At the end of the 80s some serious professionals concerned about the importance of the rehabilitation of the Brazilian mastectomized women suggested to me to develop a device which would meet the needs of the Brazilian mastectomized woman, once since 1977 I have been working with cancer patients, specially with patients bearing breast cancer.

At that time, the reconstructive surgeries have not achieved the current excellence, in addition to not being covered by the INPS (Social Security) – at present, SUS, and by the health care plans on the occasion. Therefore, the Brazilian mastectomized patients had no other alternatives than acquiring imported external prosthetic devices, or managing somehow resorting to canary seed or “painço” (kind of sedge) sachets, diapers, clothes or stockings, foam, lead balls, cotton, etc.

Such alternative were far from meeting dignity aspects such as hygiene, comfort and esthetics. Although the external prosthetic devices were wonderful under the esthetic aspects, they were practically not accessible to the great majority of the Brazilian mastectomized women for being imported and extremely expensive.

I have accepted this challenge and started to research what could meet the Brazilian women’s needs. I attended the “Sixth International Conference – Reach to Recovery” held in Dublin, Ireland, in 1990, to study the possible materials and techniques.

Coming back to Brazil and counting on the collaboration given by mastologists, physiotherapists, social worker assistants, and mainly mastectomized patients, we were able to find the Columbus egg, a bras filling that later was called Yasmine - fictitious name - and the proper patent was filed with the INPI (Brazilian Patent Office).

Yasmine is a Tupi-Guaranian product that offers advantages for its low cost, practicality, hygiene and comfort, mainly considering the climatic conditions in a tropical country. For being a technical bras filling, the esthetics will reside in the bras, bikini or bathing suit once it is a product which may be used in aquatic and sports practices. Its proportional relation among FORM X VOLUME X WEIGHT favors a better lymphatic circulation, therefore favoring the prevention of lymphedema due to its weight being more compatible with the remaining breast. For being slightly lighter, Yasmine avoids the groove through the bras strap on the supporting shoulder.

Yasmine acts in the same way as the contralateral breast in the rest position, avoiding some possible embarrassing situations. 

The products used provide the product with advantageous resistance and durability.

Paulo Iakowski Cyrillo
www.proreab.com.br/paulocyrillo