Having undergone a mastectomy after discovering a lump in her breast, Jill Tucker, 62, found it hard to find prosthetic and garments that were also fashionable.

“I was diagnosed and had surgery in 2006,” she said. “I didn’t have to have it removed, but they needed to take such a large lot out that what was going to be left would not be very attractive. 

“I cried a lot that night, but the next morning I got up and decided I had a life to live so just got on with it.” 

Ms Tucker said in Wagga, there was not a great range of underwear products for women post-surgery. 

“What the department store had was very limited and it wasn’t a private area,” she said. 

“I thought Wagga is a big place. 

“We have the Riverina Cancer Care Centre, it services such a large area and it wasn’t good enough.” 

Realising she was far from alone – breast cancer afflicts women from their twenties to their nineties– Ms Tucker set about solving the problem and established Erilan Mastectomy Collection.

“I feel, honestly, that I was supposed to do this because everything just fell into place,” she said. 

“Within about a month, Triumph was holding a bra fitting school in Sydney, normally only for those who stocked their items, but I explained the situation and they let me come. 

“Within a couple of months, two of the brands I was going to be supplying had breast prosthetic fitting training sessions. 

“Then about a month later, I thought ‘I better get the money to start this’ and the bank said ‘yes’.” 

In April 2009, Ms Tucker opened her doors and began her business. 

“It’s a business for women who have had breast surgery and usually, that’s a result because of breast cancer, but it is not always the case,’ she said. 

“I supply them with breast forms if they have had a breast removed or even if they have had a lumpectomy and need evening up, lingerie, bras and even swimwear.”

Ms Tucker said these products and the fitting are part of the healing process and moving on. 

“If you have had a breast removed, you might feel your femininity compromised and your appearance definitely has been,” she said. 

“If women need to get back on with their lives, they need to go back to work and you don’t want to be reminded all of the time by the way people look at you that this has happened.” 

"When they come here, they see they can buy pretty things and once you have been properly fitted with a breast form – no one can tell.”

Ms Tucker uses her own experiences to help women feel more at ease when they come for a fitting. 

“It takes a lot of trust and I have to be quite sensitive,” she said.

“They think they look ugly and are damaged, but once they realise I have had a breast removed you can see them relax. 

“It humbles you and I feel privileged because these women let me in on a very personal part of their journey.” 

Ms Tucker said in the last 10 years, she has met incredible women who are all fighters. 

Figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare state that every day, 48 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the nation. 

Ms Tucker said that she has worked with women who have had cancer two or three times and are still so positive. 

“I have met young women who have children and women in their nineties who had their breasts removed 30 years ago,” she said. 

“They are all so strong and it is humbling to be able to help them on their journey.” 

Elsie May Field, 72, met Ms Tucker less than 12 months ago after having a lump removed from her breast.

“Last summer, I was lying in the air conditioning and I could feel a discomfit under my arm,” she said.  

“I was so lucky I had a supportive partner because I felt it was life-changing for me at my age. 

“It was only a matter of a few days and then I had the surgery so it took a long time for it to sink in because you don’t think you have cancer.” 

Ms Field didn’t have a breast removed, but said she could no longer wear bras with underwire. 

“It was a really emotional time for me as I didn’t have any family,” she said.

“I am battling along and I was so pleased to see what Jill had to offer.

“She was so meticulous about it fitting properly and she did a wonderful job.” 

Ms Field said when she found out about Ms Tucker’s own journey with breast cancer it put her at ease. 

“She provides a wonderful service to women in these areas,” she said. 

Christine Heffernan, 68, had a single mastectomy nine years ago, but then a year later had the second one removed due to benign cysts. 

“I was concerned because my mother had died of breast cancer,” she said.

“When the results came back I had three lumps and it was nasty, I was quite worried.” 

Ms Heffernan said she understands why some women would struggle with their femininity post-surgery.

“If I had been 40, I would have been more upset and wanted reconstruction, but I was older,” she said. 

Ms Heffernan was one of Ms Tucker’s first clients and knew her before she even started the business.

“There was a great void here that Jill could fill,” she said. “There would be a lot of the women in the country who would need access to these sorts of services. It’s excellent that we have Jill here.” 

Ms Tucker said her mission is to help women realise they still have choices and they are beautiful. 

“It’s such a feel-good business helping these women move on,” she said.