Friend’s chills during cancer treatment inspire clothing range for patients

A friend’s struggle to keep warm during cancer treatment prompted Graeme Dick to make clothes to fix the problem.

Flaps and zips in jumpers designed by the Tauranga businessman allow patients to wear them without getting in the way of lines for infusion treatments.

“It’s really pleasing to see it gather momentum from a discussion with a very good friend going through a difficult cancer treatment process,” Dick said.

“Because, at the time, I was thinking – a lot of his friends and family were thinking the same – ‘What can I do for you, man?’ And as we know, you can’t do much except be there.”

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It was about a year ago that the friend, who Dick didn’t want to name out of consideration for his grieving family, commented that he got cold when he had to remove clothes for treatment.

Surely there was a way around it, he said to Dick, who owns The Business Tailor in Tauranga.

Dick started researching, made test garments, and got his friend to test a design.

It led to the Kiwi-made Can Do range, which Dick is preparing to launch in coming weeks.

Current prototypes are all long-sleeved, and there are three fabrics: one is merino on the outside with cotton knit on the inside, the others are straight merino or straight cotton – for the warmer seasons.

All have inside-the-arm zips which open to allow lines in, and either a zip across the chest or a flap which folds down.

They’re also made to look good.

“One of our cancer patient triallists used to wear this to treatment, zip it all up, and go and do the shopping on the way home,” Dick said.

People who trialled the clothes said they help, he said; it’s a small help but it’s what he wants to do.

The Waikato Breast Cancer Research Trust helped Dick organise a trial at Braemar Cancer Care in Hamilton, to make sure the clothing worked for patients and nurses.

It got the tick from breast cancer surgeon and trust chairman Professor Ian Campbell, who said the garments “fill a big gap in practical, comfortable, and stylish provision of care for cancer patients”.

And Dick plans to contribute some proceeds to help the trust continue its research.

That’s appreciated because the trust gets minimal funding and relies on community contributions, fundraising co-ordinator Jenny Smith said.

But Dick’s work is also great for those going through treatment.

“It’s very hard to maintain a sense of yourself and your dignity when you’re having to expose a personal part of your body.”

Fabric for the garments is knitted in Tauranga and they’re also made there. Further designs are being considered, such as short-sleeved or poncho options on possum fabric.

Prices are not yet set, but Dick said it wouldn’t be “bottom drawer”.

He plans to release the garments for sale in about a month, selling in New Zealand and possibly in Asia.

Source: Stuff By: Libby Wilson

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