Post-mastectomy garment

Abstract

A garment for use by a patient after surgery for breast removal which alleviates post-operative pain and discomfort and facilitates normal activities during the recovery period. A padded vest-like garment is adapted for applying comforting pressure to the sites of removal of breast and other tissues and for holding pain relieving packages. A detachable arm support provides further comfort in a similar manner.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A garment for use following surgical breast removal in which a patient has had removed substantially all of the subcutaneous tissue of a least one breast so that the contour of the patient's body at the site of breast removal approximates the contour of the patient's rib cage and also has had removed lymphatic and muscle tissue adjacent the patient's armpit comprising: a. a body portion for surrounding the patient's upper body including a back portion and two front portions, said front portions being separable from one another along vertical edges to permit placement of said body portion around the patient's upper body, said body portion and front portions having total horizontal dimensions larger than the largest circumference of the patient's upper body so that said vertical edges overlap one another when said body portion is placed around the patient's body,   b. said body portion comprising inner and outer layers of soft non-expansible fabric permeable to gases and liquids to provide skin comfort to the patient and resilient padding material disposed between said inner and outer layers to provide resilient pressure on the patient's body,   c. a plurality of fastening means vertically spaced along each of said vertical edges, said fastening means each being continuously variable horizontally and independently of one another so that the garment is adjustable for a snug fit around all portions of the upper body of the patient,   d. at least one of said padded front portions having a cross-section which is substantially uniform so that said front portion snugly fits and exerts comforting pressure on the site of the removed breast, and   e. said body portion including an arm opening adjacent a site of breast removal which fits more snugly against the armpit adjacent a site of breast removal than an arm opening in said body portion that is not adjacent a site of breast removal and said body portion is provided with resilient padding additional to that in a remainder of said body portion to exert comforting pressure on the site of removed lymphatic and muscle tissue.   
     
     
       2. A garment according to claim 1 wherein each of said fastening means is operable by one hand. 
     
     
       3. A garment according to claim 1 including shoulder straps joining said back portion and each of said front portions to further secure the garment on the patient's body. 
     
     
       4. A garment according to claim 3 wherein said shoulder straps include continuously variable fastening means for adjusting the effective length of said straps. 
     
     
       5. A garment according to claim 4 wherein each of said shoulder strap fastening means is operable by one hand. 
     
     
       6. A garment according to claim 1 for use by a patient who has had only a single breast removed wherein said front portion adjacent the intact breast includes a breast cup. 
     
     
       7. A garment according to claim 1 including an opening therethrough for insertion of fluid drain tubes. 
     
     
       8. A garment according to claim 1 including at least one pouch between said inner and outer layers for receiving pain alleviating packages. 
     
     
       9. A garment according to claim 8 wherein a pouch is adjacent a breast removal site. 
     
     
       10. A garment according to claim 8 wherein a pouch is located adjacent to the patient's armpit adjacent to a breast removal site. 
     
     
       11. A garment according to claim 1 further including a padded arm support and a sleeve for receiving a patient's arm. 
     
     
       12. A garment according to claim 11 wherein said arm support includes an upper arm portion and a lower arm portion which are movable relative to one another. 
     
     
       13. A garment according to claim 12 wherein said sleeve has an opening along its entire length and closure means for closing said opening. 
     
     
       14. A garment according to claim 11 including at least one pouch within said sleeve for receiving pain alleviating packages. 
     
     
       15. A garment according to claim 11 wherein said body portion and said arm portion are attachable to and detachable from one another. .Iadd. 
     
     
       16.  A method for making a mastectomy garment comprising: a. providing a tightly fitting vest that fits snugly around at least the chest region of a patient, wherein the tightly fitting vest includes a first arm opening and a second arm opening;   b. sizing said first arm opening and said second arm opening such that the tightly fitting vest extends substantially to the armpits of the patient; and   c. cutting said second arm opening to be larger than said first arm opening..Iaddend..Iadd.17. A garment comprising:   a. a body portion for surrounding a portion of a person's upper body including a first chest area and a second chest area; and   b. fitting means incorporated into said body portion providing more force against said first chest area than said second chest area, said fitting means including a first arm opening and a second arm opening wherein the first arm opening is smaller than the second arm opening, and the body portion surrounding the first and second arm openings being relatively non-stretchable in at least one direction..Iaddend.