Every year around our annual Portland, Oregon Race for the Cure sponsored by the Susan Komen Foundation, I think of bras. Yes breast cancer is about breasts and breast conservation or mastectomy or reconstruction if you have the disease. Breast conservation, similar to conserving any habitat, there are some damaged areas that have to be taken into consideration. This is what brings me to bras and bra fittings.

No one's natural breasts are the same as we age. The girls start heading south. A nicely fitted bra can do wonders for an overall good looking silhouette. Many shows on television have devoted their entire program to bra fitting and before and after looks or pictures. Going to Macy's or Nordstrom or an independent lingerie shop and being measured and fitted by a trained bra fitter is the best way to go. You may have been buying an incorrect size for the last few years, which is like throwing away money and no one wants to do that.

Those of us who kept our breasts after breast cancer, (breast conservation) surviving biopsies, lumpectomies, and radiation face an additional bra fitting challenge. Radiation can make the area around the breast that was radiated shrivel up a bit. Also the effects of radiation can continue for about a year after treatments. This means that even if you were fitted a year ago, a re-fit can't hurt!

Often breast cancer affects one breast only. So this breast results in being smaller and maybe not pointing as straight forward as the non diseased breast.  Here is where a professional bra fitter shows her expertise. A molded or foam bra can even out the breasts. A bra in half sizes can be suggested and fitted to wonderful comfort. A good fit of a bra can make all the difference in symmetry and balance.

Many bra companies support breast cancer foundations with a percentage of their sales during October going to this cause. If you need a bra and have not been fitted in a year, make an appointment in October during the promotion times. If you are over 40 make your mammogram appointment too!

Do you have a favorite brand of bras? Do you have a great bra story? Are you ready to be fitted?