I LOVE MY SHOP: Dr Ndileka Shuenyane

16 May 2013 - 03:15 By Alia Wilhelm
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The good doctor in her lingerie shop in Parkhurst
The good doctor in her lingerie shop in Parkhurst
Image: ALIA WILHELM

Tell me about your shop, Strutt

We sell imported high-end lingerie and mastectomy bras and prostheses.

The prosthesis is a lightweight, silicon breast-form designed to look and feel like a breast, and for someone who has decided not to have reconstructive surgery. The mastectomy bra is a specialised bra with an inner pocket that securely houses the prosthesis.

Our focus is on trying to choose styles that are romantic. It's not just a functional garment.

Why is it important to sell mastectomy bras?

I lost my mother to cervical cancer so I'm really passionate about raising awareness about cancer. Strutt is a beautiful, nurturing shopping experience for women who have been treated for breast cancer. They have taken a huge knock to their body image and self-esteem, and have been on one hell of a journey.

What did you think of Angelina Jolie's recent disclosure about her double mastectomy?

For her to choose to remove both her breasts - an integral part of femininity and sexuality - and then go public about it, can only change perceptions.

We perceive her as one of the sexiest people alive. She's using her platform to raise awareness about something many women are scared to talk about.

What will be the consequences for women?

It opens up dialogue. It's a shift towards preventative medicine as opposed to reactive and therapeutic medicine, which is really where medicine needs to be shifting.

It will definitely convince women to be more rigorous in terms of check-ups and self-examinations.

Choosing to go public in The New York Times was a strategic move by Jolie.

The publication has clout. It's not a tabloid story; it's an educational, informative article, so it immediately takes on a different tone. I'm very proud of her.

  • Strutt, 76 6th Street, Parkhurst. Call 011-447-9597. Post-mastectomy bras range in price from R850 to R1400. Prostheses cost about R250 for post-op ones and R1700 to R2700 for silicon ones
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