Inside The Specialty Clinic at Nome’s Norton Sound Regional Hospital, you could hardly tell that the town is socked into one of its first fall storms, causing flight cancellations and high surf advisories. Women have been coming in and out for hours, waiting patiently for their turn at a fitting with one of the two specialists who traveled up for the two-day event from Anchorage.
While she asked to remain anonymous, one patient who we’ll call Amy was being fitted for a prosthesis and willing to share her story. Behind the curtains of one of the makeshift fitting rooms, she recalled that, a couple years ago, she felt a lump in her left breast. She went in for a mammogram, and it was eventually confirmed that Amy had Stage 2 breast cancer.
As a survivor, Amy isn’t alone. According to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Alaskan women.
For Amy, the decision of what to do next came pretty quickly.
“I told them, just take the breast off.”
Her mastectomy was two years ago, and because it takes the body time to recover and readjust, Amy has been sporting specialty tank tops in lieu of a bra. She’s also had to travel to Anchorage every six months for a checkup. She’ll will be going back down this month, hopefully for the last time.
For breast cancer survivors, however, the trips to Anchorage don’t stop when the treatment stops. With the only Certified Prosthesis Fitters located in Anchorage, breast cancer patients throughout Alaska must make the trip to the big city if they’re looking to be fitted for a post-mastectomy bra.
That’s why Norton Sound Health Corporation partnered with Nordstrom, an upscale department store, to host two Certified Prosthesis Fitters in Nome.
Liisa Thorson, a Regional Fit Stylist for Nordstrom, says the upscale department store carries prostheses filled with whipped silicon along with specialty bras that have built-in prosthesis pockets. And, she says, they also do custom fittings.
“One of the best things that we do as a company is we offer pocketing free of charge,” Thorson explained. “We have alternations on site so we can take any bra, for the most part, on our floor and sew and pocket in, and the pocket actually holds the prosthesis.”
Thornson is proud of the products Nordstrom sells and the services they provide. But it’s not just because she’s one of their regional stylists. It’s because she, along with most other women that have been professionally fit, recognizes something so simple in the experience: getting fitted can be fun, and wearing a bra that actually fits? It’s empowering.
Cathy DeAngelis, manager of Norton Sound’s radiology department, could see that on the women’s faces.
“One of the things that’s amazing is to just sit here and watch the ladies come out from behind the curtains,” DeAngelis explained, “because they feel good, and their girls are happy.”
In addition to hosting the free fitting event, Norton Sound is also offering mammograms and DEXA bone density scans throughout the month of October. Whatever the insurance covers, Norton Sound will pick up the rest, and if a patient doesn’t have insurance, Norton Sound will cover the entire cost of the scans.
And early detection, which is key to a patient’s survival, is something that Amy is all for.
“I just encourage women to breast examine every day or whenever you shower,” Amy said. “Again, that’s the best detection you ever have,” adding that “a good positive attitude about having breast cancer helps.”
And, she said, as any woman would tell you, a properly fitted bra can do wonders.
