Women who have had mastectomies and previously had to travel to Darwin for specialised bras will be able to access fittings in Katherine next month.
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Cancer Council NT is collaborating with Katherine’s local lingerie shop – Leisure and Lace – to provide a fitting day for women.
Cancer Council’s breast care nurse Marg Lavery said women from Katherine have been travelling to Darwin for 15 years to access the service.
“Cancer Council is the only organisation that regularly provides this service. Women often go down south because these bras are not routinely available at regular lingerie stores up here,” she said.
Ms Lavery said she is concerned older women in the Katherine region have been hit hardest by the lack of access.
“I know there are women in Katherine who have had mastectomies 30 years ago and six months ago.
“Quite a few of the older people had to have mastectomies as their only other option was radio therapy in Adelaide.
“Women shouldn’t have to drive 300kms to Darwin to find a bra that fits well,” she said.
Katherine local and Cancer Council volunteer Lauren Reed previously had breast cancer and knows all to well the difficulties of bra fitting post mastectomy.
“It is really fantastic to be able to walk into a store that, one, stocks bras and two fits a prosthetic,” Ms Reed said.
“I’ve gone from being a person who could walk into a shop and buy anything, to now having to deal with a lot of different factors.
“The Cancer Council event is going to be a one-stop-shop for women, some of which might not have had a fitting in years.
“Buying a bra is already a difficult process and then you add these complexities, I think this will be a great boost of morale for a lot of women,” she said.
Cancer Council’s breast care nurse Ms Lavery said qualified fitters will be on hand for the whole day.
“Women will be able to come in to get a professional fitting. And if we don’t have exactly what they need we will order it and post it out,” she said.
“If all goes well we will be making this a regular service available in Katherine.”
The service will be in Katherine on November 13.
To book an appointment of to find out more information call Marg Lavery from the Cancer Council on 08 8944 1811.
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