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Notes from Our President
 20 Years Of Innovative and Creative Fashion With a Purpose - 2010
Ladies First, Inc. and The SOFTEEŽ Prosthetic Camisole
20 Years Of Innovative and Creative Fashion With a Purpose
January 2010 marks our celebration of 2 decades of dedication and service to women all over the USA who are recovering from breast cancer surgery. Twenty years ago and before the birth of the SOFTEEŽ women were offered nothing appropriate to wear as they left the hospital and returned home to recuperate from breast surgery. How well I recall my own experience and ultimately how important it became to me to find a solution that would address both the emotional and physical issues women like myself were forced to quietly deal with.
My Mother's generation simply considered altered body image, emotional distress from losing a breast and physical discomfort during healing from a mastectomy their cross to bear. They attached the post-op drains to their clothing with a safety pin, inserted a rolled up sock in an oversized shirt breast pocket, and suffered in silence, they had no other options.
In 1990 our introduction of the Original SOFTEEŽ changed everything. Now there was a way to address all of the patients immediate needs with a specialty prosthetic camisole that could be worn immediately following surgery and throughout healing, allowing women to recover with the comfort and confidence they wanted and needed.
Women dealing with breast cancer embraced the SOFTEEŽ immediately, the post mastectomy industry and some within the healthcare community were slower to accept a new idea and product. Over time and with the help of thousands of personal testimonials from the patients who received a SOFTEEŽ, soon the physicians, nurses and retail providers of after-breast-surgery products came to understand the significance of this garment to the overall well being of the women they serve. The SOFTEEŽ filled an overlooked void in patient aftercare and was soon approved Nationwide for Medicare and insurance reimbursement.
Over the years there have been many attempts to duplicate the SOFTEEŽ, there are now other camisoles sold by companies both large and small that might appear to be similar, however some ideas cannot be improved upon. Who could better understand the special needs of a breast cancer patient than a breast cancer survivor with personal experience.
From the beginning, Ladies First and the SOFTEEŽ have focused our business on offering comfort and high quality products for women in recovery, living with and beyond breast cancer, and we have stayed the course for 20 years.
The SOFTEEŽ Prosthetic Camisole:
- The original, quality garment
- The most recommended and prescribed by healthcare professionals
- The number one patient preferred
- 6 Styles for recovery, throughout treatment, and beyond
- The only post-op Prosthetic Camisole designed by a breast cancer survivor
Ladies First, Inc.:
- Celebrating 20 years of proudly serving women with
100% American made designs and goods
- An industry pioneer
- Woman owned and operated
- Founded by a breast cancer survivor
- Providing jobs and opportunity to businesses nationally and in our own community
- Generous national grant & donation programs for uninsured and
under-served women
Thank you to the thousands of women who have shared their personal testimonials about the SOFTEEŽ, to the physicians and other health care providers who appreciate the benefits of the SOFTEEŽ, and to our valued retail providers who want the very best quality products for their customers. It is all of you who have made our ongoing success possible.
Linda Jackson
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A Message From Linda - 2009
This year Ladies First will celebrate 19 years in the business of providing unique products designed to comfort women recovering from and living with breast cancer.
The year 2009 reflects the 19th anniversary of my second breast cancer diagnosis, surgery and with that, the concept and design for the SOFTEEŽ Prosthetic Camisole, the first breast surgery recovery garment. The SOFTEEŽ may look the same, however over the years it has undergone some subtle revisions based on the ever changing needs of the patient.
Back in 1985 & 1989 following my own surgeries, the hospital stay was 3-4 days and the surgical drains were removed at the time of hospital discharge. Years later when women began going home the same or next day we added the "Roo" pocket to comfortably and conveniently accommodate the drains. This pattern was renamed the SOFTEEŽ TWO, so that the Original SOFTEEŽ design could remain and always be recognized as the FIRST. Later, when women began to undergo immediate reconstructive breast surgery requiring up to four post operative drains, we expanded the size of the "Roo" to hold up to four sets of drains yet with the flexibility to lay flat and undetected once the drains were removed.
Ladies First, the SOFTEEŽ and Me; nearly two decades of survivorship and of serving women with the #1 most recommended, prescribed and preferred after-breast-surgery products.
Now that is something to celebrate!
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Over a Decade of Caring - 2008
For over 18 wonderful years we have been dedicated to providing women diagnosed with breast cancer a unique and useful line of specialty products. It all began with the Original SOFTEEŽ, the first Prosthetic Camisole and over time with your suggestions, support and encouragement we have continued to grow and blossom! Thank You-Thank You to both you and your customers for your continued commitment to our high quality products and services.
Linda Jackson
President
21 year Breast Cancer Survivor
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A Message from Linda -2007
2006 was an eventful year for me, one that marked my 21st year as a breast cancer survivor. Unfortunately, a few weeks following this milestone anniversary I discovered a lump. Results of the biopsy confirmed that the breast cancer has indeed returned. It has been over 17 years since my first reoccurrence and second surgery, so I was as surprised as my team of doctors that after all of this time the cancer decided to start growing again. I am feeling exceptionally well, have a very positive prognosis and am completely confident that this current course of treatment will take me into another long and healthy remission. Meanwhile most days you will still find me here in the office doing what I love best which is the business of helping other women who are recovering from and living with breast cancer. Here is wishing all of you a Happy & Prosperous Year with best wishes for good health and many blessings in 2007.
Linda Jackson
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SUPPORT SOFTEEŽ - 2006
The SUPPORT SOFTEEŽ, ahhhhh - this is my own personal favorite SOFTEEŽ style. Midriff in length with double elastic bands for light lift, it always stays put. The SUPPORT SOFTEEŽ does not require tucking into trousers or skirt, so I find it cooler for summer. Even minus the weight and fullness of a natural breast, there is no riding up or shifting of the SOFTEEŽ lightweight breast forms. This style as well as all of our SOFTEEŽ prosthetic camisoles should fit and feel snug, like a hug to offer a secure and smooth fit. I appreciate the comfort and freedom of wearing the SUPPORT SOFTEEŽ when I am working in the office, gardening outside, when I am lounging about the house or visiting with friends. The SOFTEEŽ restores shape, is soft against my skin, is cozy and non-binding, I couldn't ask for more!
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SOFTEEŽ: What's Behind The Brand Name - 2005
For over 15 years the SOFTEEŽ post-operative prosthetic camisole has been comforting and restoring confidence to breast cancer patients. Designed by a breast cancer survivor, the SOFTEEŽ was the very first post mastectomy recovery garment and today continues to be the most recognized, recommended, and prescribed after-breast-surgery product available.
From the thousands of medical professionals, who recommend the SOFTEEŽ, to the physicians who prescribe it and the women who wear it, the SOFTEEŽ is a name they know they can trust. Created from personal experience the SOFTEEŽ was a pioneer by being the first product to address the immediate and special needs of the breast surgery patient.
When no one else understood the importance of emotional healing and restored self image to a woman's overall recovery, Ladies First and the SOFTEEŽ were out there offering soft comfort, restored shape, managing the post-op drains and helping women to feel comforted and reassured. When a product is designed and produced with this kind of compassion and integrity it shows in everything they do.
We are very proud of what we have accomplished during these fifteen years. Behind the brand name SOFTEEŽ you will find a dedicated company and exceptional people who have kept product standards high by remaining focused and committed to improving the quality of life for women diagnosed with breast cancer.
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A Message From Linda - 2012!
2012 brings Ladies First to the beginning of another year in the business of comforting women with breast cancer. After 21 years with a focus on high quality and unique American made garments, we are still going strong!
Like everyone in the past few years, we at Ladies First have seen our cost of doing business skyrocket. Because we do not wish to pass these increases on to you, we have been creative in finding ways to maintain our current prices without compromising quality and customer service. An example is our new SOFTEEŽ bow box packaging, which is still the same beautiful presentation but more compact, space saving and less expensive to ship.
You may not be aware, but here at Ladies First, we do so much more than just sell products. We believe in doing our part to support women who are medically under insured or under served. Last year Ladies First donated hundreds of our SOFTEEŽ Prosthetic Camisoles and other post surgery products for women with financial need. These donation items were supplied to and dispensed through non-profit breast cancer organizations like:
Stanford Cancer Center, Stanford, CA
The Minnie Pearl Foundation, Nashville, TN
Global Focus On Cancer/Vietnam
ACS Reach For Recovery/Cape Peninsula South Africa
Montana Native American Tribes
We also work closely with the United Breast Cancer Foundation who provides SOFTEEŽ grant funding to USA based, not-for-profit organizations that serve women with little or no medical insurance coverage. Through the UBCF, hundreds of patients, women who would other wise not have been helped, have been able to recover with the dignity and comfort of wearing a SOFTEEŽ.
If you have not recently done so, please take a few minutes to visit both our SofteeUSA.com and ladiesfirst.com comprehensive websites, where you will find helpful resources for the newly diagnosed, women in recovery and for those living beyond breast cancer. At SofteeUSA.com we offer a short monthly e-bulletin to subscribers with current, useful and always FREE breast cancer resources. Here you can also link to our Facebook page where we post additional breast cancer related topics of interest.
We genuinely appreciate our retailers and healthcare professionals for the important work you do and for making sure your customers and patients receive the Ladies First high quality and comforting 100% American made products they deserve!
As we begin 2012, we wish you all continued success, good health and many blessings throughout the year.
Warm regards,
Linda Jackson
Founder, President & CEO
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