KINGMAN – Pat Hahn, a local woman who is a breast cancer survivor, works every day sewing a variety of items for pre-op breast cancer patients.
Hahn, 84 years old, decided to assist new pre-op cancer patients with the crucial two weeks or so after their surgery in order to make their lives easier. Her organization is Women Helping Women with Breast Cancer.
Hahn said after undergoing a mastectomy she learned that for the first 14 days there are critical things that a new breast cancer patient needs to help them with their daily living tasks.
“So, I thought about it and it didn’t take me long. I figured out that I could probably sew for cancer patients and make their life a little bit easier for 10 to 14 days after the fact,” she said. So, she organized Women Helping Women with Breast Cancer. Hahn says she sews from 4:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. every day.
She decided against chemotherapy or radiation primarily because of her age; however, she does provide some items specifically for chemo patients.
“So, I didn’t see any point in it (chemo) and I thought I would be better off serving new cancer patients than I would being sick for a year,” she stated. “There (are) so many little things that the average person has no clue what you use these (items) for.”
The items Hahn sews include attachments that fit on a car seat belt strap to cushion a driver ‘s chest as well as a small one that will protect a chemo patient’s port; a soft, crocheted breast form; glasses/cell phone cases and a pouch that fastens around the waist to hold drainage tubes while the patient showers. That pouch recently underwent a revision with the bottom having netting to let the water drain out prior to exiting the shower.
She provides button-down shirts (which she purchases on sale) and sews pouches into them which will hold the patient’s drainage tube. Additionally, she sews what she calls a “Little House on the Prairie” hat and has a few donated wigs available for chemo patients. Patients may pick out what they need and the colors that they prefer. Further she will attempt to sew anything that a patient may need if she has a request for it.
Hahn said all items are provided at no cost to the patient. She receives donations from various people and organizations such as the Elks and Women of the Moose to help defray the cost of materials.
She stated that she usually works with breast cancer patients but doesn’t turn anyone with other types of cancer away. While her organization is primarily for women, she said she has provided items for men with breast cancer also. She also refers people to the Kingman Cancer Care Unit for the services they provide and said she is a member of their support group.
Women Helping Women operates solely by word of mouth and referrals because patients cannot be contacted directly due to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).
Hahn emphasized that she does not dispense medical advice. “I’m not a doctor. I’m not a nurse. I’m just plain Pat. I can’t tell them anything about medicine,” she advised.
Women Helping Women will have a spring fundraising event Friday, May 3 through Sunday, May 5 from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. at 3480 Isador in Kingman.
There will be a variety of handmade items for sale. Proceeds will be used to purchase materials to make items for cancer patients. For more information on the sale as well as how cancer patients may obtain needed items, contact Pat Hahn at 928-377-8072.
Becky Foster
