During a recent trip to the Avalon Mall with her 14-year-old daughter, it dawned on Leslie Candow that she was no longer part of a market she had been in for more than 30 years.
The 45-year-old Candow, who lives in Kilbride, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and had breast removal surgery. Since then, she's had to buy mastectomy bras at a medical supply store.
She and her daughter were looking at bras at stores in the mall. Candow saw plenty she liked, but was told the stores didn't carry mastectomy bras.
The mastectomy bras from the medical supply store are limited in style and colour. Candow said it's often hard to find matching panties. It's a far cry from the elaborate and showy offerings of most women's stores.
"It just seems that all of us have accepted the fact that we've got beige, tan, white and black bras and that's it," Candow said. "And they're not even pretty."
Candow said the fact that the mastectomy bras are typically twice as expensive as regular bras doesn't help.
"You're paying the highest kind of prices for it and you can't go anywhere else," she said.
Candow has since written letters to the head offices of a number of women's stores, hoping to persuade them to broaden their underwear lines. She wonders why women's stores can't offer mastectomy bras when there are clothing stores for taller men, shoes for large feet, and even clothing for dogs.
"There's got to be a budget in there for a mastectomy bra," she said. "You would think that someone would have picked up on this before."
Candow said more diversity needs to be offered, given the fact that over 20,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Canada every year.
"How about pink, red, green, or coconut? I really don't care at this point."
For now, Candow remains frustrated, but she hasn't lost her sense of humour.
"The other option is I could start dying my bras."
david_whalen@hotmail.com
Breast Cancer survivor says womens stores have a lot to learn
Leslie Candow, who had a full mastectomy on one of her breasts three years ago, says women's stores don't offer bras for women who have had mastectomies. Photo by Rhonda Hayward/The Telegram
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Published on
June 1, 2008
- Published on July 1, 2010
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David Whalen
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Comments
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- Kathie
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:04:06
I don't know if they will let this on the telegram site but there is a wonderful place in Stratford and Hanover in Ontario http://www.simplylovelylingerie.com/mastectomy.php
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- Jennifer
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:01:39
Hear hear! I nearly fell over when I heard that my Mom had to dish out major money for a mastectomy bra that's no different than one I'd wear, except it has a small nylon pocket attached for holding a prosthesis. Outrageous! She paid out the money and bought a half-dozen of those specialty bras from medical supply stores over the years. She has since discovered that she could sew a pocket of nylon into a 'regular' bra to accommodate the prosthesis. Thought I'd pass that tip along to readers. It certainly has saved her a lot of grief... and a PILE of cash... and everything matches :)
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- Cynthia
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:45:24
After reading this article in the Telegram ,I only realized then that this must be very fustrating for women who have survived breast cancer. Great Job by Leslie. I only hope someone from one of the major clothing stores will read this aricle and realize that surviving breast cancer has become a way of life for so many women, young and old. It is very important that these ladies can still be a part of the feminine side of life.
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- Kathie
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:53:10
I don't know if they will let this on the telegram site but there is a wonderful place in Stratford and Hanover in Ontario http://www.simplylovelylingerie.com/mastectomy.php
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- Jennifer
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:50:17
Hear hear! I nearly fell over when I heard that my Mom had to dish out major money for a mastectomy bra that's no different than one I'd wear, except it has a small nylon pocket attached for holding a prosthesis. Outrageous! She paid out the money and bought a half-dozen of those specialty bras from medical supply stores over the years. She has since discovered that she could sew a pocket of nylon into a 'regular' bra to accommodate the prosthesis. Thought I'd pass that tip along to readers. It certainly has saved her a lot of grief... and a PILE of cash... and everything matches :)
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- Cynthia
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:24:53
After reading this article in the Telegram ,I only realized then that this must be very fustrating for women who have survived breast cancer. Great Job by Leslie. I only hope someone from one of the major clothing stores will read this aricle and realize that surviving breast cancer has become a way of life for so many women, young and old. It is very important that these ladies can still be a part of the feminine side of life.
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