Undergoing a vasectomy can provoke a lot of complicated feelings in women who have survived cancer. Even if the procedure is successful and the disease goes into remission, the removal of one or both breasts can be traumatic and have a profound impact on a person's self-image and body confidence. One woman who was forced to contend with this is former lawyer Lisa Andrews.
Lisa was diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2015 and went through a mastectomy to remove her left breast, being given the all-clear later that year. But while vacationing in the Maldives to celebrate her good health, she was dismayed by the fact that none of the lingerie and swimwear available accommodated women who had been through her kind of surgery.
To that end, she decided to take matters into her own hands. She's now launched About The Girl - a bikini and lingerie fashion line with the unique selling-point of catering entirely to women who have been through mastectomies. Lisa's venture has been a smash success, and she hopes that her bespoke clothes will help other cancer survivors regain their self-esteem.
Commenting on her business venture in a recent interview, Lisa stated: "I’ve always liked nice underwear and a nice bikini so I started looking online for new swimwear. But all I could find for anyone who has had a mastectomy was bolster holders and granny pants.
"I went into normal shops with my fake boob in my bag to see if I could find anything nice to wear on the beach, but there was nothing out there to suit my style and mimic what I’d have worn before. I thought, ‘I’ve got to do something about this,’ which eventually led me to launch my website, About The Girl."
She added: "I eventually found some bikinis by the Australian brand Seafolly that worked. After I got back from the Maldives, having thought about it a lot while I was away, I found their agent in the UK and pitched my business idea to them.
"Serendipity then stepped and put me and a lady in touch who’d previously had a shop called About The Girl and had begun to set up a website but was looking to sell it. A woman wants to feel empowered when she takes her clothes off for the beach or at home and the lingerie and swimwear we are selling really can make her feel that."
Thanks to the exclusive deal with Seafolly, Lisa can now adapt her beachwear to accommodate prosthetics; by sewing pockets into the bra tops for a prosthetic boob to slot into, she and other cancer survivors can still wear it. Customers can also order 'beanies' - lightweight inserts that can be worn in place of heavier silicone prosthetics, making them safe for swimming.
If you or anyone else you know has been affected by the issues raised in this article, then please don't hesitate to visit Breast Cancer Care for advice, support, and further information.