Breast Cancer Fashion Part Two: What To Wear After A Mastectomy

Part Two:  Post Surgery

If you or a friend or loved one is facing an upcoming mastectomy surgery, this post might give you some ideas on how to prepare and what to wear in the first days and weeks after surgery.  This would also go for other breast cancer related surgeries.  For example, prior to my diagnosis, I had two excisional lymph node biopsies, which also required trips to the O.R., and also limited the movement of my affected side.

Of course, the first priority is physical COMFORT and EASE (as in easy-on, easy-off).  But, as a woman who likes clothes and fashion, I also think about how clothes make me feel emotionally as well.  The days before and after a mastectomy are a very emotional time, and anything that might help you feel better during this time, I say "Go for it."

 Also, at the end of the post, following my discussion about scarves,  I will give instructions for making this "Inspirational Scarf" that I made for myself just before my surgery.  It would be a great gift for someone who is having surgery....or make one for yourself!

Here are my recommendations for post-surgery clothing...........

• On the day of your surgery and for at least a couple weeks afterwards, wear a loose fit top that zips or buttons all the way down, such as a full zip hoodie, or a large men's button down shirt.  

I bought a sweat suit at SAMS Club just before my breast cancer nightmare began (see photo below). Little did I know at the time that I would end up wearing it to two excisional lymph node biopsies , a mastectomy surgery, the insertion and removal of my port and also during several infusions of chemotherapy.  I just thought it would be a comfy outfit to wear around the house that fall and winter. It turned out to be a very comfortable, and comforting addition to my wardrobe during that awful time in my life.   I layered it with soft camisoles.  Coming home from surgeries, I simply wore the hoodie without the camisole underneath.  I also paired it with some warm, fuzzy, colorful socks.  


It was winter when I had my surgery, but in the summer you could look for something similar with a lighter weight fabric and short sleeves. 

The shirt in the picture below is one of my husband's flannel shirts that I wore when I got home from the hospital.  I paired it with leggings and some fuzzy boot type slippers.  It was actually very comfortable and I thought it looked sort of stylish.

• Make sure you have two or three sets of pajamas that also button all the way down the front.

If you can, indulge yourself a little, and buy yourself some new pajamas.  Or if someone has asked if there is anything you need, tell them that you would like a new pair of pajamas (caregivers, take note).  I treated myself and ordered three pairs of button front pajamas in fun prints from Kohls.com just before my surgery.  One was a silky fabric (see below), one was a soft minky fleece, and the other was a soft knit.  I also ordered a fuzzy and warm, hooded robe that zipped all the way down the front. I discovered that Kohls has really nice pajamas and if you order online you can even get Tall sizes (I'm tall).  This little indulgence turned out to be very emotionally comforting for me and I enjoyed wearing these all through my recovery period as well as most of my chemotherapy treatment period.  

If you cannot afford to buy new ones--try shopping at a thrift store.  I have also purchased very nice pajamas at thrift stores, including big name brands like Victoria's Secret.  

• Get a robe that zips all the way down the front.  

As I already mentioned, I also wore a front zipper robe.  I have found some of these robes that are actually kind of cute and suited for a young(ish) woman like myself (I'm in my 40's).  I used to associate these types of robes with older ladies (sorry if I offend anyone), but I managed to find some that I like.  I have packed my fuzzy one away for the summer, but pictured below is an example of a similar version for summer.  I bought this one at a thrift store for just a couple dollars.   It has a subtle leopard design that I think is cute.  I took my fuzzy robe to the hospital and used it as a comforting blanket and also draped it over my shoulders during my one night hospital stay after my mastectomy.  

  

• Ask your surgeon if you will be provided with a surgical bra or camisole.  When I had my mastectomy, I woke up from surgery wearing one.  

 I was provided with a surgical bra that fit snug and fastened in the front with velcro.  It helped hold my drain in place.  (I was lucky and only had one drain since I only had one breast removed and did not have any reconstructive surgery).  I looped my drain tube and secured it with the velcro part of the bra.

I have heard of many creative solutions to the problem of keeping drains in place.  Many women have two or more drains to deal with.  One solution I have seen is wearing an apron with pockets to hold the drains and another is wearing a tool belt around the waist and putting the drains in the slots for the tools.  Please leave a note in the comment section if you would like to add any additional ideas that worked for you or someone you know.

•  Scarves

A few scarves from my collection.  

Ok, I have to admit that I have always loved accessorizing with scarves, so this just came naturally to me.  I have tons of scarves in my closet in many different styles.  If you are not a scarf person, you might need to experiment with scarves a little.  But I found scarves to be an ESSENTIAL accessory in the first few weeks after surgery.  Scarves hide a multitude of flaws in the chest area, and also add color and style to any outfit.  So it is a win-win situation in my opinion.  

I had a unilateral mastectomy, so I still had a breast to deal with, and being unable to wear a bra, there were many days that I wore a pretty scarf over my top to cover up my chest.  It hid my flat side as well as my unsupported boob on the other side.  And it was winter, so the scarves kept me warm as well.  But even in the summer months you can find lightweight scarves.  I used fabric infinity scarves, as well as knitted or crocheted scarves--whatever I felt like wearing each day.  It got me through my recovery period.

Instructions for My "Inspirational Scarf."

The days leading up to my surgery were not easy.  I decided not to have reconstructive surgery, so I mourned the upcoming loss of my breast, and braced myself for what was to come.   I came up with the idea for this scarf just a few days before my mastectomy and invited a few of my closest friends over to my house to make these"Inspirational Scarves" with me as I prepared myself for losing my breast.   

Materials:

1. Plain, light colored scarf.  (I used inexpensive off-white colored infinity scarves that I found at Walmart). (Any fabric will work as long as you are able to write on it with Sharpie.)
2. Fine-tipped Black permanent marker  (Sharpie) or  Black Fabric Marker
3. Cardboard to place underneath your scarf as you write (I used a cut-up cereal box)

Instructions:

1. Hand wash your scarf and hang to dry.  
2. Select the inspirational words you want to write on the scarf.  I used various lyrics from Beatles songs for my first scarf.  Some other ideas are:  Poems, Song Lyrics, Bible verses, Quotes, or Inspirational Phrases.  
3. Place your scarf on top of the cardboard and make it as flat as possible and simply begin writing.  I found that if I used too much pressure, my Sharpie bled on the fabric, so I used a light touch.  You will have to test your fabric with your marker and adjust the amount of pressure you use.  You could use any size or style of writing you want.  My friends and I all did our scarves slightly different.  

I wore this scarf often in the days and weeks after my surgery and even to some of my chemo treatments.  I received many complements on it and the words written on it gave me comfort.  I think it would be a great gift also.

Please Join In the Conversation and Leave a Comment!   

I hope you found this post useful.  Of course we all have different ways of dealing with our problems and different tastes in clothing and fashion.  Please feel free to leave any ideas or different things that worked for you in the Comment Section below.  I'd love to hear your ideas!  Thanks for reading and best wishes to you.

Next Post:  

In my next post I will continue this series on Breast Cancer Fashion and how I have adapted my wardrobe during various phases along the way to reaching my "New Normal".