Quilt guild gifts 200 pillows to breast cancer patients

Cancer treatment can be an exhausting and isolating business. Breast cancer patients are being cycled through one to three types of treatment including radiation, chemotherapy and surgery. While the staff members are caring and gentle, the experience can still be traumatic.

On Friday, Oct. 28, Las Colcheras Quilt Guild stepped up with the Memorial Medical Center breast cancer team to present a gift of more than 200 hand-made pillows, especially designed for multiple uses by breast cancer patients.

The group of 30-50 quilters have worked several months creating the pillows to be given to breast cancer patients to help ease pain.  It is frequently difficult to wear a seatbelt, sit or even sleep comfortably after surgery and treatments. The president of the guild is a breast cancer survivor and created the pattern for the pillows to donate to current and future patients of our cancer center.   

Hospital CEO John Harris said the people of the quilt guild are a complement to the staff at MMC.

“There are those who do care, and I consider those people my heroes,” he said. “That’s what the world should be about when you are facing a fight against cancer. (Having a handmade pillow) really is a boost to the patients.”

Cancer Center Manager Lynn Fletcher said breast cancer is the most common cancer today. One in eight people are affected by it. MMC treats more than 300 breast cancer patients a year and currently there are five men being treated for it as well as the women. Breast tissue is the same in men and women, she said.

Quilt guild co-president and breast cancer survivor Dianne Herrmann, was diagnosed in 2003, said people can survive breast cancer and move on.

“I got through it all,” she said. “If you ever get a cancer diagnosis, don’t be afraid to get your treatment and take care of it.”