HERS Breast Cancer Foundation :: Bras for Body & Soul

FAQs

The HERS Breast Cancer Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, provides programs and services supporting the needs of women and families affected by breast cancer in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Bras for Body & Soul®, a program of the HERS Breast Cancer Foundation, provides medically necessary items such as bras, prosthesis, lymphedema sleeves, wigs and more, to women who have had breast surgery. We also carry bras appropriate for all women and girls, including nursing bras.

News >> The Right Fit

Health Signs (Washington Hospital Healthcare System), Summer 2002

We are committed to serving the women of Washington Township. From providing the most sophisticated digital mammography services to building a comprehensive women's center, Washington Hospital is making every effort to provide our women with the medical services they deserve.

Physical well-being is only part of the equation, however. Mental and emotional wellness heavily impact your overall health as well. With this in mind, Washington Hospital is developing a comprehensive women's center that addresses both physical and emotional needs. The center will provide an array of services focusing on the wellness of women in their mid-life, including breast care, cardiovascular disease, skeletal health, hormone balance and quality-of-life issues.

A Unique Partnership

One of the first services the Women's Center will provide is a partnership with the specialty retail shop Bras for Body & Soul, which will offer our patients the option to purchase properly fitted, "healthy" bras. With a stock of bras in more than 200 sizes that fit and support without underwire, the shop provides a unique service for mastectomy patients as well as women who find standard bra sizes don't fit quite right.

"Unfortunately, women think that when a bra doesn't fit well there is something wrong with her body," says Tricia McMahon, owner of Bras for Body & Soul. "That is not the case at all. Unlike typical store bras, we carry sizes AA to N to provide ultimate comfort and support for the unique size, shape and circumstances of each woman."

Offering More than Comfort

Women who wear bras that fit properly experience relief from discomfort, including straps that are too tight or fall off their shoulders or wires that pinch or poke. They are also freed of the self-conscious belief that there is something wrong with their size or shape just because they can't wear a particular size.

This is also true for mastectomy patients, who have specific post-surgery needs. Bras for Body & Soul stocks bras, prostheses, camisoles and slips specially designed for mastectomy and lumpectomy patients. When the store moves to the Washington Women's Center next year, the stock will also include bathing suits, wigs, hats and scarves for cancer patients. Moreover, McMahon and her associate, Elaine Skloot, assist clients with health insurance reimbursement according to each woman's insurance plan for post-surgical garments.

"Healthy bras are an issue for the majority of women," says McMahon. Bras for Body & Soul is providing comfort and support for all women, from teenage girls to older women - all ages, shapes and sizes. "Every woman deserves to wear a bra that is made to fit her body's shape and size," says McMahon.

Bras for Body & Soul also provides solutions to support women whose breasts aren't exactly the same size - a situation that is more common that you might think. For such women, the shop provides partial prostheses to create a symmetrical look and feel. The stock also includes bras offering optimum support for athletic women, bras for pregnant women or nursing mothers, and even backless bras for bridal gown and other formal wear.

Embracing Who You Are

Clients who visit McMahon's shop experience her genuine concern for their health and well-being. During typical appointments, McMahon and Skloot, certified bra fitters, take a few moments to get to know their clients and learn about their individual needs and concerns. Next, measurements are taken and the perfect bras are selected from an extensive inventory. Thirty minutes or so later, customers are enjoying the benefits of wearing a healthy, properly fitted bra.

Thanks to Bras for Body & Soul, customers fit with a healthy bra often experience relief from back pain, sore breasts, bruised tissue, neck strain and aching shoulders. The emotional benefits, too, are clear. Women leave the store feeling comfortable around their bodies.

McMahon's personal commitment and passion for her work are evident. "I want women to feel good about the size and shape they are, and to embrace their wholeness, body and soul," she says.

Underlying this commitment, she works with physicians, nurses, and local women's groups to educate them about the many solutions available to women. She is also a founding member of the HERS Breast Cancer Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports women and their families facing breast cancer.