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What is a lumpectomy bra A lumpectomy bra is a specialized post-surgical bra designed to provide comfort, support, and accommodation for breast changes after a lumpectomy procedure. Unlike regular bras, these garments feature soft, breathable fabrics, front closures for easy wear, and often include internal pockets to hold breast forms or shapers that address asymmetry resulting from surgery. These bras serve as an essential recovery tool for women who have undergone breast-c

Finding the right bra after breast surgery isn't just about comfort - it's about finding something that actually works with your body, right now. Mastectomy bras and regular bras serve completely different purposes, and understanding those differences can save you frustration, discomfort, and money you'd rather spend on literally anything else. This guide covers what sets mastectomy bras apart, the features that actually matter, how to get a proper fit, and when different sty

Choosing a bra after mastectomy involves decisions you probably never expected to make. One of the first questions that comes up: do you need a pocketed bra, or will a non-pocketed style work just as well? The answer depends on whether you plan to wear a breast prosthesis and what type you choose. This guide walks through the differences between pocketed and non-pocketed mastectomy bras, when each option makes sense, and how to find the right fit for your body and lifestyle.

Finding a sports bra that actually works after a mastectomy can feel like searching for a unicorn - something that holds breast forms securely, provides real support during movement, and doesn't look like medical equipment. The standard advice to "just buy a mastectomy bra" glosses over the reality that most options weren't designed with burpees or trail runs in mind. The good news is that the market has evolved significantly, with brands now creating athletic bras specifical

My name is April Targa and I am a cancer survivor, but more than that I am also a mom, an OTF coach, athlete and lover of LIFE! Jan 2020 a 23andMe test revealed I was a genetic carrier of BRCA1. Family history and further genetic testing confirmed this. After much thought and research I chose a preventative route of prophylactic surgeries (full mastectomy and hysterectomy) to lower my risk of cancer. Covid delayed things a bit but I was told post surgeries, I had lessened my

Finding a bra that fits well after mastectomy surgery involves different measurements and considerations than standard bra shopping. Your body has changed, and the fitting process needs to account for that—whether you're working with a prosthesis, navigating asymmetry, or simply figuring out where to start. This guide walks through how to measure your band and cup size post-surgery, what to look for in different mastectomy bra styles, and how to tell when you've found the rig

It’s the month of Pinktober when ribbons and awareness make everyone feel like progress is being made in the fight against breast cancer, when it’s ok to talk incessantly about breasts, when I feel sick to my stomach because of the countless women I have known, loved and lost because there is still no cure. It’s the season that marks my 6 year anniversary of finding in Handful a bra that would put me back together again, after cancer took every organ that made me biologically

I saw a photograph of a woman who had had a mastectomy on the cover of The New York Times Magazine in 1993, and though she was a former model and it was beautifully shot with the words, “You Can’t Look Away Anymore,” emblazoned on it, I immediately looked away and thought to myself, “I better get on top of my self exams or I'll end up disfigured like her.” WTF, I actually thought that, and for those of you who don't know, today I'm living as a double mastectomy, no reconstruc

With mental and physical wellbeing at the forefront of this year's Breast Cancer ACTION month, we're re-sharing this post from our partners at  For the Breast of Us  on how fitness can help Breast Cancer Baddies reconnect with their bodies after a diagnosis. Contrary to popular belief, breast cancer is not the “good” kind of cancer (as if there ever were such a thing). Beyond active treatment, many people experience PTSD, body dysmorphia, depression , sexual dysfunction  and

Navigating life after breast surgery comes with enough challenges - finding the right bras shouldn't be one of them. Whether you're preparing for surgery or months into recovery, understanding your options for mastectomy bras can feel overwhelming. Between insurance codes, fitting timelines, and figuring out what you actually need, there's a lot to process. Here's the truth: you deserve clear, practical information that helps you move forward with confidence. According to the

Instead of counting the years that I’ve survived cancer, I prefer to say I just celebrated 7 years “cured” in May 2018. I was diagnosed with Her2 positive invasive ductal carcinoma after finding a lump in my right breast, near the rib cage. I completed 16 rounds of chemotherapy over 5 months. Four were the brutal kind and twelve were less brutal but with plenty of fun side effects! I kept exercising, both running and lifting weights, during treatment, but in the end I gained

I was diagnosed in March 2016, and it came as quite a shock. It was a major "inconvenience" as I like to call it, because as a 61 year old runner, I had signed up to run a couple half marathons, and breast cancer got in my way! Once my lumpectomy and sentinel node removal were finished, I received the news that my diagnosis was invasive ductal carcinoma, a class 3 tumor, and overall stage 1, Her2+, and hormone negative. This was good news/bad news, because there is targeted t

In July of 2012 at the age of 40, I was diagnosed with Stage 3, Grade 3 Triple Negative breast cancer (TNBC) in my left breast. I am BRCA negative with no family history of cancer. I went through 16 weeks of chemo (Taxol and Adriamycin) followed by a radical bilateral mastectomy and 6 weeks of radiation. Before radiation was complete, I noticed a lump the size of a marble growing on my mastectomy scar line. My doctors thought it was scar tissue, so they took it out without ch

My life changed forever in 2012. I turned 40 in January that year and went on a trip to Mexico with friends, visiting the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza on my actual birthday, which was an amazing experience I will never forget. Later that same evening, we met a Mayan shaman who blew me away because he "knew" things about me that were impossible to know. He then told me I was about to face the most difficult thing I had ever gone through, that I would believe myself unable to ma

In October 2018, I celebrated 3 years of thriving after a diagnosis of triple positive Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Stage IIB breast cancer. I was 29 years old with a malignant tumor the size of a ping pong ball. The moment I was told I had cancer, I made one of the most important decisions of my entire treatment: no matter what, I was going to thrive and be kind to everyone I knew. This decision continues to give me the strength to be my very best. Treatment wise, I was delayed

I am a two-time survivor of 12 years, and I’m very happy to say I am 7 years out from my recurrence and sincerely hope that we took care of it completely the second time. My first diagnosis was early stage, and I had a lumpectomy and two re-excisions. I was followed closely with twice yearly exams for 4.5 years, and then we found a more aggressive cancer that had been growing silently the whole time. I ended up having a mastectomy and axillary node dissection which turned up

This blog, by Handful's very own Cary Kim, is reposted from our friends at fightingpretty.org Right now, the COVID-19 social distancing rules state guests, family members or caretakers cannot enter cancer clinics, meet with the care team, or sit next to patients as they receive IV infusions. This was the first time I was not at my mom’s side for treatment during the last 2.5 years since her diagnosis. This photo was taken last week, the tight smile an indication of the concer

I opened the package to my Battle Cry Pink Handful bra, and I paused for a moment. I was taken back to August 2016 when I was first diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. Taken back to all the thoughts swirling through my head in those uncertain days: Would l survive? What did survival look like? If I survive, will I ever wear a bra? If I survive, will I still be me? It started on an ordinary Saturday morning. Six days after completing an Olympic distance triathlon, I was stan

In 2006, at 16 weeks pregnant, she learned that she had breast cancer. Meet Lora: Breast Cancer Survivor. Mom. Badass. She sat down to answer our questions.  Here’s what we learned… When were you diagnosed with breast cancer? I was diagnosed in 2006 when I was 16-weeks pregnant with my daughter. Skip to present day, she just entered her Freshman year of High School and I’ve been here to celebrate every single milestone! How was your support system during your treatment journe

Before breast cancer happened to me, I have to admit I just didn’t think about it. With no family history and living what I believed was a very healthy lifestyle, it wasn’t part of my thoughts or worries. I look back on that time of innocence as a blessing. Ignorance was bliss, and I didn’t even know it.    I was living the happiest days of my life Memorial Day Weekend 2017, when I found out I was pregnant. In the week leading up to my first OB appointment at 7 weeks, I had b