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October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and there are plenty of ways to help the cause and make sure the breast cancer patients, survivors, and their families feel seen and supported, from fundraising to donating to volunteering with a charity. The illness affects one in eight women at some point in their lives — so the chances that you or a loved one will be (or have already been) impacted are high.
We love pink attire, accessories and household appliances as much as the next person, and they, of course, get major bonus points when a portion of the proceeds goes to breast cancer research — but you don’t need to get your pink on to support people living with breast cancer. If you or someone close to you has breast cancer, it’s the practical things that matter.
When going through chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, items like hospital gowns and bras designed specifically for breast cancer patients will get plenty of good use. If you or someone you know has breast cancer, the following products will make the treatment process and the path to recovery just a little bit easier and more comfortable.
A version of this story was published October 2019.
Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.
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Little Words Project Strong AF Bracelet—Breast Cancer Awareness
Image Credit: Little Words Project If you’re looking to give a thoughtful gift to a survivor, or just want to show your support for someone you love, snag this bracelet from Little Words Project. The beaded message is a powerful reminder to anyone going through a breast cancer diagnosis, that they are strong and can face anything. The brand gifts 25 percent of the net proceeds from the bracelet to the American Cancer Society.
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Kendra Scott Metastatic Breast Cancer Charm Necklace Set in Rose Gold
Image Credit: Kendra Scott This necklace holds a special meaning to Kendra Scott. On the jewelry designer’s website, she said, “In honor of my dear friend Holley Rothell Kitchen, and every woman who has battled metastatic breast cancer….Always remember, the truest mark of beauty is strength.” The necklace makes a sentimental gift for those who mean the most to you. It comes in three colors: Rose gold, silver, and gold, and also includes a rose quartz, a butterfly, and butterfly wing charms.
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BabyBeMineMaternity Post Surgery Recovery Pajamas
Image Credit: BabyBeMineMaternity During treatment and surgery times, it’s essential to be as comfortable as possible. That means having a few pairs of pajamas on hand that are easy to get on and off. This pair from Etsy checks off all of your needs, plus it arrives fast, according to shoppers. The top has a button closure and three internal pockets that hold post-surgical drain materials. The bottoms also have a soft elastic that won’t cause any irritation.
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Amoena Hannah Recovery Care Camisole
Image Credit: Amoena This camisole from Amoena is specially crafted for post-op recovery. It has a front zip that makes it gentle to put on. The top also has ultrasoft fabric and interior seams. There is also pockets that hold prosthetics or symmetry shapers.
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LoveWithinUs Mastectomy Care Box
Image Credit: LoveWithinUs This thoughtful gift box contains a mug for warm drinks, a keychain, a sugar scrub, two essential oil roller blends, and a personalized card to write a thoughtful note on.
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Mastectomy Pillow and Seatbelt Cushion
Image Credit: Amazon. Make car rides a whole lot comfier after surgery with this smart pillow, which can be attached to a seatbelt and adjusted for your own specific needs.
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Breast Cancer Early-Detection Device
Image Credit: Pink Luminous Breast. It’s crucial to be vigilant about our mammograms and checking our breasts for lumps once a month. But we’re not medical experts, and it’s all too easy to miss important red flags. That’s where the early-detection device comes in. The device provides you with a view of your inner breast tissue so you can have a better gauge of whether or not there’s any sort of abnormality. It is not a replacement for regular mammograms or seeing a doctor, but could help you spot something early on.
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EBLsculpture Breast Cancer Awareness Hyper Realistic Nipple Prosthetics
Image Credit: EBLsculpture For something more permanent, you can go the route of ready-made prosthetic nipples. Available in six skin tones, there are two options: smaller and larger sizes. Handmade from high-quality silicone, these prosthetic nipples can last for years — so you’ll definitely be getting the most bang for your buck.
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‘The Thinking Woman’s Guide to Breast Cancer: Take Charge of Your Recovery and Remission’ by Janet Maker
Image Credit: Amazon. Drawing from her strong background in breast cancer research, Dr. Janet Maker’s guide is an empowering read and reference book for women with breast cancer. We all know ourselves best, and Maker offers insight for women seeking to make the best decisions for themselves and their families.
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Athleta Empower Mastectomy Bra Insert
Image Credit: Athleta. Post-mastectomy and ready to hit the gym or the running trail? Athleta has got you covered with these affordable bra inserts, which are designed for exercise but can also be worn every day. This is also a lighter option for women who find prosthetic inserts too heavy.
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Everlane The Caftan Dress
“Stylish” and “pretty” aren’t typically the first words that come to mind when we hear the words “hospital gown.” But for patients undergoing radiation treatments, that’s where Everlane’s Caftan Gown comes in. It’s. a confrontable and beautiful gown that is a far superior alternative to the ones provided at the hospital.
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Postsurgical Drain Kit
Image Credit: Amazon. After breast cancer surgery, many patients wear postsurgical drains to collect any fluid or air that has drained from where they had the operation. This kit includes a belt to hold the drains and tubing in place and a shower bag. It’s designed with comfort in mind by a breast cancer survivor, so you can rest assured she thought of everything.
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AnaOno Molly Pocketed Plunge Bra
Image Credit: AnaOno. This soft, tee-shirt bra is comfortable, even when your skin is sensitive, and provides support while healing from surgery. It’s wire-free, has removable modesty pads, and built-in pockets for adding breast form inserts, if you have them.
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Ready For Recovery Breast Cancer Planner
Image Credit: Ready For Recovery A breast cancer diagnosis means you’ll have a world of information to keep track of, and this planner is designed to help patients and their loved ones navigate the treatment process. A year of calendar pages; logs to keep track of side effects; medication, chemo and radiation logs; helpful hints and words of inspiration; and a space to jot down questions are just a few of its features.
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Chest-Access Hoodie
Image Credit: Care+Wear. Available in navy and pink, this hoodie was created in collaboration with Oscar de la Renta. Although that explains why it’s so nice to look at, the hoodie serves a far more practical and important purpose: It’s designed so clinicians will have easy access to the chest and port areas during procedures like chemotherapy, dialysis and long-term blood draws.
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‘I Am a Cancer Warrior: 20 Powerful Mantras to Color’ by Kathy Weller
Image Credit: Amazon. Adult coloring books are known for being soothing and calming, and this one is designed specifically for cancer patients. It features 20 empowering mantras to color and is the ideal way to unwind and reduce stress during an incredibly trying time.
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ItsMySecretJacket Post Mastectomy Surgical Drain Shirt
Image Credit: ItsMySecretJacket Designed by a breast cancer survivor who underwent a bilateral mastectomy and breast reconstruction surgery, this jacket features strategically placed pockets that make it easy to hold and hide surgical drains. It can hold up to eight drains, and proceeds from each purchase are donated to cancer research.
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