About Breast Friends

Breast Friends - a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for breast cancer patients.

Welcome to our web-site. We hope you find inspiration and ideas within these pages.

Often, breast cancer patients, especially the newly diagnosed, are in the greatest emotional pain, but are the least able to ask for help. Breast Friends teaches the friends and family of cancer patients specific ways to offer support, helps them understand what the patient is going through, and suggests useful resources for the patient and her family.

Addressing a woman's cancer is a sensitive issue, but we all want to help. However, friends often worry about not doing it "right". As a result, time passes, and to avoid doing it "wrong," we often don't do anything at all. Then, more time passes, and by then we are too embarrassed to pick up the phone and make the call. The message of Breast Friends is that it's never too late to make contact and provide useful and appreciated support to those we love who are facing this terrible disease.

We accomplish this goal through two basic avenues:

1. Public Speaking
2. Survivor Support

Breast Friends has developed several different programs to help assist patients and their friends and family members. Breast Friends believes that no woman should go through the breast cancer experience alone but unfortunately, it happens. We find that even with women with friends and family in the area, don’t always receive the kind of emotional, spiritual or physical support they need. Our programs are designed to aid in making sure this doesn’t happen.

Breast Friends Projects and Programs

FIRST I CRY

The First I Cry packet is a pink envelope with a printed message of hope and "welcome to the sisterhood." Inside is a silk screened handkerchief with the Breast Friends logo, along with a list of contacts for area support groups and a feedback card. The most important piece inside the packet is a sealed envelope with the instructions to, "Give this to someone who cares." In the sealed envelope is a special message to the potential care-giver about the role they will play in the survival of their friend or family member along with some practical tips on how to help.

VOLUNTEER MATCH PROGRAM

Breast Friends has also put in place a Volunteer Match program that is designed to provide additional support for women with or without friend and family support. Our volunteer can help the patient through this difficult time by providing her with emotional, physical, spiritual, and social support. Whether the patient needs a shoulder to cry on, help with household chores, someone who can listen, and understands the fear and loneliness that accompanies a cancer diagnosis, Breast Friends’ Volunteers are there when needed most.

H.A.T.S. PROJECT

Breast Friends understands the importance of a healthy attitude as it relates to healing. Our H.A.T.S. Project (Healthy Attitude to Survive) is one way we help women who are experiencing the devastating affects of hair loss due to chemotherapy. Breast Friends gives these hats to help these women recapture their sense of humor.

"I totally loved my hat and of all the hats I've given away since my hair grew back I have kept this hat. It reminds me of my courage that I endured during my breast cancer. The hat was so comfortable. I had a few cheap department store hats but my Breast Friends hat was so comfortable and the quality of it is excellent. This hat is a great gift to give to anybody who is suffering breast cancer."

"Pami DeFraia

Cancer Support Group Behind Bars

Breast Friend's volunteers meet with women in Coffee Creek Correctional Facility to discuss their cancer diagnosis, dispel myths and create bonds. It’s a great opportunity for the inmates to open up about their feelings, fears and concerns around cancer.

Workshop: “Thriving Beyond Cancer”

Sharon Henifin conducts a four week workshop for women after breast cancer treatment has finished. Topics to be discussed will include: The New Normal, What’s Next, Who am I after breast cancer. This workshop is available through Breast Friends.

Here's what some are saying after attending the "Thriving Beyond" workshop: I appreciate Sharon’s enthusiasm and she is a wonderful motivator with lots of great ideas. It was a comfort to have this workshop to attend and to meet other women who know what breast cancer means and how it affects ones’ life and family. This workshop is a great start for someone who is recovering from a diagnosis & treatment and needs guidance and support to plan the rest of their lives. Kris Hunt

I really enjoyed the workshop. “Transitioning to Survivor” is a topic that no one talks about and yet it is so needed. Sharon’s positive attitude & energy was encouraging and helped me think about my dreams. The tools from the workshop were helpful as I continue on this journey. Lorraine Zumwalt

See more infomation on life coaching and how Sharon can help at Thriving Beyond

The health-related information and resources on this website are provided for general information purposes only. They are never intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and may not be applicable to any particular condition. Always consult a qualified medical professional for the diagnosis or treatment of any disease or other health concern or before beginning a fitness regimen. Some of the content and health resources found on this site are provided and maintained by other parties. Though we strive to obtain such materials from reliable sources, they may contain inaccuracies or outdated information. We do not endorse or guarantee any of these materials. Please use these materials only in conjunction with the advice of a qualified medical professional. Neither Breast Friends nor any of its volunteers or staff will be responsible or liable for any claim of loss or damage resulting from the use of this site or the information and resources contained in or accessible through this site.

Sign up for the Breast Friends Email Newsletter

We are so excited to be able to bring to you our inspirational new videos:

"A Practical Guide to Breast Cancer Support"

"Breast Friends Programs and Testimonials"

These videos were made possible by the efforts and contributions of many. We hope you enjoy watching and sharing them as much as we enjoyed creating them.

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Save the Date for Joy of Life April 24, 2010

Planning has started for this year's "Joy of Life" dinner dance and auction, Breast Friends' fourth annual fundraiser. This years event will be at the Portland Downtown Hilton, doors open at 5pm.

We are proud to announce that our presenting sponsor is once again Northwest Cancer Specialist.

Helen Raptis, co-host for A.M. Northwest has agreed to Emcee the very special evening. We have secured the fun and lively "Design Band" for our evenings entertainment again this year.

Nominations Now Open for Compassion Award

Nominations are now open for the Breast Friends' Compassion Award. Every year, in the spring, Breast Friends announces the winner of the annual, "Compassion Award," given to someone in Oregon or S.W. Washington that has demonstrated outstanding patient support. The award is presented at the "Joy of Life," fundraiser.

Compassion Award Nomination Form

2009 Compassion award winner- Susan Hedlund, MSW, LCSW

We are looking for sponsors and donations. It takes all our your help to make this a success. If you want to get involved, we 'd love to talk to you more about this.

Joy of Life sponsorship form

Joy of Life donation form

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Buy Your Joy of Life Tickets Here

Get your tickets early, last year we filled the room.

Single Ticket $85.00 - Couple Tickets $170.00 -

Table Sponsor includes Table Signage and Reserved Premier Seating for 10 $1200.00 -

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Please enjoy the photos from 2009 Joy of Life

Joy of Life photos by ©Daniel Payne Photography

Thank You to our Sponsors & Community Business Partners

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Bowling for Fun and Fundraising Feb 6, 2010

Valley Lanes is holding a bowling event for Breast Friends Feb 6th from 5-7pm

Only $10.00 per person (all going toward Breast Friends local Oregon programs).

Reserve your spot now by contacting Lisa at Valley Lanes (503) 292-3523 9300 SW Beav Hillsdale Hwy Beaverton, OR.

If you have any questions about Breast Friends call 503-598-8048 or email us at mail@breastfriends.com

Bowling Flyer

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In Oregon alone, over 2200 women were diagnosed with breast cancer last year.

How many women can your donation touch?

With Theresa’s generous donation of $500, Breast Friends was able to provide 100 First I Cry packets to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. The packets, distributed through local area hospitals and clinics, provided these women and their families a list of support groups. It also taught at least one of their friends or family members 22 ways they might help their loved one survive this dreaded disease.

The same donation also provided 20 humorous baseball caps to women going through hair loss during chemo. It gave them the opportunity to tell the world “I’m going to beat this disease!”

Please Consider a Tax Deductible Donation

Breast Friends relies on private donations to keep our programs going. You can support us by making a tax deductible donation to Breast Friends. Your help is needed to continue bringing words of hope and encouragement to the thousands of women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.

If you'd like to make a donation to us through PayPal, please use one of the amount links below. You do not need to have a PayPal account just use your credit card.

$1000- $500 - $250 - $100 - $50 - $25

If you'd prefer, use our donation form to send us a donation in the mail.

In The News

Breast Friends helped a family in crisis. We were able to help a lovely single mom with two boys 7 & 11years old have a nicer holiday season. We want to thank those that helped including Sandy Ragsdale and her friends, as well as Sharon Graalum for getting the generous grant from Rose City Camp #77 lodge.

What an exciting year we have had. We have been so blessed to work with established as well as new community partners this year, while continuing to increase the number of women we have been able to serve. We are continuing to develop programs to support women who are diagnosed with cancer in our community. We have nine years of success and a proven track record of programs that work.

Nominations are now open for the Breast Friends' Compassion Award. Every year, in the spring, Breast Friends announces the winner of the annual, "Compassion Award," given to someone in Oregon or S.W. Washington that has demonstrated outstanding patient support. The award is presented at the "Joy of Life," fundraiser. This years' event will be held on April 24 at the beautiful Downtown Portland Hilton Hotel.

October 2008 was a significant month for Breast Friends. Co-founders Sharon Henifin and Becky Olson had the opportunity to take the Breast Friends' message to the global breast cancer communities – in the Middle East and in the Cayman Islands.

What Others Are Saying

"As a grantee, Breast Friends is one of our greatest success stories."

     Christine McDonald-Executive Director
     Susan G. Komen for the Cure
     Oregon and SW Washington Affiliate

" When I first wore "the hat" I experienced a whole new, and unexpected, reaction; both from myself and others. I smiled, I didn't feel sick, I dressed a little nicer and a little bit of bounce returned to my step. Friends laughed with me when they read the inscription. Strangers would steal a glance to see what the hat said, then smile and make eye contact with me, a reaction that I love. My hat tells the world that I'm going to beat this disease and I will be a better person on the other side of this trip."

     Anne Koopman
     Breast Cancer Survivor Diagnosed 2006

Breast Friends relies on private donations to keep our programs going. You can support us by making a tax deductible donation to Breast Friends. Your help is needed to continue bringing words of hope and encouragement to the thousands of women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Your personal information is securely stored in a DonorPerfect Online database that utilizes Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption and various user and server-side security checks.
Write Us:	Breast Friends 14050 SW Pacific Hwy #201 Tigard, OR 97224
Call Us:	503.598.8048 (Portland, OR Metro) 888.386.8048 (Toll Free) 503.309.8188 (alternate) 503.349.3846 (alternate) 866.734.3762 (fax)
Patients/Volunteers Email Us:	mail@breastfriends.com
Marketing/Other Email Us:	becky@breastfriends.com
Get on the calendar:	Speaking Request Form