GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Spectrum Health alerted 24 Hour News 8 about a new bra which will keep breast cancer survivors warm post reconstructive surgery. It’s called a thermal bra.
A breast cancer survivor, Jodie Faber, brought the idea to Spectrum Health Innovations Team. The innovations team passed the idea along to a group of Central Michigan University students who brought the bra to life.
Faber was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy in 2005.
“Everything was going along swimmingly until one summer a couple years after I was swimming in the East Bay at Traverse City on a nice summer day,” said Faber. “I got out of the water and my breasts were bright red.”
Faber mentioned her breasts were also cold along with her entire core. It was to the point where she felt she couldn’t warm up.
“I went back to my plastic surgeon and I said, ‘what’s up with these implants, you know, why are they so cold all the time,’” said Faber.
According to her surgeon, it’s a common problem for women post reconstructive surgery. At times, the silicone in implants can feel more like ice packs.
“When they take out all the tissue, they take out all the blood supply. They take out all the insulation. They take out everything, including the nerve endings when you have no feeling,” said Faber.
Her surgeon suggested using hand warmers as a quick fix. She later found out the hard way it wouldn’t work. Faber burned herself with the hand warmers because she didn’t know how warm they were.
She was later encouraged by her daughter to come up with her own solution.
“She said you know, wouldn’t it be great if someone would invent a bra or something that would help keep the cold out and the warm in,” said Faber.