Friends Boutique
About the Boutique
Boutique Supports Healing
A woman may feel she has lost control as cancer grips her body. Not only does she face a life-threatening disease, but she undergoes drastic changes in her appearance due to treatments.
Volunteers Jennifer Glick (left) and Ann Brodbine.
The Friends Boutique, near the front lobby of the Gillette Center for Women's Cancers on the ninth floor of the Dana Building, offers the tools patients need to reclaim some sense of control. This boutique was designed by women for women; there are no harsh, unattractive florescent lights in the dressing rooms here. In a tastefully decorated environment, patients will find breast prostheses to match many skin colors, camisoles and other lingerie, comfortable hats, wigs, attractive scarves and advice on using them.
"Being able to take control of your appearance is such an important part of the healing process," says Boutique Manager Julie Durmis, a BOC certified mastectomy fitter. "This provides one-stop shopping for women at a place that is convenient and comfortable for them."
The boutique is named in honor of a $1 million pledge from the Friends of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to the Women's Cancers Program. In addition, many Friends members have been specially trained and volunteer to work with patients there.
"It is important to the Friends to be a part of this project and to reach out to patients in a comprehensive way that addresses both the inside and the outside healing process and helps recreate a positive image," says Friends Co-President Andrea Abraham. "We want to help patients build self-confidence and gain a greater sense of self during a most difficult time in their lives."
The creation of the Friends Boutique came from a conviction that in addition to expert medical care, people with cancer need psychological and educational services. There is a need for services which help patients manage the ways in which the disease affects their quality of life and that of their families.
Products for Patients
To set up the boutique, the Women's Cancers Program chose Appearance Center Consultants. They helped design the shop and choose the inventory from more than 100 vendors. Many of the products come from small vendors who have developed products for cancer patients, but they also find items that can be adapted for use by cancer patients. One of them is a camisole that hooks onto a bra. The camisole was designed to allow women to wear low-cut blazers or shirts, but it is also ideal for hiding high mastectomy scars.
The 500-square-foot shop offers these unique products along with personalized consultation for those experiencing temporary or permanent appearance changes following cancer treatment. Staff can suggest a variety of ways to minimize the physical effects of treatments including radiation, chemotherapy, lumpectomy, reconstruction, and mastectomy. Women can make individual appointments with the staff to be fitted for breast prostheses, learn how to wrap scarves or choose a wig. Make-up consultations are also available through the American Cancer Society's "Look Good... Feel Better" program.
Who's Who at the Boutique
Julie Durmis, Boutique Director
Julie Durmis has been with the Friends Boutique since before its opening. She has received extensive training in post-breast surgery needs, hair loss alternatives, and compression therapy garments. Julie is a BOC (Board for Orthotist/ Prosthetist Certification) Certified Mastectomy Fitter and wig specialist as well as certified in the Lebed Method. She performs consultations and fittings for post-breast surgery and compression therapy needs. Julie has 27 years of healthcare retail experience.
Nicole Baglione, Administrative Specialist
Nicole has recently joined the boutique. She has nine years of makeup artistry experience as a trainer and instructor. Nicole has learned all aspects of the boutique operation, trains new volunteers, and supervises student interns. She also conducts mastectomy fittings as well as fittings for compression garments. Nicole is full-time and coordinates special projects and support programs.
Daffe' Barnes, Wig Specialist
Daffe' has been a licensed cosmetologist for 14 years, as well as an instructor at beauty schools. She has a keen sense for modern day hair styling and trends. Daffe' is available afternoons for fittings, wig alterations, cuts, styling and makeup tips.
Anabella Guillen, Wig Specialist
Anabella truly has a magic touch with wigs. Anabella has been a licensed cosmetologist for 33 years. She is fluent in Spanish and has also received certification for mastectomy fittings. Anabella is available mornings for fittings, wig alteration, cuts, styles and makeup tips.
Mary Liddell, Mastectomy Fitter, BOC certified
Mary Liddell works full time at the boutique and has 25 years of mastectomy fitting experience and DME. She also serves as our "in-house seamstress" for bras and swimsuits. Mary is available for fitting on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Marjolein Reinders, Boutique Retail Assistant
After a year working as a volunteer in the boutique, Marjolein Reinders joined the boutique in May 2008 as a part time Boutique Retail Assistant. Marjolein coordinates the boutique inventory needs, such as keeping the boutique stocked with daily supplies, ordering and entering patient and stock orders, and working on the boutique's appearance. She will also be responsible for setting up appointments for pick up, and shipping items for patients, as well as following up on backorders, returns, hold items, and defective items. Marjolein will also be providing backup coverage to the operations manager in the boutique to schedule appointments and support the day-to-day administrative and patient-care support duties.
Maria Zaroulis, Boutique Manager
Maria is the newest addition to our team at the Boutique. She and her charming personality joined us as Operations Manager in July 2008. Knowledgeable in the areas of DME and insurance guidelines, she is also trained and well-versed in the areas of compression garments and mastectomy fittings.
JoAnne Annunziata, Patient Accounting Representative
JoAnne works in patient accounting. She has been at Dana-Farber for three years. JoAnne started off in Revenue Control and now is an electronic biller. She also handles the Boutique billing.
Martie Carnie, Boutique Volunteer
Martie Carnie provides support to our breast surgery patients. She acts as a one-to-one liaison as needed, and visits patients during their breast surgery stay at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Martie also assists with the development of outreach programs. Martie is a 20-year breast cancer survivor, advocate, and educator. She was co-chair of the Dana Farber/Partners CancerCare Adult Patient and Family Advisory Council. She has been facilitator of the Quincy Medical Center breast cancer support group for the past 17 years, an American Cancer Society Reach to Recovery volunteer for 19 years, and a Dana-Farber One-to-One Cancer Connection volunteer. Martie received certifications in the Lebed Method and as a mastectomy fitter.
The Boutique is also supported by many wonderful volunteers and students:
Rose Marie Adamo, Trish Bailin, Mary Gannon, Leeza Elda Paftalaku, Lyn Weiner.
