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Finding comfortable clothing during cancer treatment, surgery, and recovery can involve a lot of trial and error…

Bras After Surgery

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Finding comfortable clothing during cancer treatment, surgery, and recovery can involve a lot of trial and error. The items on this page are things I’ve personally used or discovered while trying to find options that worked for me. What feels comfortable and works well will be different for everyone, but I’m sharing my experiences in hopes that they make someone else’s search a little easier.

After my double mastectomy, I was sent home with two medical bras, one of which I wore home from the hospital. Afterward, I ordered several supportive bras from the brand Evercute on Amazon.

I really like the variety of colors, the front zipper, and the price—especially since you can get several bras in a pack. I did find that the bottom of the bra could be irritating where my surgical scar was, so initially I placed a small piece or two of cotton in that area for extra comfort.

A note about sizing: I normally wear a small, so I initially ordered a medium. It was too tight for me. I sized up to a large, which fit me much better.

The photo above shows three of the bras I actually own (the others were in the laundry when I took the picture!). Below are links to the sets I personally purchased and used.

Bra set I used #1 : View on Amazon

Bra set I used #2 : View on Amazon

Bras Covered By My Insurance:

A few months after my implant surgery, I experimented with different wireless bras. Some were more supportive than others. About a year later, I discovered the Mastectomy Bra Boutique at St. Luke’s Center for Hope & Healing, where I was able to be professionally measured and try on different bras.

Through my insurance, I was able to order up to eight bras per year under one copay. The boutique offered a variety of options, including everyday, dressier, and surgical bras. Two of the bras I’m showing above came from the boutique, and both have been extremely comfortable.

One of their suppliers is a German-based company, so I found that my usual band and cup size didn’t translate directly to their sizing. This is another reason I found being professionally measured helpful.

Insurance coverage varies, so I recommend checking with your insurance provider and the boutique to find out what your individual plan covers. The Center for Hope & Healing also offers other resources for cancer patients and survivors.

Helpful Tip

I’ve also found that a two-hook bra extender can be useful when I need a little extra room in the band.

Clothing during treatment/surgery

For chemo and my surgeries, I ordered several tops from Amazon that made accessing my port and managing surgical drains easier.

During chemo

I wore tops with zippered openings that provided access to my port for infusions and bloodwork. Since my treatments were every three weeks, I bought two colors and alternated between them.

Shirts I used with zipper access for my port — View on Amazon

After surgery

I purchased soft, front-zip tops with inside pockets that held my surgical drain bags. I liked them enough that I purchased several so I could change them frequently and always have a clean one available during recovery.

The post-surgery shirts came in lots of colors, and I found them very soft and comfortable.

Post-surgery shirts I used — View on Amazon

Comfortable clothing

Finding comfortable clothing has been especially important for me. Because I was left with upper-arm lymphedema, I often use layers to help cover my medical-grade compression sleeve while still being comfortable.

Some of the most affordable tops I’ve found have been through 32 degrees. I’ve found tops with built-in bras for around $10, and they also have dresses and other reasonably priced clothing. I’ve personally purchased and worn their clothing and have had good luck finding comfortable options.

If you’re able to spend a little more, I’ve also had success with Halara. OGL Move is another brand I’m interested in trying, and I’ll update this page if I find pieces that work well for me.

On the more expensive end for me is Softies. Their clothing is more of a birthday or holiday treat for me, but I really like how soft and comfortable it feels. They also offer Afterpay for eligible purchases, which can make the cost a little easier to spread out.

One strategy that works well for me is wearing something sleeveless underneath a cardigan or loose sweater. Occasionally, I get lucky and find a top with sleeves loose enough that I don’t need to layer at all.

I’ve found some great options from these websites as well as random finds in stores. However, I personally prefer shopping online. Trying on multiple pieces of clothing can be difficult for me, so being able to shop from home makes the process much easier.

The one drawback I’ve found with some clothing websites is that returns aren’t always as simple as they are with Amazon. Still, I’ve found pieces that work very well for me, and I hope sharing them helps someone else find something comfortable too.