Miles Perret Cancer Services offers comfort to those with breast cancer

By: Nicole Rogers
The Miles Perret Cancer Services in Lafayette is there to provide comfort to any and all cancer patients, as well as their families.

“We say families because we’re not only serving the patient,” Miles Perret Cancer Services Executive Director Nicole Jones said, “we’re serving their caregivers, too.”

There are certain things, however that Miles Perret Cancer Services does for those specifically battling breast cancer.

According to Jones, out of all of their clients, about 35 percent of those are breast cancer patients.

Some of the things that Miles Perret does for those with and survivors of breast cancer are providing a support group, providing a “Simply You” box, taking clients on a breast cancer retreat, providing bras and prosthesis, providing wigs, and this year, Miles Perret is holding its first Paint the Town Pink.

The support group is facilitated by breast cancer survivor Jo Anne Miller and takes place after hours every first Tuesday of the month. The group is there for anyone affected by breast cancer.

This spring, Miles Perret will offer a retreat for those with breast cancer.

“We didn’t have it last year, but we are starting up–we’ve had an annual breast cancer retreat,” Jones said, “where we take several breast cancer patients who are finishing up, or shortly out of treatment, and they go away for a week and basically are pampered.”

The “Simply You” box offers those who have received mastectomies a little bit of comfort during their recovery period.

“It’s like a big gift box and inside is a bunch of different types of items that are useful to someone right after mastectomy surgery–so it’s post-mastectomy items–just small items that are going to make life a little bit easier for them once they get home from the hospital and dealing with recovery,” Jones explained.

In the box, clients will find sleeveless, cotton undershirts, a grosgrain ribbon, a water bottle, pre-moistened wash cloths, a puzzle book, a notebook and pencil, bandages, gauze pads, triple antibiotic cream, an emery board, lip balm, Kleenex, Life Savers candy and a comfort pillow.

In addition to offering services and products to those affected by breast cancer, Miles Perret Cancer Services is also starting an awareness program this year.

On Oct. 27, certain businesses around Acadiana will promote breast cancer awareness and make donations in their own way.

Some will offer discounts and free items for customers wearing pink, as well as donate a portion of their sales to Miles Perret Cancer Services.

“The plan is to have it grow each year,” Jones said. “We have schools that are participating where they will wear pink and make a donation, we have businesses that are donating, some of the restaurants are doing something special and donating the proceeds from that special menu item. Basically, the sky’s the limit.”

Business and schools participating include Acadia Chiropractic, Another Broken Egg Cafe, Cajun Fitness, Edie’s, Fezzos, Gautreaux’s Donot Kitchen, Great Harvest Bread Company, Joppe Courtyard Cafe, Lizzy Tizzy, Painting with a Twist, Patty Cakes, Preceptor Alpha Chi, Subway, Zea’s, Carencro Middle School, Notre Dame High School, Rayne Catholic, Sts. Leo-Seton Catholic School and St. Michael’s Elementary School.

The Miles Perret Cancer Services opened its doors in the summer of 2002. Over the past eight years, they have helped and served 7,000 local families. All services are done at no charge for the clients and their families.

Miles Perret Cancer Services was also the first in the state to launch a cancer rehabilitation program in partnership with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s kinesiology department, Jones said.

According to Jones, 80-85 percent of the funding for Miles Perret Cancer Services comes from sponsorships and 15 percent comes from grants.

“Basically, we are here to help them get through their–we don’t like to use the word journey with cancer, but the time someone is diagnosed, through their treatment and beyond,” Jones said. “We want to help them live well through and beyond cancer. So, providing the non-medical support services–the things that are going to make life a little bit easier along the way.

“I think if you talk to our clients, the common theme is the hope they get here, the hope of being able to talk to people who know what they’re going through, connect with other survivors and patients in the community.”

For more information on Miles Perret Cancer Services, go to their Web site at www.milesperretcenter.org or call (337) 984-1920.