I look for other flat chested women. A rant.
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Mumito - hang in there.
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MT - LOVED your post - thanks for putting up the link. Inspiring.
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MT, very nice post. You truly have been "annealed."
Outfield, ouch! Hope the itchies go away quickly.
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hello everyone! hope everyone is having a gt summer. I just wanted to say its been since Feb that I have had bbmx. One side had an infected seroma back in March....a horrible experience, i didnt know what it was, woke up with a fever and had bad bad fevers for 4 days straight, finally we clued in, that it was a seroma that was infected that i was put on high dose anti biotics. Everything has been gt since there. I truly can say Im glad they are both off and i havent done recon, im 38 and enjoying my life!!!!
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Time for action instead of a rant.
I'm not on Facebook, but I know many women presented an excellent petition to Victoria's Secret asking them to sell bras for breast cancer survivors. The answer to the petition's request : it's too much trouble. ( my paraphrasing) Bull. I think it's more about their "brand image" - just as Abercrombie & Fitch didn't want "fat people" in their stores, Victoria's Secret is not interested in selling merchandise to women who do not look like their "Victoria's Angels" ( or are silly enough to think they could look like that by shopping at VS) - alas, it's always about the image. Flat & Fabulous - and how about also having the OPTION of buying a bra when we feel like it?
Well. Victoria's Secret is one of the six brands owned by LIMITED BRANDS. 614 415-6400
http://www.limitedbrands.com/responsibility/our_responsibility.aspx Be prepared for puke making pink washing, and read on from here:
"We All Have The Ability To Give
In 1963, Les Wexner, founder, chairman & CEO, started a company based on a set of shared values important to both our customers and associates. In order to mirror our associates' and our customers' values, Limited Brands supports community programs that focus on empowering women, nurturing and mentoring children and improving education."Limited Brands brags about all the money they give to Komen. You will read a great deal about the doogoodie stuff the 75 year old founder & CEO Leslie H. Wexner and his 55 year old wife Abigail ( still young enough to be one of the one in eight, btw) who is also a member of the Board of Directors do for women, etc. Komen, etc.
But welcoming flat and fabullous women into Victoria's Secrets. NO. NO. NO. Wanna bet it has more to do with their "brand image" than the BS response to the petition used as an excuse.
Many women do not have access to "specialty" stores which specialize in selling mastectomy bras. Victoria's Secret has based their IMAGE on BRAS and pretty lingerie. Don't we all deserve access to Victoria's Secret. Why not "train" some women in major Victoria's Scret stores to sell this merchandise, and see how it goes. I hear Nordstrom sells bras for bc survivors. Hmmnn.....maybe a few phone calls might help those brave Flat & Fabulous petition signers.
If it doesn't, I hope many will reconsider where they shop for everything Victoria's Secret sells, besides bras. It's about the bottom line, and if we aren't welcome in their stores, then I won't shop there, for anything.
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Very good Rant!!! I always appreciate knowing more about companies and what is behind the scenes. It lets us be informed customers who know where to spend their money.
That said, I never did buy into these speciality shops that are about excluding women, and I always saw VS as one of those stores, to me they always presented the image that it really is all about the breast, and even before Breast cancer, I wasn't much into that.
But well done research...I wish I knew more because the way to alter companies is to spend our money wisely.
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Also a way to create change in corporate policy is to CALL the company and let them know how you feel about a policy.
The petition, according to the Flat & Fabulous Facebook website someone posted a link to earlier in this thread, refers to the petition. I also read a news report about why the company wouldn't change their policy. All online.
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Was there a few weeks ago with my daughter. The sales girl , 20 something, asked if I wanted any assistance as well. I asked if they sold masectomy bras, she was confused, didn't know what they were. My response, if you don't know what they are you don't sell them. Really, how ignorant
Nel
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Nel - ignorant and insulting - given the HUGEE pats on the back the Limited Brands gives itself for "supporting women" - and Komen - really insulting. Sorry you had that experience too... I am sure if someone close to the owners family felt EXCLUDED and INSULTED by that company - the policy would change FAST - and they'd give themselves "credit" for being so "community minded."
Kudoos to the Flat & Fabulous for bringing public attention to this problem.
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Excellent and useful rant. I would boycott Ltd brands, except that I already don't buy anything from there! I think I will call.
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I don't buy from any of the Limited brands either, but I could call. I signed Victoria's Secret petition before (but not on Facebook, it was on change.org or something). We're not the only ones being discriminated against by VS though. Women with large cup sizes can't find anything there either.
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rr - it was the change.org petition I meant...sorry for the confusion - I read about it onFlat & Fabulous on Facebook.
SUCH HYPOCRITS - to brag about how much they do for women, and then to squirm when asked to do something as simple as open their stores to a wider market - can't imagine there is a whole lot of "knowledge" needed to show a customer who uses a "foob" to the bras with pockets which accomodate them...or am I missing something?
I think it's their $%@#$@#^% "image" they don't want to change - know this is something that will be changed by public action - if I was near a Victoria's Secret I would be in the store OFTEN asking in a rather, ah, assertive (think loud) voice where they keep the mastectomy bras
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I would ask where there is anything for REAL normal shaped women ................
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RiverRat, VS doesn't serve small-busted women, either. Not sure why they are the supposed BEST place for bras... in any case, I don't need any now. Thought recently I would try the old sports bra with pockets and prostheses because I thought maybe that "protective" feeling would help, but it aggravated the back of my arm where that stupid nerve is damaged ... mastectomy bras don't come in my size and other options have arm holes too small that irritate that nerve .... I got Genie bras that would fit, and also some girls' bras from Target would fit, but would not work. So I continue to be absolutely fabulously flat and a bit tender-chested, especially with summer clothes. At least winter gives me sweaters and layers for protection of that very tender neuropathic area of anatomy. *sigh*
Mel, great article! You are awesome!
Mumito, hoping B9!0 -
Linda, Anita has small sizes of mastectomy bras. Well AA cups at least. And some here have mentioned Handful bras and also Zee bras as working well for small sizes. Neither of them is inexpensive but you might want to check them out.
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Thanks for the comments on my blog, ladies. Today I will be meeting up with some Flatties on DC, I am excited!
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P.S. The handful bras are mastectomy approved, so your insurance should cover them.
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Thanks for links to the sites, rr. I will be explanted in 2 weeks - so excited to have my pec muscles back! Plan to spend days "downward facing dog"
BUT, as they near my armpits now, and my sternum is, well, prominent, I imagine concave will be very obvious for a while - so thinking of a comfortable bra with inserts - for the transition until I FEEL Flat & Fabulous ( love those words) - will still have dog ears as the procedure to remove is not covered by my insurance - heck, maybe it will move back to my chest??Have heard the silicone are heavy, and staggered at the PRICE - so want something light, easy, and those handful bras look wonderful. No idea how to determine size - haven't won a bra in about 7 years. SO GOOD to be out of "harness" - and plan to look flat, just not concave as my weird shaped chest with prominent sternum I expect to look.
Thank you SO MUCH for this wonderful thread, great information.
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I just googled mastectomy bras ( this as you can tell is very new to me) - and found this - made me SMILE - had no idea it existed http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/breast-prosthesis-program great short video too.
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The saleswomen at Nordstroms are very nice. I visited once before my decision to go flat.
Sun - I'm still pretty much concave - it just doesn't bother me anymore.
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Sunflowers, I'm going to try some weighted foam when I go in next. I'm a uniboob and the real side has gotten smaller as I've lost weight. I asked DH yesterday if the foob looked larger than my real breast. He said, "no but perkier". I don't know if he has a death wish or what!
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Heillo everyone, I just had my second breast removed last week and was wondering if anyone had any advice on anything?
Also does anyone know of a good place where I can get alteratives to radiation and chemo done?
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Hello majla!
How are you doing?
I am sure there would be lots of us who would offer support to you. What exactly is your situation? Are you planning not to reconstruct? What would you like advice about?
I am afraid I am not familiar with any alternative to chemo or Rads, but there is a 100% alternative thread that may interest you.
Let us know!
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Are you in Usa? For info an alternatives really need to know your location but Dr Wong in new york seems well regarded
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Wren - I'm still laughing ( with you) at the last line in your post...
Alexandria - I'm expecting the concave - and not expecting to be bothered, humoring myself to be able to laugh at being a Buddha - stomach definitely projects more than even these droopy implants - figuring if we were meant to be able to see our toes, they wouldn't be placed so low on our bodies.
BTW, Wren - good luck on Arimidex - I did my 5 1/2 years ( the 1/2 was psychological for me, cuz I had to stop for a few weeks after the first 3 months to get my trigger fingers adjusted to the "new me.") All sorts of good advice on the AI SE thread for any SE's.
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I can breathe again pathology showed no sign of carcinoma cells.😱😃Now just an MRI and bones can left to check my bones.I am optimistic all is well.Heading to the health club to workout then out for lunch with friends to celebrate.
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Hooray Mumito! Happy dancing. Your celebration day sounds fab!
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Mumito...I am going to celebrate for you!! This sort of news is such sweet relief...Be good to yourself.
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