If you’re reading this, you likely know that cancer treatment can change your body a lot. It can change your shape, your skin, and how you feel about it all. No matter how it’s changed you, you probably want a very hard-working swimsuit: potentially one with more coverage, with thick-yet-soft fabric to smooth and protect. You may have a port to cover, you may have chest asymmetry, you may have extensive scars, or radiation burns. You may also think that a frumpy, matronly swimsuit might be the only option that can provide the protection and coverage you need.
We’re here to report: that’s not the case! We at Jadey (and women in our community) have a ton of swimsuits to recommend that are great for before, during or after treatment, and whenever you want to enjoy the water.
An Adjustable-Coverage One-Piece
Author Jean Hannah Edelstein found swimming therapeutic after her mastectomy. The summer after her surgery, she would take a swim during her lunch break from work. Her reconstruction was delayed because of an infection and “the water was a way for me to feel weightless and less aware of the weird square expanders in my chest,” Jean says. She’s kept that routine and has since gathered a robust post-cancer swimwear wardrobe. One of her favorites is the Malibu One-Piece from Andie. She says the material has nice compression and bust support and it comes in plenty of color options. The suit’s Henley button-up style also covers a port if you have one, and lets you choose how much coverage you might want that day, or at that phase in the treatment process.
A High Neck Polka-Dot Tankini
Jean also loves swimming in this Land’s End top. It has a high neck and covers your stomach, providing extra sun-coverage on any sensitive spots and concealing “anything going on in your chest area that you don’t want to share with your fellow swimmers,” says Jean. The black and white polka-dot pattern is versatile enough to go with all sorts of bottom options. Plus, the high neck makes it another port-friendly option.
A Stretchy Crinkle-Fabric Bikini Top
A great option for post-treatment because this “crinkle-fabric” adapts to changing body shape. Brooks Bell, who had surgery for colorectal cancer in 2019 and co-founded the fashion brand Worldclass, recommends this one from Goop. It’s one-size fits most, because of its really stretchy, thick material. It comes in either black or dark pink and the textured design with a tortoise shell ring in the middle pairs well with Goop’s Olivia Brief.
A Timeless, Port-Friendly One-Piece
Jadey co-founder Michelle Reiss recommends this as an option with enough coverage to shield a port: “What’s great is that the neckline cut entirely covered my port without being too tight or rubbing across the skin in that area, which can be quite sensitive when you have a port.” Michelle says the suit is great even after treatment, because it’s gentle on her port scar and the ruffle detail adds a bit of extra sun coverage on the shoulders.
A Strapless Option (Great for Boobs of Different Sizes)
After her double mastectomy, Lauren McDermott likes this bikini from Kulani Kinis, mostly because it’s so cute. The top is tied in the back, so it’s adjustable to different bodies and, rare for a strapless top, it stays in place. Lauren says she loves the quality, and for her personally, the style makes her slightly different cup sizes less noticeable. With tons of bright patterns, Kulani Kinis is a great option if you’re not looking for extra coverage.
A Ruched, Drapey One-Shoulder Matching Set
Jadey Community Manager Chelle Furman recommends Cupshe for a bunch of styles that flatter her “post-chemo body.” “I have a few styles from there. My body changed a lot from when I started with my diagnosis to finishing treatment. They’re flattering when you’re in a new body, so to speak,” says Chelle. “They have cut out styles, and one arm strap bikini tops that made me feel more human and less foreign in my own skin.”
The materials are soft and not constricting, and they have a wide variety of styles, like this dark green Asymmetrical Ruched Bikini Top & Skirt Set. The draping sheer fabric lays on top of a one-shoulder top and matching bottom, giving you more coverage in a stylish way.
A One-Piece Designed Specifically for After Surgery
Julia Cardenas founded Resme after she struggled to find a swimsuit post cancer treatment that made her feel comfortable and confident in her body. She focused on a soft, thick, sun-protective and non-irritating fabric to design suits with more coverage and protection for her scars and changing body. She designed this Monarca one piece, which comes in two striped designs, a blue and lime green, and includes a high neck design that’s scar and port-friendly. The padded fabric is specially designed to smooth asymmetry, bumps, or scars while making you feel supported and comfortable.
And A Bikini Top Designed To Keep You Secure After Surgery
After her mastectomy, Lauren Yerkes felt uncomfortable in her swimwear, and so she too decided to design her own swimsuits for the many women in her same situation. The Jen Top from Post Swim is another option for a bikini top, specifically designed to provide the secure support needed for bathing suits after a mastectomy or other cancer surgeries. If you’ve gotten implants after a mastectomy, you typically lose feeling in your breasts, a sensation which for Lauren made her constantly worried her swimsuit would expose something when she was moving. For this reason, Post Swim swimwear is designed with compression fabric and adjustable straps to ensure the fabric doesn’t move as you enjoy the water. (We also love their rashguard for more coverage.)
A Supportive One-Shoulder One Piece
Jackie Kunhardt, who underwent multiple surgeries and treatment for breast cancer, recommends Summersalt suits for post-surgery, especially the Sidestroke, a one-shoulder, one piece that comes in both solid, and tri-toned colors. It has a sun protective fabric, and provides bust support without cups or padding. Jackie says after her mastectomy, the style was flattering and comfortable, and the compression fabric stays put on your body.
A Relaxed, Reversible, Patterned One Piece
Another recommendation from Jean, who says a perk of her double-mastectomy is that she’s been able to ditch the often uncomfortable underwire since healing from her implant surgery. She recently bought this reversible suit from Boden, and she even took the pads out. It offers less bust support, says Jean, but there’s “no concern that my nipples will show since I don’t have any.”
