Support & Resources
Giving Thanks: Appreciating the Original Inspiration and Ongoing Support of Our Post-Surgery Bras
As we focus on our continued partnership with Susan G. Komen® and our donation of 20% of all orders placed during November on heartandcore.com to their organization, we share their statistics that are both hopeful and heartbreaking. Statistics like these remind us that that battle against breast cancer is moving forward but also that there is still work to be done: Komen's nearly $1.1 billion breast cancer research investment has made access to care easier for all people through policy and advocacy and direct patient support programs. Komen played a role in the development of all 19 breast cancer drugs approved by the FDA in the last 12 years. In 2024, it’s estimated among women in the U.S. there will be: 310,720 new cases of invasive breast cancer (This includes new cases of primary breast cancer, but not breast cancer recurrences.) 56,500 new cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a non-invasive breast cancer 42,250 breast cancer deaths In the U.S., every 12 minutes someone loses their life to breast cancer. Along with the numbers, Komen’s words shine a light on the importance of community: "Ending breast cancer needs all of us." Those words “all of us” ring true in so many ways. It’s everyone around us that remind us of the reality of the physical and financial struggles when battling cancer, the fact that everyone—patients and caregivers—need support and the challenges of growing a small surgical bra business with the goal of helping those who are recovering from breast cancer surgery or treatment. It’s the reminder we get when we look at the statistics and how we can play a part in helping women, to deliver comfort when they are experiencing and managing so much discomfort. While our mom passed away from breast cancer, her memory and inspiration are what continue to drive us. She was an incredible mom. Patient, kind, loving and selfless. But her giving spirit went beyond her family. She dedicated her life to helping others. As a social worker, her caring and compassionate personality made her stand out amongst coworkers and clients. Her entire career encompassed serving different groups of people, in every capacity from being out in the field, to leading a team and managing programs, to assisting the people running them and benefitting from them. Just one example of her true love for helping others was on a Thanksgiving many years ago, when we were just kids. She invited a client to our family dinner, knowing he had no family of his own to spend the day. Being young, we knew the invitation was important, as she explained his situation, but it’s only years later that we realize how much she cared about each person whose path she crossed. For her, the work was personal, and the compassion was genuine. She took pride in her work, aspiring to do more and even volunteer outside of a career dedicated to others. It was just who she was. It's that devotion to others and willingness to work hard, adapt and power through the hardest situations that stuck with us, it's what inspired us to create a post-surgical bra company that serves women, to keep building it during tough times and to keep changing as necessary to develop and enhance our products to address real needs. This has required nonstop learning, a sense of humor and amazing people around us, much like our mom’s journey through life. The last Thanksgiving we celebrated with our mom was one that stands out. She was uncomfortable, yet staying so positive even when struggling with some side effects. She was smiling, making jokes and hopeful for what was to come. We knew the cancer had spread, but we instead focused on the time together and plans for the future. We had already launched heart&core with her needs helping to develop our first bra, a wireless and supportive sports bra for larger-chested women (not many existed at this time!), and she was so encouraging and committed to her own wellness journey as she worked to maintain her strength. In life, we all face different battles in every aspect, from health to happiness and work and relationships. Our role model showed us that looking ahead was incredibly valuable, that working hard was fulfilling and that learning was to be enjoyed. Sure, she had her hard times, her fears, her frustrations, but her authentic love for life, for people and for giving back are the memories that we hold close to our hearts. This month, as always, we’re thankful we had an amazing mom. We’re thankful that our family can come together and honor her memory. We’re thankful for the people and partners who support us as we work to add to our collection of surgical bras, compression bras and mastectomy bras, making them more accessible to women through different channels, as well as making sure our Larissa and Serena Bras are eligible for insurance coverage and that all of our bras are FSA and HSA approved. We’re thankful for ongoing research and support from organizations like Komen. It’s our desire to celebrate our mom that inspires us to pay it forward and donate money to Komen’s mission to "save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer." When you take time to come together with family or friends this month, what are you thankful for? Who comes to mind as a powerful person in your life? As you think about the people who have supported you on your journey in life, we encourage you to take inspiration from that “village” of people, to give back in ways that are meaningful to you and to celebrate and remember those whose inspiration stays with you, whether they are with you in person or in memory. We wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and thank you, as always, for your support as we work to support you.
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Giving Thanks: Continuing Breast Cancer Awareness with the People Inspiring Our Surgical Bras
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: Patented Design with Drain Tabs: Our built-in drain tabs create a management system that really helps patients for many reasons. Secure Velcro tabs allow the patient or caregiver to securely fasten drains close to the body without having them hang down. This makes them easier to access. They’re also close to the body so the wearer can see when they’re getting full instead of being concealed by pockets. We’ve been told many times this is ideal for real-life surgical recovery. Front Closure: Our post surgical bra front closure design is critical when it comes to a post surgical bra, so we took that idea and ran with it. With unusually wide Velcro bands, the patient has room to adjust their fit tighter or looser. If looser, the soft Velcro exposed to the skin won’t rub or irritate it. Adjustable Straps: Our straps fully open, which is a major reason that surgeons want this bra on patients right after they come through surgery. You can simply attach the straps and the front closure, and the bra is secured on the patient. There’s also a long strip of Velcro allowing a custom fit for any shoulder length. Medical Grade Velcro Closures: In the front closure and straps, we chose medical grade Velcro. It’s soft, it’s strong and it’s durable. It lays flat, and while some people may want hook and eye closures down the line, the Velcro is easy for anyone to seal. Sport-Friendly Fabric: Many women wear sports bras regularly because they’re so comfortable, they wick away our sweat and dry quickly. For those who’ve had surgery or treatments, some who may be in menopause or experiencing early menopause as a result, this fabric is a must-have. More than cotton or stiffer fabric, our medical compression bra has just the right amount of compression for post-surgery recovery. Pockets with Puffs: Our surgery bras are also designed with pockets and each of our Larissa and Serena bras comes with a set of puffs, a microfiber-stuffed “pillow” with an opening so, after a mastectomy or any type of breast surgery, the wearer can take out some filling or add it, to create the shape they want. The puffs themselves are created by size to fit each mastectomy bra. This feature is crucial for patients also, because it makes the bras eligible for insurance coverage, depending on their provider. If approved, breast surgery patients should be eligible for two post surgical bras covered in their lifetime. One to wash, one to wear, as they recover. Racerback Design: Straps that fall down are a pain in an everyday bra, and an absolute can’t-have in a surgical bra. Our racerback design eliminates that aggravation and holds your straps comfortably in place. FSA and HSA Approved: We worked hard to get our Larissa, Serena and Shirl Post-Surgical Bras, to be FSA and HSA approved to make them more accessible to women who need them. Wide Variety of Sizes: Women of all different shapes and sizes have the need for a surgical bra; we heard many women say they couldn't find a post op bra that really fits. So we offer ours in a range to cover 28" to 60" in band size. Our adjustable front closure bras and straps help customize the fit. We recommend everyone starts by finding their heart&core size. Why Did We Work So Hard on the Details? The People 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.
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The Best Bra for Weight Loss? It’s Here! Discover the Benefits
Our new Shirl Bra is an excellent choice for women going through weight loss! Why, you ask? This adjustable bra gives them the power to adapt it to their changing shape. Let's start with the details of the design: It begins with the fabric — a buttery soft, quick-dry, breathable blend that wears and washes well. From there we designed a sporty racerback style with wide adjustable straps to keep the girls in place — properly supported while still comfortable! And here comes the exciting part — we have a patent-pending, double zipper front closure with a snap at the top. This feature allows women to continue wearing this compression bra as they lose weight! It can be work with the outer zipper and as the body changes, the inner zipper provides a snug fit. Also, in times of monthly bloating or swelling during menstruation, the outer zipper gives a little extra breathing room. Hint: We recommend snapping it first then zipping it up so it's an easy process! The wide flat band serves as support as well as prevents it from rolling, twisting or binding. The sleek design gives it an overall great look and feel for incredible shape and support! Even better? This weight loss bra HSA and FSA approved, meaning you can use your funds to buy it. The real question is, what size and color to buy? It comes in XS (28”) up to SQ (60”) and black or white. Our sizing guide helps to determine the right fit.For more information or to purchase one, check it out at https://heartandcore.com/products/shirl-bra
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