In March 2006, I attended a worldwide Congress of Operating Room Nurses in Washington D.C. In connection with the congress, a surgeon at Frederiksberg Hospital asked me to investigate products and services available to mastectomy patients for his wife’s breast surgery clinic in Lyngby.

I took the opportunity to visit the hospital where I previously had work in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Janet Kramer who is an oncology clinical nurse and Breast Health Educator and Coordinator at the Erlanger Breast Resource Center and a breast operated patient herself. She generously gave me a beautiful canvas bag that is given to all new operated patients. It contained:

* a soft front-opened Surgical Camisole that they had designed themselves which contained 4 inter pockets to hold drains and a temporary adjustable breast prosthesis
* several brochures on breast cancer
* services and help contact names and addresses
* shops and product information
* a heart shaped pillow for pain management

Janet especially talked about the pillow that was made and donated to the hospital by volunteer, church groups and other supporting groups. The pillow is designed to be placed under the arm to ease pain from the surgical incision and tension along with helping reduce lymph swelling under the arm. She said this single item had been such a huge help to her and to so many of her patients. I thought instantly back to a dear colleague of mine that had died 2 years ago of breast cancer at 38 years old. One of the things that were really painful for her was the pain and swelling under her arm. I so wished that I had known about the pillow and could have helped eased some of her pain.

When I returned to Denmark, I thought that I needed to spread the knowledge I had gained. I first contacted The American Women’s Club Denmark and asked if they were interested in possibly supported a heart pillow project. I then contacted and had several meetings with the Mamma Clinic at Rigs Hospital because they are the sister hospital to my Frederiksberg Hospital. I needed a starting point and I felt it was important for women to receive the pillow immediately after surgery. It was agreed that I would give the clinic 10 pillows to use and evaluate in July 2006.12.12

I can also see prospects in reducing the costs. I am attempted to apply for a special customer card and price that is given at Panduro Hobby that is used for institutions and school. I do not know if the card gives a greater discount then the 9% I already have. I also ask anyone and everyone I know to donate unused cotton fabric they may have. In the future, it might be possible to talk to fabric shops in Denmark and arrange a direct donation from them.

I hope that this information will be a help for both those interested in breast cancer and for those of us working to help them.

Nancy Ruth Friis-Jensen
Nancy@heartpillow.dk