Department store fittings build survivor’s confidence

This is an open letter to all cancer survivors from the Mat-Su, Anchorage and Alaska.

I am a cancer survivor in my fourth year and I had one breast removed and was given a prescription by my surgeon to get bras to fit after my breast was removed. I was told the only place to get a special-fitted bra was Nordstrom in Anchorage.

In 2011, I went to see the sales personnel and make an appointment. In all, the measuring, fitting and sewing a pocket for the form took three to four weeks, after which I received two breast cancer bras and one form. The next time I went, in 2013, I had a check-up and was fitted because the measurements were off and the bras and form were too small. So I never wore them.

Since then things have changed for the better for me.

I got my mammogram at 3-D Providence Imaging in September and a prescription for two new bras — Medicare pays for bras and the form. I went back to Nordstrom to make an appointment to get fitted and was asked if I would be the model for their bra fittings and let the salespeople fit me hands-on to pick out the bras and put them on me, then measure both sides to make sure they fit and looked and measured equal; an ill-fitted bra is painful and no fun to wear.

Nordstrom has a special Breast Prosthesis Program with certified fitters who are specially trained to fit women who have undergone mastectomy, lumpectomy or other reconstructive breast surgery.

In all it took almost three hours to fit me, measure and get it right. It’s a service that breast cancer survivors will be very happy with. One girl salesperson got the measurement perfect.

The store personnel who asked me if I would be their model was Stormy Hunt, and she is a certified fit specialist who is prothesis-certified.

When I was asked to be a model, first I said “Really? Me? Too busy!” But she gave me her card and said they really needed me. I went home, thought about it and how early detection and surgery saves lives, plus the mammogram saw my cancer, which was small and hidden behind the nipple. An observant technician said something looked not right and he wanted to do a biopsy, which came back positive for cancer.

I said yes! I decided to model for them because women need that extra care to get fitted and feel good about their bra and how things look in their clothes. I know I feel much better now that I had the fittings and bras that feel good on my and make my clothes look good!

I learned a lot doing this and the young girls I worked with came back with the hands-on experience on how to fit a breast cancer survivor.

Only Nordsrom currently offers this service in our area. I want to thank Stormy and the special trainer from Seattle who came to Alaska to train the salespeople at the store.

Betty Brickel lives in Wasilla. For more information Nordstrom’s Breast Prosthesis Program, visit Nordstrom.com. For more information about breast cancer, visit the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org.