Giving Thanks: Continuing Breast Cancer Awareness with the People Inspiring Our Surgical Bras
When October ends, the pink ribbons are not as prominent, and the breast cancer news slows down. But for the approximately 310,720 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2024 alone, and the millions of others who continue their breast cancer battle, the month doesn’t matter. They are focused on the disease day after day, as they deal with discomfort, surgeries and questions about their care.
This inspired us to dedicate November, a time known for giving thanks, as a month where we’ll donate 20% of each purchase on our site to Susan G. Komen®. Komen’s commitment to the cause also goes year-round with its MORE THAN PINK Walk®, KOMEN RACE FOR THE CURE® and SUSAN G. KOMEN 3-DAY® , fundraising events that remind us that one person can make a difference.
When it comes down to it, we are very well-aware that breast cancer is about the people. The people at Komen whose mission is to “save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer.” The feedback from nurses and surgeons who have reviewed, tested and now use our bras in their practice. The team who helps us create, distribute and promote our surgical bras. And, of course, the people who are bravely moving forward after surgery and treatment for breast cancer, many wearing our bras to help support them in recovery.
It's these people who have reminded us of the needs of women going through treatment, surgery or reconstruction, how to help and how to communicate about how we create our recovery bras and why we do it.
What’s Different About Our Surgical Bras? The Details
When we say our post-surgical bras are designed with the patient in mind, we really mean it. Every aspect was created with purpose because the smallest details do matter:
The breast cancer patient who said she was comfortable when back to work riding the bus not long after surgery, feeling support even on the bumps, like a hug.
The woman who tearfully told us that the pockets with puffs in our post surgery bra made her feel more “normal” after her first surgery when her chest was uneven after a mastectomy.
The woman who exhibited next to us at an event who told us just how hard it was to move her arms and close her bra around her, so we worked to create the best post surgical bra for breast reduction.
The woman who asked if we’d create our bras in black as she had an extended recovery and wanted options.
We’re grateful to the many women who we’ve met along the way as we’ve developed our post op bras. It’s about giving patients the option to use insurance or other funds to purchase a bra. It’s about educating women, so they know they’re potentially eligible for insurance coverage to get the right bra for their recovery. It’s about connecting with doctors and nurses to understand what they’re seeing as they work with patients, learning from them and informing them about our products.
It all goes back to the story of another very important person: our mom. Her life’s work was about helping others and looking for resolutions, and we are proud to honor her in our work.
How Are We Able to Make These Changes? With Support
As a small business, we’re able to respond to testing and review by care professionals and women currently going through the process to get feedback and assess changes we can make to our patterns. We’re also constantly looking to innovate and grow in our business, so we’re continually reaching out to providers to get feedback and to those who provide post surgery bras to patients or want to provide information on the best post op bra. We welcome all hospitals, clinics, doctors and nurses looking for new bras to reach out and learn more about how we can work together.
This month, we’re partnering with Breasts Are Overrated (BAO), an innovative business founded by a woman currently on her own breast cancer journey, whose chemo collection comes from personal experience. We’ll be featuring some of her products on our site.
We’re additionally working with Sleep Again Pillows, another innovative business founded by a breast cancer survivor who wanted more comfort in recovery and designed a unique pillow system for better sleep. You’ll find our products on their site.
As always, we support you—the patients, the caregivers, the foundations invested in research, the nurses, the surgeons, the small business owners and innovators, the family and friends. We’re all on this journey together, as we share in a goal for a healthier future, and we’re thankful for the ability to learn, improve and thrive on the path ahead.