Why Ford Developed Seatbelts for Breast Cancer Patients

First Development of Products Exclusively for Mastectomy Patients

American car company Ford recently introduced a dedicated seatbelt called the ‘Support Belt’ for breast cancer patients. This is the first time an automaker has directly designed and validated a specialized product for breast cancer patients.

Breast cancer patients undergo mastectomy during treatment, and conventional car seatbelts can put pressure on the recovering chest. The Support Belt created by Ford is an accessory attached to the car seatbelt to alleviate this issue.

Made from soft and breathable materials, it enhances comfort. Its curved design, adaptable to various body types, reduces friction and irritation, helping patients drive comfortably even when the surgical site is sensitive after surgery. The company explained that it was developed to provide practical support to breast cancer survivors and patients during their recovery process.

Support Belt developed by Ford
Photo by Ford Korea

Emily Obert, an exterior design director at Ford, said, "It provides not only simple physical support but also psychological reassurance during the recovery process of mastectomy patients," adding, "It shows how thoughtful design can deeply impact healing."

Lima Shukukani, who participated in the development of the Support Belt on the same team, said, "We listened to breast cancer survivors and dedicated ourselves to creating a product that meets their needs," and added, "We hope patients using the product feel that there are people who deeply understand and care about their recovery process."

Support Belt developed by Ford
Photo by Ford Korea

The World Health Organization has designated October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month to widely promote awareness of breast cancer. October 19 is World Breast Cancer Day. Various campaigns are held to encourage early diagnosis and emphasize the importance of research. Ford has also joined these efforts, investing over $139 million over 30 years in the ‘Ford Warriors in Pink’ campaign to support breast cancer research and patient recovery.

The newly introduced Support Belt was also developed as part of this campaign. The company plans to distribute it free of charge to mastectomy patients. It is designed to be used with Ford vehicles, and Ford is providing the design free of charge so that other automakers can produce it to fit their own vehicles.