St Vincent’s Nutrition Class, ‘Boutique’ Support Cancer Patients

BRIDGEPORT — St Vincent’s Medical Center and Saxon-Kent Lingerie of Orange have partnered to create the St Vincent’s SWIM Center Boutique, which offers specialty products and services to individuals undergoing cancer treatment or in survivorship.

The St Vincent’s SWIM Center Boutique is on the third level of the Elizabeth Pfriem SWIM Center for Cancer Care, 2800 Main Street.

Products include skin products, garments that are hospital and IV-friendly, as well as spiritual items. Trained and sensitive expert fitters will provide individualized attention in a private setting for those needing mastectomy bras and garments, breast prostheses, swimwear, and specialty apparel following breast surgery.

Specialists will be available to fit lymphedema compression sleeves/garments, and for those experiencing hair loss, to assist in the selection and fitting of wigs, hair pieces and bangs, turbans, scarves, hats and sleep caps, and scalp and wig care products.

Individuals are asked to bring Medicare and insurance cards and staff will assist in completing paperwork. St Vincent’s SWIM Across the Sound assistance is available to those who qualify.

The Boutique is open Monday through Friday, 10 am to 4 pm.

Special fitting hours for wigs, prostheses, mastectomy bras, lymphedema sleeves, etc, will be Tuesdays from 2 to 4 pm and Wednesdays from 10 am to noon or by appointment.

Free parking in the garage immediately in front of the Medical Center front door with validated ticket.

St Vincent’s is also presenting “Nutrition for Cancer Survivors” on the second Wednesday of every month from 4:30 to 5:30 pm in its Elizabeth Pfriem SWIM Center for Cancer Care adjacent to the hospital. The next date is July 11.

The class provides information and resources for healthy eating during and after treatment in addition with dietary tips and modifications to help improve overall wellness and health.

St Vincent’s outpatient nutrition educator Karen Novak, MA, RD, CDE, CD-N, will facilitate. She provides individualized nutrition counseling for outpatients referred by their primary care physicians or endocrinologists on issues of weight management, heart, and other diseases.

The class is made possible by St Vincent’s SWIM Across the Sound. To register or for more information on the boutique or the nutrition classes, contact the SWIM Hot Line at 203-576-6158.