Uniting to help cancer patients
ACADEMIC SETS UP FORUM WITH FASHION FIRMS TO WORK ON BRAS FOR AFTER BREAST SURGERY
A CAMPAIGN to create lingerie that offers the right support and comfort for women having treatment for breast cancer has been praised by bra manufacturers.
Two years ago, Professor Gillian Proctor, who runs the contour fashion course at De Montfort University, was told she had stage two breast cancer and would need surgery.
She said it opened her eyes to how problematic it is to find correctly fitted lingerie after an operation.
She now plans to put together a council which will meet on a regular basis to see how industry, medicine and patients can drive research to ultimately benefit tens of thousands of women every year.
This month, representatives from industry, medicine and the university came together to hear about her proposals.
Speakers included Jaroslaw Krupa, one of the country’s leading breast surgeons, based at Glenfield Hospital.
Industry representatives from
Tesco F+F, Marks & Spencer, Next, George and Figleaves lingerie were also present.
Prof Proctor said: “Every good story starts with a ‘why me?.’ I guess if anyone had to get breast cancer, why not me?
“Why not someone who is in a position to pull together people who can effect a change?
“I approached this like any woman in the street in terms of how do you go about finding a post-surgery bra?
“There is a big gap in the market here and we need to activate change by bringing together medics, breast cancer patients, the industry and the course and the students, to work holistically to solve these issues.”
Mr Krupa said: “I think it is a unique project that is helping to bring together specialists from very different areas of expertise so we can look at ways of supporting patients after breast surgery and developing new products to help women after going through this treatment.”
Emily Dean, a designer for Tesco F+F and a former De Montfort student, said: “For me, I think the Medical Forum is a fantastic opportunity for us all to collaborate. As a designer, I do not have lots of free time to research, so to be able to have access to all these people is a very exciting opportunity to bring the right product to market.”
Julia Mercer, from M&S, said: “This is amazing. It is the first time we have brought all different types of industries together and all different types of people.
“This is a complex subject but if we can all work together this will really make a difference to real women.”
Tori Shelton, who works for lingerie brand Figleaves, said: “The Medical Forum is a great idea and I think Gillian’s personal approach is amazing.”
Lysa Jayne Hearst, lingerie tech manager at George, said: “Gillian is doing something really interesting and we should all be on board.”