Mastectomy Bra Shopping after Breast Cancer

A picture is worth a 1000 words….this picture…this man.
What is more humiliating than swimsuit shopping in bright dressing room lights?!?! 

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I will make a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting My Side of 50 blog and newsletter by purchasing through my links.

Mastectomy Bra Shopping after Breast Cancer

What’s worse than swimsuit shopping? How about trying on bras 8 days after a double mastectomy?!? Talk about full frontal! 

There I was in Target, 8 days after a surgery that was supposed to rid my body of a sneaky, invasive cancer.
Yep, I had purchased the $$ official post operative bras that had been recommended by “experts”. (I actually returned this one!)
But they hurt. REALLY hurt…especially on my sides where the 4 Jackson-Pratt drains had been removed the day before.

So, Copa and I headed to Tar-jay. *

Here’s the deal: I could not move my arms much, so we had to get permission for Copa to come inside the Family Dressing room with me.

He gingerly and patiently helped me in and out of a dozen bras.
The whole time, those bright lights shone down on my bare chest, which had surgical tape over multiple incisions and drain holes. ————-
Bra after bra was a hard NO.

I was on the verge of tears. And, this was even before I knew I would need chemo!

“You can do this. We will find one that works,” Copa assured me. I could tell how hard this was for him, too. But he never flinched. He only smiled and loved me. ————
We started to joke & laugh about how absurd this whole thing was.
I got dressed, & Copa went on a mission to find The One that worked for me.

That’s when I snapped this pic.
My man. Moving heaven and earth to make me feel comfortable, happy and whole.

I mean, no guy wants to hang out in the lingerie department….of Target!!!
Copa has served as a tremendous example to our daughter of what a strong husband and father should be….he’s the same man in his late 40’s as he was when I met him at 20. God’s blessings are real. 

She’s set high standards in her dating life because she knows she’s worth it…thank you, Copa!!

We have been thrown unexpectedly into a new season in our lives and marriage. We pray. We love. We’ll #beatcancer 

*Note: Well after my mastectomy I learned about companies that specialize in transition bras and intimate wear for mastectomy patients. If you are approaching your mastectomy, look past the post surgical options and book mark a few of these companies!