Hi Everyone,
I am currently at university and have based my final project on Mastectomy lingerie.
I chose this topic for many reasons but mainly because my grandmother had a mastectomy and as a result my chance of getting breast cancer is higher.
While researching mastectomy lingerie all I seemed to find were websites selling plain, uninspiring bras in nudes and whites. I'm sure the majority of women like to vary their lingerie colours and styles so why should this change after a mastectomy. At a time when women will be wanting to feel feminine, sexy and confident all there seems to be for them is plain, boring underwear.
I am hoping to create a mastectomy fitting service and range within a high end, luxuriously sexy brand and was just hoping to gain some feedback on this really. Would you like to have this type of service as an option? Would it be appropriate for a partner to buy you lingerie (eg for Valentine's day, birthday)?
I am also hoping to create a range of confidence boosting classes to go alongside the mastectomy range... would you be interested in this? I'm sure having a mastectomy can be a knock on your confidence so it would be great to create a place to go and regain yourself along with others in the same boat. I'm not suggesting a support group as I'm sure there are already lots of those on offer, but perhaps a place to learn new skills such as burlesque but in a sensitive manner.
It would be great to hear any thoughts you may have on this. I want to get this project as accurate as possible, and not just assume what you may be going through.
Thank you all for reading.
Laura xx
FormerMember
Hi Laura
Thanks for your post on the mastectomy bras thread. I just wanted to say that I hope your project goes well - it's definitely a very good cause!
My own thoughts are that I'm sure at some stage most women would want to try to find a more attractive bra. It's true that your confidence does take a bit of a knock so I would think your confidence boosting idea could prove successful. Burlesque! Wow! Do you live in my area lol....
I think the key is in the timing - having felt tired, sore and worried about cancer I wasn't particularly interested in nice underwear, but as you start to feel better real life gradually creeps back in. As I think I said I'm just coming up for my 12 weeks post op and am actively looking for some new and pretty underwear. I'm going to look on the website that was suggested on the thread, (incidentally Jo had the address slightly wrong but I did some detective work and found that she probably meant www.nicolajane.com). I would love to be able to be fitted properly at Rigby and Pellier, and might just spend some of my 'rainy day' money, but my advice to you if you ever make your project a reality is to remember that sadly cancer can cause financial hardship, so try to make your prices realistic.
The problems I found weren't so much with the colours (actually I quite like white and nude!) but more with the style and fabrics - they all look so frumpy, especially in larger sizes. Also a lot of the bras don't have matching knickers which I think is important. Remember that the DIEP flap is now considered the 'gold standard' of reconstruction but this leaves you with a scar across your tummy - my own is not particularly low down and wouldn't be covered by tiny hipsters, but strangely enough a lot of thongs and high legs do come up high enough. I think this is an important for swimwear and underwear and it would be worth making the point in your thesis.
If I had a partner I would be delighted if he bought me appropriate underwear, but I think the reality is that this will be bought by the woman herself - partly because we need to get the fitting absolutely right and partly because I think the average man is uncomfortable with M&S, let alone specialist underwear shops - a website might be good though!
Anyway, if you think of any other questions feel free to email me, and good luck!
