The brassiere shop: a front line of assistance to the mastectomy patient

This report presents information received from a sampling of breast prosthesis fitters which is of importance to surgeons working with mastectomy patients. The characteristics of various types of external prostheses are described. Shop fitters relate their attitudes about patients, describe patients' reactions to cancer and surgery and the problems encountered in proper fitting, and discuss their limitations as counselors. Fitters' negative attitudes toward reconstruction mammaplasty are also presented. The authors discuss these attitudes and raise questions about appropriate interaction between surgeons and prosthesis fitters.