Wish list for Cancer de Mama Clinic, February 2013

The volunteers with the Cancer de Mama Clinic have a few requests for those of you collecting items for next year’s clinic.

We are grateful for all of the donations we receive and would like to encourage you to continue with your generosity.

There are some areas that require a little extra care and consideration.

Our greatest needs are for:

Breast prostheses – sizes 5 – 10. Most of our ladies will fit between these sizes. We can still use some of the sizes from 1-4 and some over size 10.

Prosthetic bras – We found our A cup bras to be in the shortest supply, but all bras between 30A and 50EEE are gratefully accepted. Please no underwires, even if they are prosthetic bras.

Regular bras – Please pay a little more attention to these bras. We cannot use the bras that have underwires (they are not medically suitable for most women who have had breast cancer and if we remove the wire there is not enough bra left to hold up the prosthesis!) As well, any bras that are heavily padded cannot be converted to prosthetic bras as the padding binds the sewing machine needles.

Please check that any elastic in the bras is in good shape as the heat in Mexico very quickly destroys elastic and we would hate to give a Mexican lady a bra that will only last her a few months.

Wigs – Our wig department would love to have more long dark brown or black wigs. Straight or curly is great. Also wigs with short hair and coloured streaks.

Hats – The Hat Shoppe would love some visor type sun hats.

Scarves – Beautiful scarves with bright colours are perfect.

Clothes – We will once again be collecting good quality, clean women’s clothing for La Tienda (the free store).

Toiletries – we will not be bagging these items (e.g. shampoo samples, soap, hand lotion etc.) to give to the ladies next year, so please donate these to your local thrift store, women’s shelter etc…