The Appearance Center

Story by Kendra Maness, Editor

I went to the SMH Appearance Center the next day. Wendy was the “fitter” and she was a ray of sunshine! Her genuine warmth and positive attitude made me at ease almost immediately. “We’re going to get you looking and feeling great again, I promise,” she comforted. Wendy led me into a private, well-lit area with wigs, mannequins and scarves on every shelf. We started “shopping” through the drawers to find just the right size and style of prosthetic and bra. Hey, these weren’t just grandma styles! Some of them were lacy and pretty, just like a normal bra. A bit of fitting and trying different options in the dressing room, and I walked out looking and feeling great again, just like Wendy promised.

Normal. Great. Pretty. These feelings are hard to come by when a woman has lost her hair, or had a mastectomy, due to cancer. That’s exactly why the SMH Foundation opened the Appearance Center.

Located within the SMH Regional Cancer Center, the Appearance Center has come a long way since my visit back in 2017. Their remodel Grand Opening was held in March 2022 where they unveiled a completely renovated, spacious, calming and beautiful atmosphere with even more offerings for cancer patients.

Laurie Panzeca, Executive Director of the SMH Foundation, treated me to a grand tour this past month. Smiling as I told her my story, she said, “We want to get the word out, for more people to know that the Appearance Center is here for them, free of charge. It doesn’t matter where you had your cancer treatment, or when; the Appearance Center is here to help you.”

Laurie gave me some background information on the SMH Foundation. “We were created originally in 2008 as a department of the hospital. We were limited in the things that we could do as part of a public entity; so, in 2016, we became our own nonprofit organization to better deliver our mission.”

The SMH Foundation mission is to help Slidell Memorial Hospital change and save lives by raising money to fund the mission of the hospital, which is “to improve the quality of life in our community.” From the Fit as a Firefighter summer camp to wigs and garments for cancer patients, the SMH Foundation strives to make a real impact in the lives of their Slidell neighbors and beyond. Laurie explains, “It’s not just cancer; it’s cardiac rehab and cardiology, labor and delivery, the NICU... we support community outreach heavily and any other department that our donors feel that they want to support.”

“Last year, we funded a specialized bed for the babies in NICU and 7 warmers for the labor and delivery department at SMH. The hospital mileage handles all of the buildings and structures. The Foundation helps with equipment and furniture and other items to help the patients feel more comfortable when they’re going through treatment or to enhance their treatment and their recovery.”

The Appearance Center’s services are available because of the SMH Foundation. The Center holds a special place in Laurie’s heart. “Cancer is so hard for anybody to go through. My mom was a licensed cosmetologist and she always worried about her appearance, which I loved. When she was going through cancer and losing her hair, she looked at me and said, ‘I’m taking control. We’re going to shave my head.’ And I helped her shave it. But my mom still wanted to look like herself. She wore her hair in a bob before and she wanted to have a bob afterwards. That’s the wig we went and picked out for her.”

The Appearance Center was created to give people those options. “I want people to feel loved and supported when they are going through that. I wanted something that was a spa or boutique-like experience where, if you’re a very private person, we can draw the curtains and it can be you alone, or with just another family member. But if you want to have a wig party and have champagne, we have enough room for all of your friends! You can come in here and celebrate and we can help lift your spirits. We want to give people back that control.”

So, how does someone utilize the services the Appearance Center has to offer? “When someone gets diagnosed with cancer, they have lots and lots going on. The Cancer Center has a patient navigator and other patient resource professionals upstairs to help. But when you’re diagnosed, you’re so overwhelmed with information about all these possibilities you’re going through; whether it’s surgeries or chemotherapy, radiation, whatever your treatment is. So, even though patients are told about the Appearance Center, I still feel like not enough patients know that this is here. That’s what we’re hoping to do - let people know that if they need a wig, a head wrap, a scarf, a chemo blanket, or a bra with a prosthesis, or any of the other things that we offer free of charge, we’re here. Even if you don’t lose your hair immediately, or if surgery isn’t the first part of your treatment and you don’t need us until later on, we’re here!”

Laurie was definitely speaking my language. I remembered back to my cancer journey in 2005. Chemotherapy caused me to lose my hair immediately. I wasn’t selfconscious about it at first; I sported the bald look fairly well, and even had a bit of fun with it. But, as time wore on, the stares and whispers became hard to handle. I started to feel like I had lost my privacy because my bald head told the world that I had cancer. I just wanted to be “normal” and go out to eat like everyone else without it being a big deal. I started wearing wigs a few months into treatment, once I realized that cancer treatment is a marathon, not a sprint.

SMH Regional Cancer Center St. Tammany Cancer Fund

Lori Hoffman Von Matre Appearance Center

Wigs and patient support garments

Infusion therapy pumps

Infusion therapy chairs

Transportation

Education and Outreach

Fit as a Firefighter summer camp program

Girl/Boy Talk

School handwashing program

Discounted mammograms

Free health screenings

Capital and Equipment

Labor and delivery specialty beds

Mammography data reporting system

Blood pressure cuffs for screenings through SMH Community Outreach

Cardio-pulmonary rehab equipment

The Appearance Center and their gifts of free wigs didn’t exist when I was diagnosed, so my wig options were limited by my budget. I bought a short black wig, hoping to look like Uma Thurman from Pulp Fiction, and a long, red-haired wig, just to see if I liked it (I did). Sharing this with Laurie, she laughed and nodded her head. “Exactly! When they come in for a wig, we’ll have that conversation. They’re shown all the offerings and they start talking about color and style. It’s exciting for a lot of patients. Do they want to look like they normally look, or do they want to try something different and fun? We give them those options.”

The remodel and expansion to the Appearance Center offers every option imaginable. “In March 2022, we did the remodel. We had a generous family donate the original appearance center in honor of their daughter who had gone through breast cancer. She was a young professional and she wanted a natural hair wig and she saw that there was a lack of resources in the community. They reminded us that cancer happens at different ages and they were able to honor her and give to anybody who wanted a wig.”

With cancer, particularly breast cancer, being diagnosed in more and more younger women (I was 33), the expanded and improved wig area is a blessing. “The old wig room had more gray hair and older styles. There wasn’t really anything for anybody young and vibrant, or anybody who wanted to feel young and vibrant. We wanted to change that.”

Laurie adds, “And there’s definitely a difference between real hair and synthetic wigs. We wanted to make sure that we had enough real hair wigs also because those are expensive and some people can’t afford those. So we have a great mix now.”

Accompanying their free wig, patients also get a free plastic head form to help the wigs hold their shape and style and to make it easier to dry after washing.

The Appearance Center also offers a large variety of head wraps and scarves in every color and pattern imaginable. I tried on a head wrap. Very fashionable! Laurie tells me, “My mom would wear her wig out in public but, when she was home, she didn’t want to itch from the wig. She wanted to be comfortable, so she would wear a wrap.” There are also knitted caps and items that were donated by community members, civic groups, and churches. Wendy soon joined us on our tour. Wendy and I have seen each other a few times over the years since my bra fitting in 2017, and she’s always good for a bright smile and a warm hug.

Wendy Barber has been a Certified Mastectomy Fitter at the Appearance Center for eight years. The Foundation paid for her training in Atlanta at ABC University (American Breast Care). A certified mastectomy fitter measures a patient and properly fits, dispenses, and adjusts external breast prostheses, bras, and related supplies. They are integral to the physical and emotional well-being of patients, providing instruction and training on how to properly use and maintain post-mastectomy products.

Wendy’s full time job is upstairs in the Cancer Center as the financial resource coordinator. “I find money for patients to help pay for their treatment. I’ll find grants and copay assistance to help meet their out of pocket expenses and their deductible.”

It’s hard not to love Wendy when she helps you look great and pay the bills!

Patients set an appointment with Wendy and she meets them downstairs at the Appearance Center, just like she did with me. “It’s my favorite part of the day when someone comes in,” Wendy beams. “When they come in, they’re pretty vulnerable. I want to make them feel comfortable and leave with a smile.”

“I had a lady come in last week and I fit her in like five minutes, we were done. Then, I have one lady right now that I can’t fit her, but I don’t want to disappoint her. So I ordered some prosthetics in her size and I told her, ‘When I get these items in, I’m going to bring you in and we’ll make you look just like you want.’ Because I want everybody to leave with something so that they feel good.”

“I remember the first time I saw a mastectomy. I had no idea that they removed everything. I was kind of shocked. That’s when my training kicked in. Now, I’m accustomed to it. When I fit them and they look at themselves in the mirror, you know, their eyes just light up.” Wendy’s eyes begin to tear. “It gives me goosebumps. It’s incredible to see them smile.”

Another part of Wendy’s job is to listen. “I like meeting them and I like hearing their stories. A lot of times they open up. The older ones that have gone through treatment, they tend to be more open than somebody that’s just starting out. There are the ladies who say, ‘I had this done six or so years ago...’ as they take their little tissues and socks out of their bra,” she smiles. “I fit them and show them, ‘Look, this prosthetic fits right here in this little pocket so it won’t slip out.’ And I show them how realistic it can look and feel and they are just amazed!”

Wendy continues, “This is a free gift to ladies who need it. We give two bras and a prosthetic or two prosthetics. Because, in the summertime, you’re going to sweat and you need another one. I also give them a contact name for a person that actually bills insurance for the bras in case you need more than two.”

Laurie adds, “One of the things I want to impart is how important it is to have a center like this in our community. When you have cancer, you’re going through so much emotionally and physically. If a small thing like a wig or a cap can help you get through that day better, or a bra can help you kick your shoulders back and have a different self esteem, we want to provide that.”

“We have every style and size imaginable to make sure that when you come in, we have a good assortment for you. If not, we’ll order it. I’m happy to do that. That’s why our fundraising is so important - the needs change and they grow. I don’t ever want to tell the Cancer Center that the Foundation doesn’t have the money to pay for whatever needs to be in this room.”

Laurie has a vision for expansion, and doesn’t limit that vision to just one direction. “I want to grow with the community and I want to be open to what the needs are as the population changes. We tell the staff, ‘If your patients are asking for something else, let us know so that we can provide it.’”

If you or someone you know is in need of the services offered through the Appearance Center, you can contact the SMH Regional Cancer Center at (985) 280-6600.

Imagine one of these scenarios – You wake up in the middle of the night with mild abdominal pain. You trip while carrying boxes up the stairs and can no longer put weight on your ankle. Your child wakes with a spiked fever. What do you do? Do you visit your local emergency room? Do you head to the nearest urgent care? Or do you wait to see your primary care provider? While the answer is not always simple, knowing where to seek treatment and the differences between primary care, urgent care and emergency care could potentially save your life.

Primary Care – Comprehensive and Continuous Care

• Non life-threatening allergic reactions

• Minor burns or injuries

• Mild asthma

• Rashes or other skin irritations

• Back pain

Urgent Care – Immediate medical attention for common illnesses

• Sprains, broken bones and fractures needing X-ray

• Coughs, colds and sore throats

• Urinary pain

• Non life-threatening allergic reactions

• Fevers or flu-like symptoms

• Rashes or other skin irritations

Emergency Care – Treatment for severe and life-threatening conditions

• Severe chest pain

• Severe asthma attack/difficulty breathing

• Severe head trauma

• Severe allergic reaction

• Severe abdominal pain

• Severe dehydration

You may be thinking, why go to an urgent care when I know an emergency room can treat my symptoms too? Here are a few reasons:

Space – These facilities help unclog ERs. All too often, ERs are full of those who could have gone to a doctor if the office was open, or for common issues that aren’t necessarily “emergencies.” Urgent care provides another place for people to go for quality care!

Price Matters – It’s cost effective to skip the ER. Within the next 15 years, six out of every ten Baby Boomers will have to manage a chronic condition. Offering physical therapy and check-ups, urgent care can cut hundreds of dollars off the cost of care. Not to mention, any visit, from the smallest child to a senior citizen, will be significantly less expensive.

Speed – You may actually get care faster by going to an urgent care clinic. The average visit lasts under an hour, whereas ER wait times can be an hour or more, not including treatment.

The key thing to remember is the severity of the health problem. If the condition is life-threatening, go to an emergency room immediately. If the condition is a minor illness or injury, take advantage of the convenience and affordability your local urgent care has to offer!

The brain is really ugly. I mean UGGG----LY. It is slimy, wrinkled, and drab. So what makes a brain “beautiful”?

Dr. Daniel Amen, “the” pioneer in Attention Deficit Disorder, studied brains with nuclear imaging then correlated those images to behaviors he evaluated in patients with all sorts of brain disorders. His “beautiful” brain looks smooth and homogeneous compared to a pocked and cratered “moonscape” abused brain. He found that the beautiful brain rarely suffered from attention or memory disorders and is usually mentally stable. He also noticed that patients with poor nutrition, poor sleep and exercise habits, smokers, and drug abusers consistently had “ugly” pocked and cratered brain scans. Using these scans, combined with intensive interviews and testing, he was able to transform many of these “ugly” brains into healthy and beautiful brains. He observed marked improvement in memory, attention, tasking, and emotions.

Combining brain scans with symptoms and mood scores, Dr. Amen found seven (7) major patterns of Attention Deficit Disorders each requiring different behavioral and medical treatments. However, he found that all brains improve in brain scan appearance and symptom scores with specific life-style and supplement use. Below is a very abbreviated summary of his recommendations:

1) Exercise consistently improves brain function, even mild exercise (walking).

2) Meditation or prayer helps “calm” brains that appear “on fire” in scans and improved the activity in the frontal cortex so vital to attention and focus.

3) Adequate sleep is crucial to brain growth and recovery.

Stanford A. Owen, M.D. is Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, the American Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists, and the Neuroscience Education Institute as a Master Psychopharmacologist. He is certified in Hyperbaric Oxygen and a Fellow in the Obesity Society.