Coping with Mastectomy

Anita's Alicia

As with most problems in life, distance helps with healing. Not just physical distance, but days, weeks, months and years following the event provide the catalyst for restorative healing. This is no less true with mastectomy survivors. Many women are quick to relate that the physical recovery was easier and quicker than the emotional. It is often referred to as bereavement, with all the anger and sadness this word encompasses.


Fitting mastectomy survivors with the proper bra and breast form is an important part of what we do at The Girl’s Bra Shop. In order to better understand the physical and emotional impact a mastectomy has on our clients, we did some research to pass on to our fitters that will equip them with the tools necessary to provide high calibre service. During our search we came upon a website that offers the following six ways to cope with a mastectomy. We hope they are helpful. (If you want the full details, go to (http://www.bhg.com/health-family/conditions/cancer/mourning-your-mastectomy/).

Anita's Florence

1. Embrace friends and family
2. Think positive – it does help
3. Accept help from others (Some find this hard to do!)
4. Give therapy a chance
5. Do what you love (We're all for this one!)
6. Bolster your spirit

Anita's Florence

Interacting with other women who can relate to your experience seems to be the key element for healing. For our local clients, support groups covering the Quispamsis, Rothesay, and Saint John area are provided at the following sites:

http://saintjohn.cioc.ca/record/HDC0467?UseCICVw=43
http://abcn-ca.bcans.ca/new-brunswick-breast-cancer-network-inc/ 
http://64.26.166.131/en/?section=2&category=255&regionid=&page=1494



The Girl’s Bra Shop has a wide selection of mastectomy bras including Alicia, Florence, and Sera pictured in this post, and breast forms to help you feel confident and comfortable. The Amoena Balance Shaper form, for example, provides optimal breast balance in a variety of shapes, sizes and thickness, so that every woman can feel self-assured in figure-fitting clothes and every situation. Breast forms, however, not only play a cosmetic role, they also help prevent secondary complications like lymphedema, bad posture, and neck problems.

Anita's Active Breast Forms

All The Girl’s Fitters have been trained to help you find the proper fit and feel. Drop by our store for a consultation or just to browse. Our goal is to make you feel welcome and to help you to leave feeling better for having visited us.

Ann and Tammy

real women. real bras. real beauty. ©2011, The Girls Bra Shop Inc.