HERS Breast Cancer Foundation
HERS Stands For Hope, Empowerment, Renewal and Support
Dr. Vera Packard, CEO
BANP: What is HERS Breast Cancer Foundation about and
Cancer Foundation make?
what do you all do?
Dr. Packard: Our organization has been in existence since 1998.
Dr. Packard: HERS Breast Cancer Foundation supports all women
Until 2014 we served clients at our Program Store in Fremont lo-
healing from breast cancer by providing post-surgical products
cated at Washington Hospital. Since I joined the organization in
and services, regardless of financial status. We provide appropri-
September of 2008, we have worked on our dream to be in other
ate products (bras, prosthesis, lymphedema
medical facilities so we can help more breast
garments, and wigs) in a safe, comfortable,
cancer survivors. In 2011 the board created
and understanding environment. As one of
a Strategic Plan with the goal of being in 2
our clients said: “The doctors saved my life,
other medical facilities by 2016. In February
HERS Breast Cancer Foundation allowed me
of 2014 we were very happy to open the
to live my life feeling good about myself.”We
doors of our program store at the Stanford
are a Durable Medical Equipment (DME) fa-
Cancer Center and in April of 2015 we ex-
cility accredited by the American Board for
panded our services to Stanford Health Care
Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pe-
– ValleyCare. We have over 1,700 client visits
dorthics, Inc. Our Breast Care Specialists go
a year, and being in these Stanford facilities
through extensive training of a total of 500
will allow us to reach more clients with our
hours before achieving their credential.
products and services.
BANP: What do you love most about
BANP: What is so special about HERS
HERS Breast Cancer Foundation and the
Breast Cancer Foundation and how can
work you all do?
people make a difference?
Dr. Packard: I love that we are here for a survivor in the begin-
Dr. Packard: We are the only non-profit organization in the San
ning of her journey and continue to support her every year even
Francisco Bay Area to provide these garments and services to ALL
after the treatments are done and gone. The bras, prosthesis,
women, regardless of their ability to pay. There are retail facilities
lymphedema garments, and wigs are just small tools that allow
in the area, but they only assist the insured population. WE ARE
us do what we do best, which is to be good listeners and provide
ONE OF A KIND. Our experience with more than 8,000 clients over
support to every client that walks in our program stores. This is
18 years and the background of the staff has allowed us to have a
why we like to call our program stores “a soft place to fall”. We help
complete understanding of the breast cancer issues. HERS stands
anyone. If they have insurance coverage for the products we will
for Hope, Empowerment, Renewal, and Support. We are here
take care of all the billing process for them, and if they don’t have
to provide HOPE to all breast cancer survivors so that they never
insurance they can receive the same products at NO COST.
have to feel embarrassed of their body. We EMPOWER survivors so they feel proud of their “new normal” after the devastating di-
BANP: How has HERS Breast Cancer Foundation made a dif-
agnosis of breast cancer. We help in the RENEWAL of their self-im-
ference and what impact do you still wish to see HERS Breast
age, and SUPPORT them so they can have confidence and thrive.