This is a firsthand account submitted through SWHR’s Share Your Story portal, as part of SWHR’s Women’s Health Perspective series.
For years, I lived with a challenge that so many women quietly endure: breast pain, discomfort, swelling, and sensitivity caused by hormonal changes, fibrocystic breasts, menopause, breastfeeding, post-surgical recovery, and the emotional and physical toll of painful mammograms. As a woman and mother, I experienced firsthand how common these struggles were, yet how few real comfort solutions existed beyond medication or temporary fixes.
My personal journey became even more meaningful when I watched women close to me, friends, and family members, struggle with pain after lumpectomies, mastectomies, biopsies, reconstruction surgeries, and everyday hormonal breast tenderness. Many were sent home with little more than advice to “rest” or use makeshift ice packs that were uncomfortable, bulky, and impossible to wear discreetly. There was no practical, feminine, reusable solution designed specifically for women’s breasts and healing needs.
As both a caregiver and someone deeply invested in women’s wellness, I knew there had to be a better way. I began researching breast health recovery, speaking with surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, OB/GYNs, and women themselves. What I heard repeatedly was frustration: women felt overlooked. Their pain was real, but their comfort was often treated as an afterthought.
That realization led me to create The Healing Pads: a therapeutic hot and cold breast pad designed specifically for women. Unlike traditional ice packs, these pads contour naturally to the breast, fit comfortably inside any bra and provide soothing relief for post-surgical healing, breast pain, breastfeeding discomfort, menopause-related tenderness, hormonal swelling, and everyday breast sensitivity.
The journey from idea to product was not easy. There were challenges in product development, manufacturing, education, and helping the medical community understand that comfort is not a luxury – it is part of healing. My son, Troy, joined me on this mission and together we turned a personal frustration into a mother-son purpose-driven business focused on helping women feel seen, supported, and relieved.
One of the most powerful moments in this journey has been hearing directly from breast cancer survivors. Those conversations reminded us that innovation often starts by simply listening.
Today, our pads are helping women across all stages of life: from young women managing hormonal breast pain, to mothers navigating breastfeeding, to women healing after surgery, and those going through menopause.
The greatest lesson I’ve learned is that women must advocate for themselves and for one another. Too often, women normalize pain and discomfort because they are told it is “just part of being a woman.” It should not be. Relief matters. Healing matters. Being heard matters.
My advice to other women is simple: trust your body, ask questions, seek second opinions & never minimize your own discomfort. Whether it is breast pain, post-surgical healing, or hormonal changes, your experience is valid. You deserve solutions, support, and care that prioritizes your quality of life.