Bras and swimming costumes for mastectomy

There are some shops in the UK that sell mastectomy wear. They have shops in different areas and you can find their details on the following websites:

• Nicola Jane has shops in London, Chichester and Leeds – link to Nicola Jane website
• Amena has a shop near Southampton – link to Amoena website
• Bouncing back has a shop in Gateshead – link to Bouncing back
• Bare necessities has a shop in Melbourne, Derbyshire – link to Bare necessities
• Silk stockings lingerie has a shop in Seaton, Devon – link to Silk stockings

There are many other manufacturers who specialise in mastectomy wear and sell by mail order. They can send you a catalogue through the post. Some of these suppliers are listed on our breast cancer organisations page. Or you could try contacting the charity Breast Cancer Care. They have a lot of information about mastectomy wear and also specialise in the correct fitting of breast prostheses.

Generally speaking, you don't need a special bra. As long as the bra has a full cup, the prosthesis should stay in place without a specially made pocket to hold it. Some large department and chain stores have specialist bra and swimwear fitters. They can help you choose styles that will work with a prosthesis even if they are not specially made for women who have had mastectomies. The best thing to do is phone the shop and ask.