A donation of 200 specially-designed bras from the fashion designer Stella McCartney has been made to the Royal United Hospital in Bath for women who have undergone breast surgery.
Nurse Catherine Brown with patient Pam Stoate holding one of the bras
Made from organic cotton, the post-surgery bras are comfortable and supportive and are a particularly good fit for women with prosthetics.
The bra is aimed primarily at women who have undergone a mastectomy as part of their treatment, but is also suitable for anyone who has had surgery for breast cancer.
The bra is made from ultra-soft cotton and cotton lace, with a soft, flexible under-band and front and back fastenings.
It includes ultra-soft internal pockets for use with prosthesis, wide, adjustable straps, and an extended size range.
The RUH was one of just a handful of hospitals to be given the bras, which are now being offered to patients by the RUH’s team of Breast Care Nurses.
Breast Care Nurse Catherine Brown said: “We’ve just started to give the bras out to our patients, but the feedback we’ve had has been very positive – the women have said how comfortable they are to wear, that they are easy to look after, and feel very feminine.
“These bras are a very generous donation and will help to make our patients feel comfortable and more confident as they complete their journey to recovery.”
Patient Pam Stoate was one of the first patients to receive one of the bras following a mastectomy in November.
She said: “Catherine gave me the bra on the day of my operation and I thought it was a lovely gesture. It was a real boost to know I was being thought about and it made me feel really well looked after.
“The bras have been extremely well designed. The front opening is very thoughtful and practical and the broad straps are comfortable and easily adjustable – ideal when you recovering after an operation and are still sore and in some discomfort.
“This was my second bout of cancer and the RUH has seen me through both. I can’t fault the care and support I’ve received.”
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK and will affect around one in 10 women during their life.
It can now be treated very effectively and most women who develop breast cancer will be permanently cured following treatment. However, they will need regular breast cancer surveillance with mammography.
Over 6,000 women are referred to the RUH Breast Unit every year, about 400 of these will be diagnosed with cancer.
The vast majority of patients are women, but the unit also sees men with breast problems, two or three of whom will have breast cancer.
The RUH Breast Unit has one of the most up-to-date facilities in the South West of England. It provides an integrated range of services for patients with breast problems, including rapid access diagnostic clinics by a team of dedicated specialists.
It has state of the art breast imaging equipment and is one of the very few trusts in the region with digital mammography, breast tomosynthesis and breast MRI.
