‘underwired bra entering technique’ then. Alternatively, I might consider that this bra has a different potential from the originally intended one. For example, it might be put to better use as a catapult. That could be fun: a sassy slingshot. We shall see.
