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Di Murini feels it is important to use ‘real’ women to model their collection. All the women featured on the Di Murini website have had breast cancer, which had led them to need breast surgery of some kind. After months of searching, Di Murini found inspirational women who were perfect for the role. Here is their story...
Louise, Leicester, England
How did you feel when you were diagnosed with breast cancer?
Extremely shocked! I wasn't expecting it. I felt really healthy and well. I was looking after myself and ate well and exercised so I didn't think that I was a candidate for breast cancer. You have your whole future planned. My daughter was about to start school, I was going back to work and then suddenly you hit this brick wall. You feel like everything has crumbled around you.
It's very shocking for your friends and family as well. You're almost dealing with their emotions as well as your own, which makes it twice as difficult. You're trying to put a brave face on for them but trying to deal with it yourself as well. The early days are quite difficult and then you go into this whole cycle of hospitals. I had a mastectomy then I had 6 months of chemotherapy, which I reacted very badly to. Then I had 6 weeks of radiotherapy after that, so it's almost like a whole year of your life that just disappears.
How did having a mastectomy affect you?
I had no choice about having a mastectomy. It was done within two weeks of seeing the doctor. I really didn't have very much time to get my head round it. Ironically, I was going to Disneyland Paris in those 2 weeks in-between. I came back on the Thursday and went into hospital on the Friday. It was all a bit surreal as there is a quite a contrast between the two. I hardly had any time to get my head round it. When you have cancer, having a mastectomy is quite a relief as you are getting rid of the cancer and you don't want that breast attached to you anymore. Physiologically, I felt a lot better after I had had a mastectomy.
I almost became detached to my breasts and ignored my remaining breast. That was quite difficult. In our culture you see images of breasts all the time and it is hard to escape. I almost cut myself off from that and breasts just weren't an important part for me. As far as clothes are concerned, you become very conscious of what you are wearing. You think ‘I can't wear that because it's too low' or ‘Someone may see my prosthesis in this.' Things that you take for granted like changing at the swimming baths, you can't do. You have to find somewhere private to change. You are always conscious.
What are your views on cancer having now experienced the disease?
People are definitely more open about it than they were 10 years ago; there has been a raise in awareness of breast cancer. When you have experienced it, you realise how much it dominates you and your thoughts. It takes time to not have it at the forefront of everything, it's a gradual process but one day you will just think ‘Oh, I haven't thought about cancer today'.
Do you have an inspirational story that you would like to share with other women?
I certainly found talking to people and reading about people who had been through breast cancer helped. Although they said ‘It can change your life for the better' and that I didn't believe at first. You think, how can it? My life has been turned on its head. You can't see how there would be a better future. But I now believe it does change your life for the better. It changes your attitude, your outlook and how you view the rest of your life. You take more control over your life and think ‘How do I want to spend the rest of my life?'
Do you have any advice for women reading this?
It does get better. Even though when you are first diagnosed you are so shell shocked and cannot believe that your life will turn back to normal - it will. You can actually make your life better. Focusing on you and what you want to get out of life. You feel like its all consuming and that does gradually fade away and you start to enjoy life again.
Why did you decide to model for Di Murini?
When the opportunity came about, I loved what Di Murini was doing; I loved the philosophy of the company. The fact you were using women who have had mastectomies to model, I thought that was brilliant, as other companies don't do that. As a woman who has had a mastectomy and who is used to looking at lingerie catalogues filled with women, who haven't had a mastectomy, modelling mastectomy products, it is rather off putting. I was inspired by what Di Murini was doing and wanted to help show women that you can have a mastectomy and wear beautiful lingerie. The shoot was a great experience and something that I probably would never have done before having breast cancer. Hopefully the catalogue that I am now featured in will inspire other women to feel confident about their bodies and think ‘Yes I can look sexy and feel feminine again'.
How have your friends and family reacted to the pictures?
My seven year old daughter said ‘Goodness gracious me' as she was totally taken aback by seeing her mum in lingerie! My husband was very impressed and my friends have just gone WOW. Quite a few people have said to me ‘That was a really brave thing to do'; personally I don't think it was a brave thing to do but I hope it will help other women to feel better about themselves.
What do you think of Di Murini and its products?
The products are beautiful and a lot of thought and care has gone into them. A lot of mastectomy lingerie I have worn has been something I would have not worn before my surgery. It's almost a ‘That will do' attitude and you put on a plain bra and pants. But since wearing Di Murini lingerie I have thought ‘No! I am worth wearing something more special than that', and it does make you feel like that. Its great quality, beautiful fabrics and lovely designs and it does make you feel glamorous when wearing it. It has been a great thing for me as it has made me care once again about what lingerie I wear. It makes you feel worth it.
Lesley, Southend-on-Sea, England
 How did you feel when you were diagnosed with breast cancer?
The bottom falls out of your world. You are just not sure if you are going to have life. It's a downwards rollercoaster. However, as you go through treatment you realise there is life, you do get better and you live on to live life to the fullest!
How did having a mastectomy affect you?
It's devastating to look down to see one breast gone. You think ‘Will I ever look feminine again?’ You realise as you go along, you get a prosthesis and to the outside world there is no difference at all. My daughter pointed out to me that I wear much more revealing clothes than I have done any time before and you know why? It’s because I can.
What are your views on cancer having experienced the disease?
If you are going to get this disease, thank goodness we are in a day and age where you can go on to live a normal life. You are able to recover from chemotherapy and you begin to feel normal again. So for all those ladies going through it, you need to know that there is life, it’s not the end.
Do you have an inspirational story that you would like to share with other women?
When I was having my radiotherapy, I was the last one of the afternoon to go for my treatment and there was always lots of staff on. I asked 'Why is there so many staff? You don’t need them for me!' They said ‘It’s because we are all needed for resuscitation.’ ‘Who needs it?’ I asked. ‘The children do. Everyday for 5 weeks they have general anaesthetic.’ I remember saying 'How are the children?' ‘They are great.’ ‘How are the parents?’ ‘The parents. That’s hard.’ I remember coming out of there and saying I will never winge or moan about anything again, at least I understood radiotherapy.
Do you have any advice for women reading this?
You’re no less a woman for not having that breast as you discover inner strength you never knew you had. They say that having breast cancer is like a tea bag. When you put the tea bag in hot water it gets stronger. You put us ladies in hot water and we get stronger!
Anne, Solihull, England
 When were you diagnosed with breast cancer?
1999. I had two previous lumps which proved benign but this somehow I knew was different. I had a sixth sense all was not so well. I was referred to the hospital and the surgeon thought it was benign as well but on scan it was not good news.
What type of surgery did you have?
I had a wide excision. My auxiliary glands were removed, although they didn’t think they had been affected. However they were and some were left in which meant that I needed chemotherapy. That was a big blow, I had got my head around having surgery and radiotherapy but 6 months of chemotherapy puts it in a whole different ball game.
What is your view on cancer now you have been affected by it?
I think the more it is talked about, the better. No one likes the word cancer and they try not to mention it. Why not talk about? There shouldn’t be a stigma. The more it is talked about the more open it is and the less frightening it will become.
Do you have an inspirational story that you would like to share with other women?
My granddaughter had leukaemia when she was only 5 and had to have 2 years of chemotherapy. I thought if she can hack it I certainly can! I made a big effort not to winge or complain.
How did you end up modelling for Di Murini?
I went to a support group meeting and they told us that Di Murini were looking for real women who have had breast surgery to model for the range. I put down my name and number and here I am! It's been absolutely fabulous.
Do you have any advice for women reading this?
It takes time. It doesn’t happen overnight. Try and think beyond your next few weeks of surgery or chemotherapy and take a longer view. Life does get better. This time next year it could be history and you could be back enjoying life to the full.
Kelly, London, England
When were you diagnosed with breast cancer?
It was February last year, 2008.
What surgery have you experienced since your diagnosis?
I had chemotherapy for 6 months. Six weeks after that I had my mastectomy and then about six weeks after that I started radiotherapy.
What is the one thing that keeps you strong?
I do it for my little boys. I have to get through it for them.
Why did you choose to model for Di Murini?
To boost my confidence, which it has, it’s been great.
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