Bra discomfort after breast cancer treatment: Tips?

Hello,
Yes! I can totally relate! Any bra I wear seems to irritate my Sentinel Node surgery incision. It almost feels like a burning feeling, at times, and my PT said it is most likely nerve pain. Since I have been seeing her, it is definitely getting better. Are you seeing anyone for PT?
I have not started my radiation yet and am not sure what to expect and hope after that it doesn’t get worse.
Can I ask about your experience doing radiation? I am really nervous to start that.

I suspect mine is nerve pain, too. I haven't seen anyone for PT. I see my radiologist next week, and I'll learn a lot more. Radiation was nothing for me while it was going on. I had 15 whole breast treatments and three boosts. After my treatment, I would go to the gym every time. After it was over, I experienced some tenderness. I never peeled, but I was achy for a few weeks. You'll get through it just fine, I'm sure. I had the same thing after my surgery with not being able to tolerate a bra.

I’m probably not going to be very helpful since I had a double mastectomy, a few lymph nodes on each side with reconstruction. My plastic surgeon said I could wear any bra that I wanted including underwire. I even went to a store to get properly measured. 2 years later I didn’t know what was going on, but I finally convinced the drs to give me a prescription for PT. I went to one specializing in lymphedema and lymphatic cording. They said I had a lot of cording (in the mirror, if I put my arms over my head it looked like I had little puckers all along the incision). They also said I had a lot of scar tissue. They worked on breaking that up and giving me exercises for the cording. I still do them at home but for bras, I can only wear bralettes and a sports bra for exercise. In the evening, I often have to remove my bra because it feels way tighter than in the morning. I was very lucky (if you even want to consider it that) because the associate at Nordstrom had also had surgery and she had spent a lot of time helping me with brands that are way more comfortable. I stick with Walcoal and Natori and since they are bralettes they are less expensive than a regular bra and I buy whatever color that’s on sale. (I am a nut, so I also try to find underwear the same color because I like to match but I don’t think that’s asking too much under the circumstances since it makes me feel nicer!) My left side is always very sore after exercise. It helps to warm it up after. I had never, ever been measured before and that was a surprise that I had always worn the wrong size. But in the bralette I get the next size band and the correct size cup and that seems to help. My breast surgeon told me to go braless. Nope, you still need to wear clothes! But I do it when I can to take a break.

@kamra i understand! I had two lumpectomies, followed by a mastectomy and then expander/implant exchange from reconstruction. The incision was under my left breast and I had such an awful time finding a bra especially in the first six months to a year after the last surgery. I found a surgical bra on Amazon that I ended up wearing long after my plastic surgeon said I could try a regular bra. It was an Amoena. I’m now one year out from having the exchange of expander for implant. I saw an add for a bra called Underoutfit and they are great!! Maybe give these two options a try. It still sometimes feels as if I have a weird rug burn type of irritation. Plastics says nerve regeneration. Best of luck and really hope you do well🌹

I had lumpectomy and reconstructive surgery, +15 days radiation. I really wanted a bra instead of big sports bras… after trying a few bras- Nike and Le Mystere -good for a bit( started to irritate scars )but I found that a light compression sports type bra with wider band at the bottom and adjustable straps works best for me. I gave in to comfort and what my body needed for now. Prairie Wear has a good one.

Hi! I had surgery 3 weeks ago, and I feel the same discomfort. I have bought several bras and none of them seems to help me. My plastic surgeon recommend to apply a little of iodine and triple antibiotic (Neosporin) and cover it with a gauze. I feel better after all of this, but they told me that the nerves are awaking and that's the reason I feel the discomfort. Hopefully, it will get better soon. Take care!

Seems like many of us are talking about "what we don't see". Cording, scar tissue and nerves. Our doctors may know about them but it is our PTs and our OTs that help us deal with them. I tried to use some bras that i had prior to surgery but the bra bands under my breasts were too narrow and dig into my skin. That's seemed to keep fluids from leaving my tissues.
My OT specializing in lymphedema helped my with the scar tissue and banding. I found that doing the child pose in yoga is a great stretch for them both. I didn't start doing that until i was well healed.
At the beginning of next month i will graduate from therapy which i have been on and off for 2 years. I have many tools i can use including exercises, camisoles, swell spot and wide banded bras (a variety of styles). I'm surprised that it took so long. But i am happy to put it behind me. Our bodies take time to heal and recover from the trauma it's been through.

These are such helpful comments. Thank you! I went to see my radiologist and she said I have some lymphedema, so I start PT on Monday. She said massage really helps to break up the scar tissue, so I hope that works for me. I don't have the underarm issue--under the breast mainly. Going braless for more than 24 hours seemed to help, and my yoga class yesterday felt great. I wore a sports bra for that and I feel some discomfort today. I did buy bigger bras--increasing from b to c. I probably should have done that from the beginning. I can't tell if my breasts are permanently bigger or just swollen.

Congrats on the graduation! Two years. Wow.

I’m just putting this out there. It seems that we are having issue bras. I went through the same thing lot of scar tissue. I talked with my oncologist and she wrote me a prescription for bra’s. Since I have lump/ reconstructive surgery my left breast was different. My insurance paid for 6 bra’s and an insert so that my breast would look the same under my clothes. Out of pocket I paid 100.00. Went to a shop that specializes in women cancer stuff. My oncologist gave me a referral for a few store in my area. Just a thought