The Making of Janac Sportswear

By Janet Cockburn

Last Updated: Aug 1, 2005
Articles & News : Articles : Prosthesis & Accessories

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In 1995 at the age of 43, I found an odd dimpling on the side of my left breast when I was doing a routine self-examination. I went to my GP who said he thought it was nothing, but arranged for me to have a mammogram—just in case. I had the mammogram and an ultrasound and was told there was something unusual. I then went for an appointment with a surgeon who, after a physical examination, told my husband and I that I had breast cancer. To say that we were shocked is an understatement. I had no risk factors, no breast cancer in my family, a non-smoker, social drinker, active and the mother of two sons, who were 20 and 22 at the time. We had planned to go to a family wedding in England, and my surgeon advised us to go, and have the surgery when I returned. Once in England, I had to tell my parents and two sisters, my husband’s family and our friends. I received a lot of love and support and felt strong enough to face whatever I had to face on my return to Canada.

I had my first surgery, a lumpectomy on October 5^th but was told that I would have to have a mastectomy because they couldn’t get clear margins. So on November 7^th I had a mastectomy. The cancer that I had was lobular carcinoma and lobular carcinoma in situ. Because in situ was found I have been warned that it isn’t unusual for it to be in the other breast. However, I did not opt to have the other breast removed.  I am checking it regularly and I still go to the cancer clinic for annual checkups. Luckily the lymph nodes were clear, so I wasn’t offered chemotherapy as a follow up treatment. Instead, I started to take Tamoxifen and continued on it for five years.  Since having the cancer, I have been more physically active and take a more pro-active attitude with regard to my health.

In 1998 I was informed that Kathy Levi wanted to form a dragon boat team for breast cancer survivors called Knot-a-Breast, serving Hamilton, Burlington and the Niagara region . My friend Anna and I went along to the first meeting and joined. I am still a member and love the support, interaction with the other paddlers and the exercise that dragon boating brings.

However, as much as we loved the sport, we realized that we couldn’t find a suitable bra top for those of us who had had a mastectomy, so I set about to design one. I had 12 made and asked my team mates to try them out and give me feedback.  Their feedback indicated that I had the “perfect” sportsbra.  I started a business called  Janac Sportswear and launched the original sportsbra "Aggie" and after much success added two new styles; "Dinah" and "Anna" named after two of my teammates.

One day while I was exercising and stretching over a Swiss ball, I looked down and found my prosthesis pointing up to the ceiling and my natural breast lying flat. I fell off the ball laughing and realized that my gel prosthesis didn’t react like my natural breast when wearing the sportsbra–hence the creation of the Been-a-Boob Prosthesis.  The Been-a-Boob is a pocket made of a special quick-drying material and filled with polypropylene pellets which molds into the shape of a breast when put in the pocket of the sportsbra or any mastectomy bra or swimsuit.

Ever since Dr. Michelle Holmes of the Harvard Medical School in Boston, led the first study to produce evidence that exercise improves the prospects of beating any malignancy, the need to stay active became more important for women and especially breast cancer patients. (See Physical Activity and Survival After Breast Cancer Diagnosis http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/293/20/2479)  When you have been faced with an invasive surgery with disfiguring results, one of the challenges is to be comfortable with your appearance. One of the ways to re-gain your confidence is to feel good in the body you now have. Women can enjoy being active after breast cancer surgery wearing products that are comfortable and supportive. The sportswear that I created is unique because there is no other mastectomy sportsbra on the market that can be worn as a bra top.  The sports bras provide excellent support for breasts of all sizes and are designed to look and feel like the sportsbras you wore before your surgery.

Whether you are running a marathon, participating in an exercise such as dragon boating or aerobics, walking your dog, working in your garden or in your home, nobody will know you are wearing a prosthesis.  (See Testimonials http://www.janacsportswear.ca/testimonial.htm)

To find a retailer or to order online visit www.janacsportswear.ca

Janac Sportswear
1396 Royal Drive,
Burlington, Ontario, Canada.
L7P 2G9

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