Today, 19 October, is International Breast Cancer Day. All month you will see pink ribbons everywhere, but I wanted to write something genuinely useful: a reminder to get checked and a conversation we almost never have, the one about bras, together with Ras Corsetería, a Barcelona lingerie shop that specialises in helping you find your size.
A bra does not prevent or cure anything, but the one you wear every day has a lot to do with how you feel in your body. And if you have had breast surgery, choosing it well stops being a detail and becomes part of your recovery.
The basics
When 19 October, International Breast Cancer Day · Cases in Spain in 2026 38,318 expected (SEOM/REDECAN)
Where to get fitted in Barcelona Ras Corsetería, Carrer de Calvet 11 · Who Katherina, more than 10 years fitting women
Breast cancer in figures
According to the report Las cifras del cáncer en España 2026, by the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) and the Spanish Network of Cancer Registries (REDECAN), 38,318 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in Spain this year. It is the most common cancer in women.
The good news is that the earlier it is found, the better the treatment options. That is why the message on 19 October is always the same: know your body and don’t skip your check-ups.
Screening in Catalonia, don’t bin the letter
In Catalonia, the public early detection programme sends you a letter inviting you for a mammogram every two years. It has traditionally covered women aged 50 to 69 and is being gradually extended to women aged 45 to 74. If you are in that age range and haven’t received a letter, ask at your CAP (local health centre).
In between, it is worth looking at and feeling your breasts from time to time. If you notice a lump, a change in the skin or nipple, a discharge or anything that doesn’t feel right, book an appointment with your GP. Most of the time it is nothing, but it is better to be sure.
When to see your GP
- A lump or harder area in the breast or armpit
- Orange-peel skin, redness or dimpling
- Changes to the nipple or unexpected discharge
- A change in size or shape you didn’t have before
What is a myth
- That underwire bras cause cancer
- That sleeping in a bra causes cancer
- That you don’t need checks if there’s no family history
The underwire myth
Let me clear this up quickly because I get asked a lot: there is no scientific evidence that bras, with or without underwire, cause breast cancer. Wear whatever feels comfortable.
What does matter is the size. A bra that digs in, cuts or rides up your back isn’t good for anyone: it leaves marks, it bothers you and you end up counting the minutes until you can take it off. And so many of us have spent years in the wrong size without knowing it.
Why go to a specialist
Sizes vary between brands, and our breasts change over the years, with pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight changes and, of course, after surgery. So even though shopping online is convenient, there are times when the best thing is for someone experienced to measure you and see you in the bra.
This makes even more sense after a mastectomy or breast surgery. That’s when things come up that you won’t know unless someone explains them: when you can go back to underwire, which fabrics won’t rub the scar, whether you need a style with a pocket for a prosthesis or how to balance both sides. Always following your medical team’s advice, a specialist fitter helps you turn those instructions into a bra you can actually wear every day.
Ras Corsetería, on Carrer de Calvet
If you have any doubts about your bra, knickers or swimsuit size, this is the place. Ras Corsetería is at Carrer de Calvet 11, in Sant Gervasi, and behind the counter is Katherina, who has been helping women in Barcelona for more than 10 years.
What I like most is how she works: she always starts by asking, listening and observing. Then she measures you, suggests styles from different brands and you try them on until you find what suits you. No pressure, no rush and no judgement, as they put it.
At Ras they help you at every stage: after pregnancy, after a mastectomy or breast surgery, as your body changes over the years or simply when you want to know your size once and for all. Besides bras, they have shapewear, lingerie and swimwear, and if you’re looking for a present, gift cards from €30.
If you like independent shops with a personal touch, our brands section also covers permanent jewellery in Barcelona and the story of Simorra, Catalan fashion.
What is it? A neighbourhood lingerie shop offering personal fittings for bras, shapewear, lingerie and swimwear.
Why go? Katherina measures you, listens and suggests styles from several brands. She also fits women after a mastectomy or breast surgery.
- WhereCarrer de Calvet 11 (Sant Gervasi, Barcelona)
- Opening hoursMonday to Friday 10am–2pm and 4.30pm–8pm · Saturdays 11am–2pm
- BookingsWhatsApp +34 682 142 940 · Phone +34 932 02 39 15
- WebsiteFittings at Ras Corsetería
What the visit is like
My tip: book ahead on WhatsApp so Katherina can give you her time without rushing. And if you’re coming after an operation, bring your doctor’s or nurse’s instructions so she can advise you with the full picture.
Something to do this 19 October
If you have a friend, a mother or a sister who is going through it or has been through it, send her this article. And if it’s you, give yourself permission to take care of this too. Feeling comfortable in what you wear every day seems small, but it isn’t.
If you want to make an afternoon of it after your visit to Ras, you’ll find ideas in Barcelona in October, this weekend’s plans and evening plans with cinema, dinner and drinks. On a bank holiday, check which shops open on holidays first.
Know someone this could help? Share it and tell me on Instagram @barcelonainspira.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Breast Cancer Day
Every 19 October. October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is why you see the pink ribbon everywhere all month long.
How many breast cancer cases are there in Spain
According to the report by the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) and the Spanish Network of Cancer Registries (REDECAN), 38,318 new cases of breast cancer are expected in Spain in 2026. It is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women.
Do underwire bras cause breast cancer
No. It is a very common myth, but there is no scientific evidence that wearing a bra, with or without underwire, increases the risk of breast cancer. What matters is that it is your size and does not hurt.
What bra should you wear after a mastectomy
Always follow your medical team’s advice first. Generally you look for non-wired styles in soft fabric, with a front fastening or easy to put on and, if you use a prosthesis, with an inner pocket to hold it. A specialist fitter helps you choose the style and size for each stage of your recovery.
Where can I get a bra fitting in Barcelona
At Ras Corsetería, Carrer de Calvet 11, where Katherina measures and advises you, including after a mastectomy. Book on WhatsApp at +34 682 142 940.
Ras Corsetería contact details
Ras Corsetería · Personal fittings for bras, knickers, swimwear, shapewear and lingerie with Katherina.
- AddressCarrer de Calvet 11, Barcelona
- WhatsApp+34 682 142 940
- Phone+34 932 02 39 15
- Opening hoursMonday to Friday 10am–2pm and 4.30pm–8pm · Saturdays 11am–2pm
- Websiterascorseteria.myshopify.com
- Instagram@rascorseteria
