All About The Chest Port Access Hoodie

Bianca Muñiz: Bianca is a 25-year-old singer/songwriter and 2-time cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 11, had an ovary removed, and went through 6 months of cancer treatment. 11 years later, she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 22, right after graduating from music school. She had a double mastectomy, reconstruction and went through about a year and a half of cancer treatment all together. She is now an advocate and raises awareness about both cancer as well as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, a rare disorder that causes a mutation in the TP53 gene and greatly increases the risk of developing several types of cancer.

Alexa Cucchiara: Alexa is an artist, author, designer, entrepreneur, health and wellness advocate, and a cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma at the age of 19, during the first week of her junior year at Fordham University. After going through several months of chemotherapy and eventually beating her cancer, she is now dedicated to sharing her story and using her platform to encourage and motivate others to live their life to the fullest despite their unforeseen circumstances. She is the author of the best-selling book, Power to Persevere: Inspiring Stories to Help You Get Through Challenging Moments, as well as the host of the podcast Ciao Amici, where she shares her tips for healthy and mindful living.

Ramy Gafni: Ramy is a celebrity makeup artist, comedian, and eyebrow guru. At the age of 31, he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Stage I Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. He went through 5 months of chemotherapy, which caused him to lose his hair and as a result, he was fired at the salon he had been working. This inspired him to eventually launch his own beauty company, RAMY cosmetics, as well as write his book Beauty Therapy: The Ultimate Guide to Looking and Feeling Great While Living with Cancer.He has been cancer-free for over 22 years now and continues to use beauty to uplift others going through cancer, by teaching beauty classes and doing make-overs for cancer patients with organizations like CancerCare, Weill Cornell Medicine, and the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.

Honoring Oscar De La Renta

Our collaboration dates back to 2018, when we first worked with Oscar de la Renta to design the original Chest Port Access Hoodie. The partnership was meant to honor the late designer Oscar de la Renta, who passed away from cancer in 2014.

Since then, Oscar de la Renta, LLC has donated over 500 men and women’s hoodies to the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, where Oscar received treatment during his cancer journey. 10% of all sales will also be going towards helping cancer patients on an ongoing basis on behalf of Care+Wear and Oscar De La Renta. 

Fighting Cancer One Hoodie At A Time

“As a designer, Oscar was very focused on finding solutions for the lifestyle needs of our customers,” explains Alex Bolen, CEO of Oscar de la Renta. “Likewise, we are pleased to offer a solution for patients with port access needs – a need that Oscar himself faced. In particular, helping the patient community of Sylvester means a great deal to us as Dr. Nimer has been such a great friend to our family. Oscar would have been proud to use fashion to enhance the lives of patients facing cancer treatment. We are lucky to have found a great partner in Care+Wear to help make this project a reality.”

“This kind of teamwork is the future of the healthwear industry,” Razdan adds. “We hope that we can not only honor a legendary designer, but also show the impact that these kinds of products can have on the patient experience.”

About Care+Wear

Founded in 2014, Care+Wear is a leading provider of innovative healthwear focused on creating positive and effective healing experiences for patients everywhere. In collaboration with patients, clinicians and hospitals, we create products that are both functional and fashionable. Dedicated to giving back, Care+Wear gives a portion of its sales to non-profit foundations such as Stand Up To Cancer, the American Cancer Society, Global Lyme Alliance and RockCF, among other partners, to help patients and families before, during and after medical treatment. To learn more about our mission, click here.

About Oscar de la Renta

Established in New York City in 1965, Oscar de la Renta is one of the world’s leading luxury brands. In addition to its internationally renowned women’s ready-to-wear collection, the house encompasses a full line of women’s accessories, bridal, children’s, fragrance and home décor.

About Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Health System and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, is among the nation’s leading cancer centers and South Florida's only Cancer Center of Excellence. A 2015 study by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, showed that cancer patients treated at Sylvester have a 10 percent higher chance of survival than those treated at nearly any other cancer center in the nation. With the combined strength of more than 120 cancer researchers and 130 cancer specialists, Sylvester discovers, develops and delivers more targeted therapies, providing the next generation of cancer clinical care – precision cancer medicine – to each patient. 

For more information, visit Sylvester.org.