“Rewriting the breast cancer treatment it can change the way you look and feel. Whether it involves altering your wardrobe or handling hair loss, maintaining a sense of control is crucial,” says Dr. Maryam Lustberg, director of The Breast Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital. “However, it’s also important to address the emotional and spiritual aspects.” Here are some valuable tips on clothing, bras, wigs, and headgear for breast cancer patients:
1. Look for cancer-specific clothing options online or connect with others who have been through a similar experience through social media or organizations like Breastcancer.org and the American Cancer Society.
2. Visit a tailor or a cancer specialty store to get measured and receive advice on how to dress your body, which may have changed due to surgery. Choose comfortable clothing, especially if you have undergone extensive breast surgery.
3. Dress appropriately for treatment. If you have a port, opt for V-neck shirts or garments with buttons or zippers for easy access. Short sleeves are suitable if you’re receiving chemotherapy through a vein in your arm. Layer your clothing to accommodate fluctuations in body temperature.
4. Build a wardrobe that makes you feel empowered. Wear clothes that help you feel confident and strong. Delegate tasks like going to the dry cleaners to conserve energy for activities you enjoy.
5. Choose clothing that is not too tight or revealing, particularly if you have surgical drains or other asymmetries. Softly fitted clothing offers more privacy and comfort.
6. Don’t hesitate to ask for help. Cancer treatment can cause fatigue, so delegate tasks like picking up dry cleaning to conserve energy.
7. Check with your healthcare team regarding the need for extra support. You may require a surgical bra during treatment, particularly ones without underwire that provide comfort and accessibility.
8. Explore different options for managing hair loss caused by chemotherapy. Shaving your head is one way to regain control. If you prefer wearing a wig, ask your doctor to prescribe a “cranial prosthesis” to potentially have the cost covered by insurance. Consider advantages and disadvantages of human hair wigs versus synthetic ones.
9. Consult a specialist to customize and style your wig, ensuring a natural fit. Consider scalp cooling to reduce hair loss during chemotherapy, and use caps or scarves to keep your head warm and protected.
10. Look for soft, secure head coverings made from lightweight materials like cotton, rayon, silk, or bamboo. Practice wrapping scarves and explore online resources for beauty advice during cancer treatment.
11. Protect your scalp from the sun with broad-spectrum sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, and other appropriate clothing. Be gentle with your scalp when hair starts to fall out, using mild shampoos and soft brushes.
12. Understand that eyelashes and eyebrows may take time to regrow post-chemotherapy. Consider lash enhancers or eyebrow microblading to maintain their appearance.
13. Seek support from mental health professionals or join breast cancer support groups to address the emotional impact of treatment. Openly communicate your feelings with loved ones and healthcare providers.
Dealing with breast cancer treatment can be challenging, but with these tips and support, you can navigate the physical and emotional changes that come with it.
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breast cancer treatment it can change the way you look and feel. Whether it’s changing the clothes you wear or how you decide to handle hair loss from chemotherapy, you’re still in charge.
It’s important to buy a wardrobe that fits you and makes you feel good,” says Maryam Lustberg, MD, MPH, director of The Breast Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital. “But it’s also very important to recognize the emotional and spiritual aspect.”
Here are some insider tips on clothing, bras, wigs, and other headgear.
You can search for cancer-specific clothing online. Or reach out to others who have been through the same thing. You can find like-minded people through social media or organizations like Breastcancer.org and the American Cancer Society.
You also can:
Meet with a tailor. If possible, visit a cancer specialty store. They will measure you and give you advice on how to dress your body as it is now, which may be bigger or smaller than before.
Wear comfortable clothes. You may have more sensitivity if you’ve had extensive breast surgery, such as a mastectomy or reconstruction. But in general, wear soft clothing that is easy to put on and take off.
Dress for treatment. If you have a port, try a V-neck shirt or something with buttons or a zipper up the front, says Patti Frey, an oncology nurse at Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center.
Short sleeves are a good option if you are receiving chemotherapy through a vein in your arm. And wear layers. You may feel hot or cold during the treatment. “You never know how you’re going to feel,” says Frey.
Create your powerful wardrobe. Wear clothes that help you feel “fixed,” says Marissa Weiss, MD, founder and chief medical officer of Breastcancer.org.
Avoid wearing things that are too tight. You don’t want to feel physically uncomfortable. “Softly fitted” clothing also gives you more privacy. “You may have surgical drains or other asymmetries that you don’t want to reveal,” Weiss says.
Ask for help. Fatigue can be a big part of cancer treatment. “If you need things to go to the dry cleaners and pick them up, have someone else do it for you,” Frey says. “Save your energy for the things you enjoy doing.”
It depends on your treatment. Some people can live without extra support for a while, Frey says. But check with your health care team. You may need to wear a surgical bra.
“Medical-grade bras tend to be softer and don’t have underwire,” says Lustberg. “Usually they have a zipper in the front. And if you have drains, some of these undergarments have a place where you can access them more easily. [them].”
When you go back to wearing a personal bra, keep comfort in mind.
“It’s particularly important to wear a seamless bra, one that’s smooth inside and out, if you’re wearing radiationWeiss says. Avoid underwire bras, lace bras, and any bras with elastic bands that have zig-zag stitching during this time for your skin’s sake.
If you are going to receive chemotherapy as part of your treatment and it is a type of chemotherapy that causes Hair lossyou have options on how you want to handle that.
Hair loss begins about 2 to 3 weeks after chemotherapy begins. It doesn’t all come out at once. Many people shave their heads as a way to take control when that starts to happen.
Hair loss is a big problem for many people. Weiss even knows people who found it more concerning than losing their breasts.
“It wasn’t part of your plan to explain to people, including strangers, why you don’t have hair or why you don’t want to talk about it in a parking lot,” Weiss says.
If that’s true for you, a wig can be a great way to preserve your sense of identity and protect your privacy.
If you don’t want a wig and you’re okay with hair loss, that’s okay too. It is a personal choice.
You can buy a wig on the shelf. But ask your doctor to prescribe a “cranial prosthesis,” a wig, and your health insurance provider should cover the cost. Call your insurer ahead of time to confirm how much they will cover.
There are advantages and disadvantages to different types of wigs, including:
Human hair. These may look more natural, but they can be expensive and a bit more complicated to manage. “Over time, they can look a bit dull if you wear them a lot,” says Weiss. They “don’t have the natural oils” of the hair that grows on the scalp.
Synthetic. They usually cost less than wigs made with human hair. And they are usually easier to care for. “You can throw them more and they don’t bother you,” Weiss says.
You don’t have to wear the wig as is. A specialist can help you achieve the look you love.
Go to “a hairstylist or cancer boutique, where they can frame your layers for a more natural fit,” says Lustberg.
Ask your doctor about scalp cooling. “Cold caps” may decrease chemotherapy-related hair loss in some people. His cancer center could have a scalp cooling unit. If you want to buy your own, ask your healthcare team exactly how to use it and what to expect. And check with your health insurance provider to see if they will pay for it.
Without your hair or a wig, your head may feel colder than normal. So you might want a cap or scarf for it.
Some companies make products for people undergoing cancer treatment. But you don’t have to buy special chemo caps.
You will want a head covering that is soft and secure. In the summer, choose a lightweight material that is comfortable for you. You may like 100% cotton, rayon, silk, or bamboo. Fleece or chenille can keep you warm in winter.
Options include:
- “Skull Cap” for under the wig
- sleeping hat
- fitted hat or cap
- Hats for different seasons
- Pre-tied or slip-on head scarf
You can wrap a scarf yourself. It just takes a little practice to learn how to do it.
Look Good Feel Good is a program that offers group or online beauty advice for people undergoing cancer treatment. You can also find videos online that show you different looks with scarves.
Some people wear a baseball cap with a ponytail in the back. You can find headbands with synthetic hair designed for this look.
Your health insurance provider probably won’t pay for a scarf or hat. But there are local and national groups that will help you find free hats. Ask your doctor or call the American Cancer Society at 800-227-2345 for more information.
Don’t forget your scalp when reaching for your sunscreen. Radiation and chemotherapy can increase your sensitivity to the sun.
- Use a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 50 or higher.
- Wear a tightly woven hat with a 5-inch brim.
- Keep radiation-treated areas out of the sun.
- Cover your arms and chest with an oversized button-down shirt.
- Sit under an umbrella when you’re at the pool, beach, or eating outside.
Be gentle with your scalp when your hair starts to fall out. It can be tender and painful. Here are some things you can do as you progress through treatment:
- Use baby shampoo.
- Dry your hair.
- Use a baby brush with soft bristles.
- Don’t dry your hair.
Eyelashes can take several months to grow back after chemotherapy ends. And they may not grow back like before.
Some people use lash enhancers or artificial lashes, Lustberg says.
Eyebrows can also come out with chemotherapy. Some people get eyebrow microblading, a type of permanent makeup, before chemotherapy. The main reason is to maintain the contour of your eyebrows. “Once the hair falls out, you’re less sure about the shape,” says Lustberg.
You can also learn from beauty tutorials online or at a local makeup counter. Your health care team may have advice on where to go. “They know what’s good in their area,” Frey says.
Going through cancer treatment is not easy. Dealing with bodily changes can go much deeper than changing your clothes or remembering to use sunscreen on your scalp.
Let those close to you know how you feel. You can also ask your doctor to refer you a mental health professional. “One-on-one support with a cancer counselor can be very important,” says Lustberg.
Or contact a breast cancer support group. “A lot of times, talking to people who have been in your shoes and been through it really makes a world of difference,” says Frey.
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