Bra preferences of breast cancer survivors treated with mastectomy and prosthetic reconstruction

Wroblewski, Susanne; MacGillivray, Maureen Sweeney; Cheng, Chin‐I

doi:10.1080/17543266.2020.1718776

Cited by 3 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Likewise, our survey found that ready-to-wear bras are inadequate (e.g., poor t, di cult to don/doff) and that patients' received insu cient guidance on bra selection [2]. Wroblewski's survey [3] demonstrated that a single bra is unlikely to meet the diverse needs and preferences of breast cancer survivors. Survivors who have undergone mastectomy and breast reconstruction expressed heightened concern with underarm and underband comfort [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 75%

“…Breast cancer and its treatment often pose challenges concerning the t, comfort, and aesthetic considerations of undergarments, even for patients who undergo reconstructive procedures, which can impact survivors' quality of life [1][2][3][4][5]. Previous research used questionnaires [1][2][3] and interviews [4,5] to study the bra needs and preferences of breast cancer survivors. LaBat's survey [1] revealed that nearly onethird of breast reconstruction survivors stated that they no longer wear bras, citing reasons such as the belief that a bra is unnecessary, uncomfortable, or nonconforming to the shape of the reconstructed breast.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Wroblewski's survey [3] demonstrated that a single bra is unlikely to meet the diverse needs and preferences of breast cancer survivors. Survivors who have undergone mastectomy and breast reconstruction expressed heightened concern with underarm and underband comfort [3]. Dhawan's interviews discovered low bra satisfaction rates among survivors due to perceived comfort and quality issues [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Undergarment Needs and Challenges for Breast Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Study

Liu,

Khan,

Nicklaus

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Purpose Breast cancer surgery, even with reconstruction, can make it difficult for patients to find a bra that fits properly, is comfortable, and meets their aesthetic standards. We explored breast cancer survivors’ experiences with bras over time to identify preferences, needs, and challenges throughout their journeys. Methods Fifteen women who had undergone mastectomy and either delayed or immediate breast reconstruction participated in the study. Focus groups were conducted to explore the participants’ current experiences with bras. They were also prompted to recall their experiences before mastectomy and immediately after reconstruction. The discussion included bra materials, styles, construction techniques, color, quality, and price. Results Thematic analysis generated five major themes: “Sense of normalcy and personal well-being,” “Struggles immediately following surgery,” “Transitions in bra experiences and preference,” “Practicality with outfit,” and “Association between quality and price”. Conclusion Breast cancer survivors' well-being is linked to their experiences with bras and the associated purchasing process, and bra needs change throughout the cancer care journey. Survivors’ experiences with bras impact their sense of normalcy and sense of control over significant bodily changes arising from cancer and its treatment. The study underscores the importance of future research on examining the relationship between survivors' quality of life and garment experiences, including factors such as color choices, closure options, and adjustability for individual needs.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Undergarment Needs and Challenges for Breast Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Study

Liu,

Khan,

Nicklaus

et al. 2024

Preprint

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“…(2017) Nicklaus et al, (2020) found that these issues are not being addressed and that the current bra market is not sufficient for this population's needs. Furthermore, Wroblewski et al (2020) conducted a survey with women who have undergone double mastectomy and prosthetic reconstruction. The survey indicated the importance of bras being designed to accommodate the unique attributes of a reconstructed breast.…”

Section: Bras and Reconstructive Surgerymentioning

confidence: 99%

Dressing The Postsurgical Body: An Examination Of Experience, Perceptions, And Body Image With Reconstructive Breast Surgery And Bra Fit

Amoozegar-Montero

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<p><strong>Treatment and recovery for breast cancer are complex and multifaceted. The experience of a mastectomy and reconstructive breast surgery is a direct assault on a particular body part that is considered central to femininity and normative conceptions of feminine beauty. The journey through breast cancer diagnosis, treatment decisions, and recovery into survivorship can present significant changes and challenges to an individual’s physical and psychological self. Although a reconstructive breast procedure is presented as a way to restore the body to its preoperative state and attain a sense of normalcy, reconstructed breasts can look, feel, and behave differently than natural breasts. This thesis explores how women in Aotearoa New Zealand who have undergone a mastectomy and reconstructive breast surgery experience their postsurgical bodies, focusing on perceptions of their reconstructed breasts, body image, and femininity and the role and significance bra choices play in women’s postsurgical lives. A phenomenological and feminist methodology was used to frame the thesis, placing the lived experience of the women who participated in the study at the centre of analysis and acknowledging this information to be a significant contribution to the research. To support this framing, I drew on the concepts of embodiment, body projects, and the ill body. To complement this approach, I used a concurrent triangulation mixed methods research design to analyse multiple layers of data stemming from both a survey and interviews. A survey of 110 participants and 25 in-depth interviews were conducted simultaneously, analysed independently, and then triangulated during interpretation. The quantitative survey data was analysed using descriptive statistics, and the open-ended data along with the qualitative interview data were analysed using a thematic analysis. Three major themes emerged from the interview data: 1) ‘Choosing’ Reconstruction: participants’ decision to undergo reconstructive breast surgery, 2) Changing Bodies: Participants’ relationship with their postsurgical body, and 3) The Power of the bra: Bras and reconstructed breasts. The results of this study provide a deeper understanding of participants’ postoperative experiences with their reconstructed breast and bodies. Specifically, the results present the participants’ strong desire for postoperative normality, the experience of medical pressure to restore the traditionally feminine body, postoperative feelings of disembodiment and embodiment, and an account of the emotions associated with the unfulfilled and unexpected ramifications of breast reconstruction. These findings outline the prevalent issues and concerns with postoperative bras and suggest that a well-fitted bra can contribute to minimizing, if not alleviating, some of the physical and psychological discomforts caused by breast reconstruction. This thesis is the first study in Aotearoa New Zealand to investigate the meaning of bras for women who have undergone a mastectomy and breast reconstruction surgery. It contributes to the literature by providing novel understandings of the role the bra plays in relation to women’s postsurgical bodies and fundamental information on the postoperative experience of women who have undergone reconstructive breast surgery.</strong></p>

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Development of Mastectomy Bra for Breast Cancer Survivors

Dhawan

Sahni

Tiwari

2022

Ergonomics for Design and Innovation

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Bra preferences of breast cancer survivors treated with mastectomy and prosthetic reconstruction

Cited by 3 publications

References 28 publications

Undergarment Needs and Challenges for Breast Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Study

Undergarment Needs and Challenges for Breast Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Study

Dressing The Postsurgical Body: An Examination Of Experience, Perceptions, And Body Image With Reconstructive Breast Surgery And Bra Fit

Development of Mastectomy Bra for Breast Cancer Survivors

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