Support & Resources
Breast Cancer Awareness Month: The Story of Our Mom, Our Post-Surgical Bras and Our Partner
The story behind heart&core begins with inspiration from our mom. It was her experience with breast cancer that inspired us to stand up and find a way to support others on their journey. After struggling to find bras during her recovery from a lumpectomy and radiation that were comfortable, supportive and wireless (this was not common 15 years ago!), we quickly realized there had to be a better option and—if we could not find it—we would create it. And in that one shopping trip, an idea was born. That was the launch of our post-surgery bras, which have been refined and expanded with the expertise, insight and innovativeness of patients, nurses and doctors. We looked at every point of contact for the perfect pattern, a wide range of sizes for every body, premium quick-drying fabric, wide bands that don’t roll up, adjustable straps that don’t fall down and a unique drain management design that keeps drains close to your body and easy to see and manage — not hanging, swinging or hidden in a pocket. With a custom fit that feels like a hug, we brought our love to the product. This was also the beginning of our journey of learning about breast cancer — from all aspects. About different treatments, insurance benefits, other supportive products and resources to help patients and their families as they go through this process, as ours did. Sometimes it’s about information and access to help that’s needed right away, in addition to the research and funding for programs. Our understanding of the big picture and all the smaller details led us to the American Cancer Society (ACS). We love that this organization has a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. Through research, information and programs and services, they connect cancer patients with free rides and lodging and a network of survivors. While we focus on breast cancer in October, this association works year-round to support people fighting all forms of cancer and improve their lives. The ACS Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk raises funds for lifesaving breast cancer research and advancing health equity through essential programs and services as it brings participants together in more than 150 cities across the country for an important cause. We’re excited to be a part of this event and to connect with the community that has helped us improve upon our bras for women recovering from breast cancer treatments and surgeries. After all, to know this community is to know how we can continue supporting them in unique ways. As we partner with ACS, it's important to us that heart&core shares in the mission to make a difference. For us, that's with every feature and benefit of our post-surgical bras as they make each patient’s recovery a more positive experience. As we honor our mom at the Making Strides walk October 12 at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, we hope you join us by signing up for this inspiring event or donating to our fundraiser in honor those you know who have had their own breast cancer journey.
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heart&core is Making Strides with the American Cancer Society
With the support of many organizations, Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October has become a focus everywhere you look. You see it in professional sports, celebrity endorsements and many of us are actively observing the month right in our own homes. With so many events to participate in, we are all helping with the fight against breast cancer together. This October, we at heart&core have chosen to work with the American Cancer Society (ACS) with a fundraiser for their Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. Our company is a strong supporter of organizations focused on research, advocacy and awareness, and we especially love the ACS’s commitment to supporting patients, families and caregivers. Did you know that the ACS offers services like lodging, rides and transportation and other various programs and services to help people get screenings and rides to treatment? They have invested $5 billion in research since 1946, helping to improve the lives of patients and their families — and to end cancer as we know it. There are Making Strides walks across the country — for us, that local walk is at 7 a.m. October 12 at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. We’ll be fundraising to benefit the ACS’s continued efforts to fund breakthrough breast cancer research, provide free information and support, and help people reduce their breast cancer risk or find it early when it may be more treatable. There are many ways you can get involved: Donate to our fundraiser to continue the ACS’s work. Join us by signing up for our event in the Twin Cities or one in the 150 participating communities. Volunteer year round to help and build quality relationships with people who need your help. As we all work in our own way to support breast cancer patients, from creating post-surgical bras with patients in mind to services that help them get the treatment they need, working together is how we can make a difference. However you decide to get involved, we appreciate your support as we all join together to fight breast cancer.
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Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Ways to Get Involved in October
We’re quickly approaching Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, a dedicated time to honor the community of survivors and remember those who have passed on. It’s also a time to celebrate the progress of research, come together at activities like walks and special events, and raise funds for continued efforts to support patients and their families. During October, we at heart&core are partnering with the American Cancer Society (ACS) to raise money for their year-round work to help those going through treatment for breast cancer. While you can support us during our ACS fundraiser with contributions or purchases, there are also many other ways to get involved and increase your understanding of the disease: Volunteer to support cancer patients locally Participate in a breast cancer event like Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Reach out to those currently battling breast cancer: A phone call, a visit or a care package with gift cards or essentials like a post-surgical bra are welcome and thoughtful gestures Make purchases that contribute to the cause: Shop Pink during the month of October, many brands donate proceeds of sales to breast cancer organizations focused on research and support Wear pink to show your support and promote awareness: Brighten everyone’s day with fun shades of pink all month to continue keeping breast cancer awareness top of mind Do your own self-exam and follow screening recommendations for mammograms or talk to your doctor about your personal plan Ask questions: If you have concerns about your own health or family history, ask your doctor for more information Check Out These Breast Cancer Resources If you or someone you know have been diagnosed with breast cancer, there are many resources available to you. American Cancer Society National Breast Cancer Foundation Breastcancer.org Susan G. Komen Stay tuned to heartandcore.com in October for information on our partnership with ACS and to learn more about how post-surgery bras are designed especially for comfortable recovery from breast cancer treatments and procedures.
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The Battle with Bra Sizes (and How We Make It Simple)
We know we're not alone when it comes to the struggle to find the right bra size. There's no standard these days. It's so important (and frustrating), and yet, it varies between brands greatly. And when you're buying online, it's critical to know the sizing chart so that you can get the right product right away. After surgery or during your weight loss journey, it can be even more difficult to identify your size due to swelling or a change in shape as pounds come off. Even during your period, breasts can become larger and more tender. Another issue that women run into is compensating and order too large a band size with too small of a cup, and vice versa. So measuring with an everyday bra is a great way to get a baseline for your heart&core bra size. Before you order from our site, visit our What’s My Size? page and use our guide to get softest, most supportive postoperative bra that fits like it was made just for you. There are many benefits of wearing the right bra size, beyond shape and comfort. It can help: Improve posture Prevent back and neck pain Prevent sagging and stretching of the ligaments in the breast Reduce pressure on your blood vessels and nerves near the shoulders and rib cage (which causes them to build) Prevent tenderness and pain during exercise An ideal bra after surgery: Is free of underwire but has a thick band and gentle compression to support the breast Fits breast adequately without a gap of space in it or the breast spilling over Has a band with a snug fit around the body that doesn't ride up or roll up We encourage you to approach your bra order with this knowledge and your current measurements to truly get a fit that feels good. Questions about your heart&core size? Reach out to us directly at info@heartandcore.com!
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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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Did You Know Post-Surgical Bras May Be Covered by Your Insurance?
As we all know, breast cancer — along with many other health issues — can be costly and wreak havoc on finances. When items that are necessities, like post-surgical bras, can be covered by insurance, it is important for women to have all the information to use the benefit so they have one less thing to worry about. Most insurance companies allow two bras to be covered (one to wash, one to wear) for a breast cancer related surgery using the L8015 insurance code, which is defined as a post-surgical bra (which means it needs to come with pockets and a set of puffs to qualify). Many times, bras are not provided at hospitals or they leave the patient wanting a better fit or more comfort, so it is good to get bras beforehand to ensure you are going to be happy with the bra you are recovering in post-surgery. There are a couple of ways you can get your bras ahead of time. You will need to have a prescription from your nurse or doctor. You can go to a local fitting shop/hospital shop that can bill your insurance for you. It would be best to call ahead to schedule an appointment and make sure they can approve your insurance. Order your bras online and submit your receipts to insurance. Please make sure you check with your insurance company for details such as how many post-surgical bras you can get and what your dollar limit is per bra. We talked with Kimberly Robinson, owner of Underneath It All in Eden Prairie, MN, a local fitting shop that carries our post-surgical bras to get some additional tips and information. Bras like our Larissa Bra are carried at shops like these because they include pockets for puffs and drain management, often needed in the first stages of recovery after surgery. She also shared with us that insurance companies cover anywhere from 2-12 mastectomy bras each year under the L8000 code, which is defined as a bra with pockets (for forms). Lymphedema sleeves are now being covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and some — but not all — commercial insurance companies. Breast forms are typically covered for 1 per side every two years. Wigs are now being covered under some insurance as well. If you are having another type of surgery, one that is non breast cancer related, you can use your FSA/HSA card to purchase a qualifying bra for your recovery. For example, our Shirl Bra, which was designed with heart surgery in mind, is FSA/HSA approved through https://sig-is.org/ as is our Serena Bra, which is ideal for post-surgical recovery without drains. In fact, all three of our bras are approved by sig-is. If there are other products you want to check, you can do a search on their site. We hope this helps you better understand how to access post-surgical bras by using insurance or your HSA/FSA account. If you have any questions, we are happy to help, and if we don't know the answer, we'll try and point you in the right direction!
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Our Mission: Supporting the Community of Breast Cancer Patients and Caregivers
Beyond delivering comfortable post-surgical bras for breast cancer patients, we work to be a resource and serve the community through contributions to the Susan G. Komen® + Friends of Komen Program. For those of us who live in colder climates, May is the time of year when spring has sprung (minus an occasional snowstorm)! People get excited to be outdoors and enjoy then warmth of the sun. This month kicked off some new business relationships, including a partnership with the Susan G. Komen® + Friends of Komen Program. We have had to overcome some big obstacles, but with the help of new partners, we have been able to grow our product line and support organizations like Susan G. Komen® and all the amazing things they are doing to invest in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer. During May, we are donating 20% of all online purchases to this organization to support their vision. We believe our mom has played a role over the years in helping us navigate opportunities and challenges as a small women-owned business. When we wanted to give up, our mom’s angel wings would show up and bring some good to us that would encourage us to keep looking ahead. We went through the breast cancer journey with our mom and, while haven’t experienced it ourselves, we feel for the women that do. It’s why we push forward to help women, following in our mom’s legacy, who had a career in social work and helping others. Our goal is to be a resource for women, as a breast cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. We will continue to perfect our post-surgical bras, build our product line and assist each patient in her journey in any way we can. Whether you've personally been touched by breast cancer as a survivor or loved one or caregiver of a survivor, we support you.
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A Fitting Tribute: Our Mom, Our Bras & Our Susan G. Komen® + Friends Partnership
The meaningful reason we’ve joined the Susan G. Komen® + Friends of Komen Program. Our mom, the inspiration behind heart&core, was a huge fan of participating the Susan G. Komen® Race for the Cure® every Mother’s Day in Minneapolis, where I live. She loved getting her new T-shirt each year and proudly wore it that day and the days after. It was her day to celebrate beating cancer! And we loved walking as a family. We even wore costumes one year, which made it even more fun for her. Little did we know the cancer would come back and that she wouldn’t beat it the second time — but it was not without putting up a fight. After she passed away, my dad took all of her old T-shirts from trips she had been on, events she had been to and, of course, her Komen Race for the Cure® T-shirts and had them made into a blanket. He made one for Lara and me — and one for himself too. We all still have ours and love that they remind us of how much life my mom got to live and enjoy. This month, we are celebrating and supporting what Susan G. Komen® is doing for women with breast cancer. We’re donating 20% of all online purchases of our Larissa, Serena and Shirl Post-Surgical Bras and eGift Cards to the organization's work to create a world without breast cancer. We thought May was a perfect month to do it in honor of our mom — and all the great moms out there! Whether you've personally been touched by breast cancer as a survivor or loved one or caregiver of a survivor, we support you.
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A gift of support
Your friend is having surgery. Your immediate thought is to write a card, send flowers, bring a pan of lasagna to the house. While it’s heartfelt, there comes that point that they have enough food. An even more powerful and helpful gift? Helping her get ready for surgery. We see orders come through all the time from people sending a bra to someone else. It’s touching to see people share this gift and showing of support. That’s what got us to create our Comfort Bag. We considered everything a woman truly needs during recovery based on our mom’s experience, and hand-selected items that can help a patient during their hospital stay and as they make their way into recovery. That’s why we included a post-surgical bra too. It’s everything a woman needs to feel supported and on her way to the next stop in her journey.
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So…you’re having surgery
Planning ahead for surgery can be a daunting task. There’s the emotional preparation, building the network of family and friends, and the physical considerations. Knowing what you’ll need is not always easy—and you may not always get the guidance you need. Get all your questions answered by your doctor Pack all personal items, loose-fitting clothing and a post-surgical bra Make sure you have someone who can help you Attend all follow-up appointments Listen in to our What You Should Take to the Hospital Video for more helpful tips.
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But really, what’s my bra size??
I was reminded that it’s tough to buy a bra in person or online. That’s why we created our What’s My Size page. It all started when I was asked to be a bridesmaid in a wedding this summer and absolutely fell in love with the dress the bride picked! Tiny dress straps reminded me that my current strapless bra needed to be replaced. So I made the trip to the mall and went to pick out a new one. When wandering around the store, I was immediately stopped and asked if I knew my size. Of course I do! But…upon measuring since last year, I learned it had changed. Thinking, “no I haven’t changed at all,” I still pulled my current size from the rack and headed to the dressing room. After trying a few, I heard a knock at the door. “Did I need help?” Yes, I needed to try that size on after all, just to see. She brought me three bras. They fit like a glove. I brought them home and wore one that day and I felt amazing. It was so comfortable. And it reminded me, the band size and cup were just numbers, I really needed to know what fits so that I felt my best. We encourage you to visit the What’s My Size page to learn more about sizing for you or the woman you’re buying for, so that you can get the best, most comfortable fit in a post-surgical bra. And as always, please contact us with questions—we’re here to support you!
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A heartfelt thank you
“As a nurse, we have the opportunity to heal the heart, mind, soul and body of our patients, their families and ourselves. They may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou With our newest bra in hand and our favorite mannequin to show it off, we set up for our “reunion” at ISPAN 2018 in Chicago. The show has become a place to meet face-to-face with plastic surgery nurses from across the country who are committed to innovations in patient care. After seven years of exhibiting, it’s a mix of familiar faces and new friends, and we’re there to say our hellos, give hugs and thank this community for everything they do to push us forward in our vision. They’re the people who listen to patients, share frustrations and find solutions. They’re there to make the patient journey better. And they’ve become our partners. So we listen. Closely. Over the years they’ve not only inspired us to make refinements to our bras, talking through pain points for patients, but also to better understand the complete patient journey. This has inspired us to explore new ways of supporting the community. After understanding the process of providing bras—how tough it is for many practices to procure, stock and manage inventory, even when the nurses really love a product—we launched the heart&core Cares Program, providing each office with information and an exclusive discount code for their patients to order the bra they need post-surgery. We assist in sizing, in suggestions, in listening at the time of a customer’s purchase—that means there are no headaches or hassles added to a nurse’s busy days, just a simple solution that will add to their reputation for excellence. Because we’re committed to the same outcome: a healthy patient who is as comfortable as possible after breast, heart or lung surgery. And we continue to appreciate nurses for how they make us feel, and how they change the world, one patient at a time. So again, to all the nurses, we thank you for supporting us. And we’ll continue to try supporting you.
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