Stand with Estela Fund donates mastectomy garments to patients
The Stand with Estela Fund partnered with the Hospitals of Providence and the Rio Grande Cancer Foundation to donate 50 post-mastectomy camisoles.
An event was held Friday morning at the main Hospitals of Providence campus to give away the garments. This week alone, there have been six mastectomy patients at the hospital.
“The patient can wear the garment home and for several weeks until the surgeon says it is okay to be fitted for a bra,” says breast cancer navigator for the Hospitals of Providence Charlie Swopes.
The cost of the garments are around $50 each and will be entirely covered by the Stand with Estela Fund and Rio Grande Cancer Foundation. These camisole type garments are very important for patients as they have a pouch for a drainage tube bottle. Patients have to drain at home daily for at least two weeks, sometimes up to a month.
“Having just been through my own surgery, I know how very vital it is for women to have support during a time when swelling and tenderness can prevent the use of other conventional garments,” said our very own news anchor Estela Casas.
The garments provide more than functionality, they also boost the confidence of recovering patients.
“It fitted nice, it was snug. I put the drains in their because you have drains after you have surgery. And I put it on and then my daughter looked at me and she said, ‘mom, you can’t even tell.’ And I was just so relieved and thankful that I had that camisole that day,” says breast cancer survivor Susan Mendez.
In addition to the garments, the Stand with Estela Fund will also donate ten $250 gift cards that will be distributed to patients in need to help pay for treatments.
