A Sheffield based independent lingerie shop is raising awareness for breast cancer through a series of events this October.
The Woman in Me, located on Crookes High Street, Sheffield, was started by Lana Barker, 44, two years ago, and inclusivity is at the heart of her store.
Lana said: “I’m here for anybody and everybody that wants to wear a bra. It’s about being sensitive and understanding of people’s needs.
“It’s a bit like, as women, when we go to hairdressers, some ladies like to off load a bit and if their not having such a good day or they’ve got a bit of anxiety, it’s a bit like a counselling session as well as a bra fitting.”
The boutique caters for an impressive range of clientele, from ladies with different body types or who have sensory issues, to transitioning shoppers and women who are undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
Lana explained how, due to her store being close to Western Park Hospital, she sees a lot of women who have breast cancer, ranging from those who have just been diagnosed to women who have undergone surgery.
She said: “They send patients to me that have either just had a breast query because they’ve got a bit of a niggle and there’s perhaps nothing wrong, but posture wise they might have been advised to get their bra size checked, or if its something more serious, ladies that have actually had surgery can buy a pocketed bra to put a prosthetic bust in to.”
Lana describes the process patients go through after they have had a mastectomy, with each lady initially being given a sponge-like, lightweight false bust called a comfy to fill their underwear out whilst their surgical wounds heal.
After their scars have sufficiently healed, the women are given a more structurally robust prosthetic which can be inserted into pocketed bras, of which The Woman in Me stocks a variety of and Lana talks through below.
Lana claims that the process isn’t easy to deal with for the clients, but also for her.
She said: “It can be very emotionally hard for me, talking to them, and for them talking about it to me.
“Everybody takes the news differently. Some ladies can be really matter of fact and some ladies are very upset and find it hard to talk about.
“Some days it’s a bit emotionally difficult, but then there’s other days when it’s really rewarding and someone will give you some nice feedback about how you’ve made them feel after their appointment.”
Whilst having a dedicated shop front display for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Lana makes sure there are posters and leaflets dotted around her store all year round to remind people to check their boobs regularly and know when something might not be right.
She also has a permanent bra recycling donation bin in her boutique, raising money for the Action Against Breast Cancer charity.
Whilst championing education about breast cancer all year, Lana acknowledges the importance of having a dedicated awareness month, saying, “We forget how long it is since we’ve done things. I’m still getting ladies now who, nine times out of ten say ‘oh I haven’t had a bra fitting since before covid’, which is nearly three years ago, so I think we can lose a sense of time and people are thinking they do things regularly.
“Most ladies that come in know someone that’s been affected by breast cancer, and sadly some unfortunately who I’ve met have been too late.
“Perhaps if they had noticed or known their bodies and what feels right and what’s not quite right a bit sooner, then they might have been able to have treatment.”
“And sadly, a couple of my customers have discovered they have breast cancer since coming to the shop in the short two years that I’ve been here.”
“If it wasn’t awareness month for things like this, would they have thought too look? Maybe not. People get carried away with holidays, family, jobs, work, and nobody ever takes time to stop and look after yourself always. Some people, especially young mums, put themselves last.
“I think the main thing to take from it is any little sign or change, whether you think it’s big or small, it’s worth going to get checked out regardless.”
What to look out for
Sophie Helme, Consultant Breast, Oncoplastic and Cosmetic Surgeon at Spire Portsmouth Hospital, and John Murphy, Consultant Breast Surgeon from Spire Manchester Hospital have gave us some medical advice on what to look out for when checking your body:
- Firm, painless lumps behind the nipple
- Skin changes on the nipple or areola, texture or colour.
- Persistent sore rashes or swelling around the nipple
- The nipple turning inwards
- Lumps near or under your armpits
Symptoms of breast cancer in men are similar to those in women. If you have a family history of breast cancer, you should speak to your GP. All women, but especially those with a family history of breast cancer, should learn how to check their breasts and then build a monthly routine into their lives so that any changes can be looked into early.
You can find The Woman in Me on Crookes High Street. Visit their Facebook page for more information.
For more information about Action against Breast Cancer, click here.