A breast cancer survivor has created a first-of-its-kind bra and swimwear brand designed for women to “embrace the uniboob”.

Florence Moon, from Tunbridge Wells, says she couldn’t look at herself in the mirror for two years after she had a mastectomy.

The 55-year-old was first diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer on July 26, 2017 – the same day she had planned to visit her family in France.

Fewer than five out of 100 breast cancer diagnoses are inflammatory.

It is caused by faulty cells blocking small lymph vessels, making the skin red and inflamed.

“I asked the doctor if I should cancel my flight, and they told me not to worry as it is so rare,” she explained.

“I had no kind of tumour, but one of my breasts was swollen and red. Everyone thought it was just an infection.

“But of course it was true. I was devastated.

“It’s very aggressive and I was lucky it hadn’t spread to anywhere else in my body.”

Two weeks later Florence started chemotherapy and in December had a mastectomy to remove her right breast.

Her husband Angus and their four children supported her throughout eight months of treatment.

She said: “It’s like another full-time job, because you have so many appointments and things to do.

‘I felt numb in some ways. I think it was a way of protecting myself.’

“What comes to your head is mortality – you think you might die. I was told not to go on the internet, otherwise I would read terrible things.

“At the same time, it is like a storm, you are caught up in it and you just have to go through it.

“For me, I felt numb in some ways. I think it was a way of protecting myself.”

The mum decided to not have reconstruction, which would have involved taking part of her tummy tissue to create a new breast.

It also would have been an intensive eight-hour operation.

Instead she opted for a prosthesis that can be inserted and worn inside a special mastectomy bra.

Florence added: “I always thought I could never go out with one breast and I was extremely ashamed of my body for two years.

“I could hardly look at it in the mirror in the beginning. It felt like a mutilation.”

However, after listening to a journalist on a feminist French podcast who shared her experience of living half-flat, Florence had an epiphany.

“I questioned why I was wearing a prosthesis and the same day I took mine out and put it away,” she said. “As soon as I did that I felt relieved.

“It reminded me of my cancer everyday and that something was missing.

“I think the shame was weighing me down. I was finally taking control of my body and how I presented myself.”

Florence struggled to find a bra that would allow her to live without a prosthetic, as most designs had a pouch sewn inside a structured breast-shaped mould.

Working with talented seamstress and friend of 15 years, Marta Gurgul, the pair spent two years creating and perfecting designs.

“I went on the internet, thinking I was going to find a bra very easily for one boob, but they didn’t exist,” she explained.

“Marta made a bikini for me with one flat side and I felt so good.

“During lockdown in October 2020, we decided to create Eno.”

Their first collection – including a bra, sports bra, swimsuit and a bikini – launched last September.

‘I went on the internet, thinking I was going to find a bra very easily for one boob, but they didn’t exist.’

Florence hopes to introduce their bras in hospitals, so that women can have the option after surgery to choose reconstruction, a prosthesis or live half-flat.

Since the launch, she says the feedback has been “amazing and heartwarming”.

She said: “We’ve had people message in saying ‘thank you for existing’, ‘thank you for validating my altered body’ and ‘I’ve been looking for a company like you for years’.

“I felt like crying, it was very emotional for me.”

If you want to check out Eno, click here.

Prices range from £60 to £145.