Patient Information - Post Mastectomy Services

Pampered Passions Fine Lingerie is the gateway to making your journey through Breast Cancer easier. Pampered Passions offers seven (and growing) dedicated Certified Post Mastectomy Fitters on staff. Custom fittings and post-mastectomy fitting services are available both in our Colorado retail store as well as by phone.

Pampered Passions Fine Lingerie and Post Mastectomy Services was born out of an experience that Alicia Vargo had in their retail store, located in Englewood, Colorado. In 2003, open only a month, a woman in her late 50’s walked into the store.  She was a beautiful woman with fear in her eyes, looking for answers. She had recently been diagnosed with stage three Breast Cancer and her surgery was being expedited.  She would experience a double mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy and radiation.

Her name was Ruth and she was desperately looking for answers to many questions. At that time, Pampered Passions Fine Lingerie did not have answers for her.  She was not internet savvy and wanted local support. This most profound visit left Alicia Vargo unsettled, empathetic and disheartened.

Alicia took action immediately and within 2 months, a Post Mastectomy Department was born, she received her certification and hired a Registered and Certified Post Mastectomy Fitter. Ironically, Ruth was the first patient Alicia saw for post-operative care.  Pampered Passions Post Mastectomy also provided billing services for insurance.

With Medicare changes in 2006, Pampered Passions’ was no longer able to take insurance, so codes are provided for patients to bill out their own insurance.  Alicia states, “I was never going to have a woman grace our doors again that I did not have answers for to aid them through their challenges with Breast Cancer.” To date, Pampered Passions Post Mastectomy Department has fit 100’s of Breast Cancer Survivors in prosthesis, post mastectomy bras, post op garments, balance products for lumpectomy services and much more. See Post Mastectomy Bra Fitting Services.

To date, Pampered Passions Fine Lingerie and Post Mastectomy Services has seven Post Mastectomy Fitters on staff, is endorsed by the American Cancer Society, Centura.org, Health One Cares, Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, Oncologists and many Plastic Surgeons from all over the country.

Alicia travels the country educating the medical community on Post Op care.  Please take a moment to watch this video:

Alicia states, “ We can sew a pocket into almost any garment in our store, a pretty bra, an attractive camisole, beautiful chemises and gowns.”  Until recently, Breast Cancer Survivor’s only options were “granny bras”, in nude or white.  Today with the assistance on an “in-house” tailor and a Post Mastectomy tailor, we have a very creative outlet to make every woman feel confident and beautiful. Pampered Passions has one of the most extensive selections of beautiful pocketed post mastectomy bras.

Alicia is accessible to any Breast Cancer Survivor in any state who needs guidance and assistance via the Home Page of the website, “Ask Alicia” or her cell phone number which is available at anytime for any patient or Doctor’s practice.  Alicia’s main goal is to make a woman feel cared for, nurtured and confident. 

This short Fox 31 clip is a true expression of the culture of who we are and what we do:
www.pamperedpassions.com/corporate-care.html

A short story of a woman who purchased two post op camisoles for after her surgery:

The patient telephoned Pampered Passions after her double mastectomy crying.  It was tears of joy, as she woke up in her post op camisole that was trimmed with lace, and she felt feminine. She could pull the camisole on over her feet, it was soft and ultra comfortable, it had breast forms so she could walk out of the hospital not as she put it “flat”, and had Velcro pockets for her jp drains and port support.

Alicia states, “There are no bad days in my life, after almost a decade of seeing the courage and strength of these women.  The best healing method is a spirit of optimism and a great attitude and perspective toward life.” “If I lose my car keys, spill my latte all over myself, or one of our children forget their back packs at school, it’s a whole different perspective and a completely different approach to the daily inconveniences in life.” “We are humble and blessed to work with these dynamic, courageous women!”

Pampered Passions Post Mastectomy’s mission over the last decade has been soley to assist women less fortunate, or women going through a challenging time in their lives.” It has been a way of life for us and has turned into not only a social commitment, but a corporate care responsibility.”, Alicia Vargo states. This way of life, we call the “feel good junkie disease”, waking up every morning with the eagerness and excitement to assist another and make a difference in the daily lives of others.  To ease their burden just a little means the world to us.

Many hospitals and cancer centers have encouraged Pampered Passions to start a support group.  There was a desperate need in Colorado for a professionally run support group that could assist women at every stage of their journey through Breast Cancer.

Alicia walked into the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center and there was a woman dressed as a pirate waiting for her chemotherapy appointment.  This woman was dressed as a pirate along with a parrot on her shoulder and a hook at the end of her arm, in full costume.  She wanted to get to know this woman and find out why she was dressed as a pirate.

Tana, the pirate told her story to Alicia. She was simply dealing with her cancer in this manner as she was “stealing her life back”.  No need to walk the plank any longer, as the medical community has come so far, that breast cancer is curable.  So many ladies panic when they hear the word, “cancer”.

With the assistance of dear friends and family, Alicia and Tana created a support group called the “Breast Cancer Pirates”, stealing back one life at a time.

This support group has an interesting spin to it as it’s a Sponser-Sponseree Program.  Alicia pairs up newly diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients with women that have successfully come through Breast Cancer in a similar situation.  For example if a woman is a stage two or having a lumpectomy with radiation, no chemo, Alicia will pair this woman up with a Breast Cancer Survivor that’s had a similar experience. “It’s a personal relationship between the two women”, Alicia says. “They can talk on the phone, get together, and take the relationship wherever they would like it to go.”  Alicia plans to take this concept nationally to assist any/all newly diagnosed Breast Cancer patients.

For more information, contact Alicia at alicia@pamperedpassions.com

For more information about the Breast Cancer Pirates Support Group, go to:
www.pamperedpassions.com/breast_cancer_pirates.html

Breast Cancer Resources and Help:

American Cancer Society
Young Survival Coalition
Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers
University Cancer Center
MD Anderson
Hana Designs - Wigs
Soulstice
Plastic Surgery
AMC Cancer Fund
Centura Health
Health One Cares

Offering post-mastectomy and post-surgical intimate apparel from these fine manufacturers: