Appearance Boutique at Augusta Health Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders Receives Makeover

Suzie VanValkenburg
Member
Breast Most cancers Support Team

All through the previous calendar year at the Augusta Wellbeing Breast Most cancers Help Group conferences, girls confidentially shared how they ended up feeling in the early weeks of their analysis. A typical topic emerged: one of emotion susceptible, not realizing how cancer would impact them, especially their overall look. Dialogue about the Most cancers Center’s Appearances Boutique generally followed. Group leader and Oncology Breast Nurse Navigator, Donna Berdeaux, RN, BSN noticed an prospect to improve these original analysis emotions.

Open up for almost 10 several years, the Boutique has served the community by providing a single no cost wig to women of all ages encountering hair decline from chemotherapy. In 2016, bras and prosthetics [breast forms] have been added to serve mastectomy sufferers.

Berdeaux’s eyesight was to decrease this helpless experience by improving the Boutique to be far more welcoming and calming. Assistance Group members Patty Piccinino, Carol Cobb, and Suzie VanValkenburg labored with Berdeaux and Appearances Boutique Coordinator, Kim Glover.

Because most most cancers sufferers initially visit the Boutique with their important other, household member, or feminine friends, generating a superior initially perception matters. The initially step in enhancing the area was re-arranging inventory. Headcovers these kinds of as scarves, turbans, and hats were being moved to the entrance partitions generating them vibrant. Wigs have been moved even further back for a extra natural movement. Since each individual client does not need a mastectomy, bras were being moved to the back again to be significantly less daunting.

The group labored with services to open the area by eliminating non-vital goods together with a significant desk. A peaceful location consisting of two chairs, a compact table, and a rug ended up additional. It is now an best environment for meaningful discussion about a woman’s impending transform in her overall look.

Dependent on Guidance Group tips, a selection of head masking alternatives were being included to better in good shape distinctive life pursuits. The Support Team recently begun building earrings to be specified free of charge when a lady chooses a head covering. The beaded earrings will insert a contact of glamor and pleasurable to one’s new glimpse.

“I couldn’t imagine the variance. I could really feel the heat and calmness. It is remarkable how the complete vibe shifted just by building a handful of modifications,” commented a new breast cancer survivor.

This task also integrated making a new flyer advertising the Appearances Boutique. In addition, a new method was formulated to thank donors for their actual physical donations to the Boutique and Cancer Center. A foreseeable future challenge incorporates doing work to improve monetary support for the Boutique so it can continue on to present a assortment of head coverings.

Contributions can be created to the Appearances Fund by means of the Augusta Wellness Foundation. Visit https://www.augustahealth.com/basis/ for far more info.