Be a “Breast Friend”

Volunteers are committed to assisting newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in two ways:

First, by volunteering to become a “Breast Friend” to a patient.

A Breast Friend is a woman who helps provide additional physical, emotional, social and spiritual support to a breast cancer patient. By identifying patients who do not have a significant support system, we volunteer to be a god listener, the shoulder to cry on, to help with meals, chores, driving to appointments and whatever else is necessary for the patient.

Second, our volunteers help the patient identify and establish a network of her own.

We do this by helping to prepare her friends and family to assist her through her difficult journey. By visiting with the patient, we can learn more about their current lifestyle, (work, church, etc), and offer to make contact on her behalf to others within that circle. This makes it easier since it is hard to ask for help for yourself but much easier to ask on behalf of another. By making such contacts, we can bring in friends, neighbors, acquaintances to provide a broader network of support she may not realize she has.

What is Emotional Support?

Emotional support really encompasses several things, it might be a quick phone call every day or every few days to check in. It is being a good listener, being empathetic, sharing part of you. Perhaps it’s an email buddy or someone who just drops over for a visit.

What is Physical Support?

Physical support might include some of the chores and errands that might be hard to do after surgery or during treatment. They could include cooking meals, cleaning house, do some laundry, washing her car or babysitting. They might be errands like grocery shopping, going to the post office or bank. Perhaps children need to be taken to practice or games. Think about what might be difficult if you were very tired or sick.

What is Social Support?

Social support is being a companion, doing the things she likes to do or creating new interests that you can share with her. This might include going to the movies together, having lunch at her favorite restaurant or if she’s not up to going out, bring over a picnic lunch. Go for coffee, go shopping at the mall or her favorite craft store. Take her to hit a bucket of golf balls (depending on her level of strength), pamper yourselves and get manicures and pedicures, go wig shopping – try on crazy colors (the crazier the better).

What is Spiritual Support?

Spiritual support may have several meanings, it might include having meaningful conversations, share your faith, if appropriate.* sharing music for meditation and relaxation.

*Though, we do not require or ask our volunteers to be of any faith or denomination, we do leave to the individuals.

Breast Friends Volunteer Goal and Objectives

Goal:

All persons facing breast cancer will receive the support they need throughout their breast cancer experience whether though an organized group like breast Friends or compassionate people who want to help.

Objectives:

Who does the Breast Friends Volunteer Match program serve?

Breast cancer is a health problem for every racial, ethnic or socioeconomic group, and it strikes men as well as women. Breast Friends is committed to serving all these different populations. Whenever possible, the program "matches" the person with a volunteer who has had a similar breast cancer experience and may have other things in common with the patient as well, such as age.

Most of those served by Breast Friends are breast cancer patients who, although they may not be seen in the hospital, are usually seen soon after surgery or while in active treatment. The program also serves people who may not yet have a definite diagnosis of breast cancer, but are concerned about a suspicious lump or mammogram. Women who are no longer in active treatment may also need the help Breast Friends can provide.

Volunteer

If you would like to volunteer to help a Breast Cancer survivor, please let us know using our Volunteer Sign-Up Form

Breast Friends Affiliate Program

Breast Friends has found that women diagnosed with breast cancer no matter where they live, need additional support while traveling through this traumatic journey. We have spoken to women around the country and the story is the same, women are fabulous caregivers but are horrible at asking for help. When asked “what can I do” by a caring friend or relative, the answer is similar, “Nothing, really I’m fine”. Yet we aren’t fine, we suffer silently many times alone, and that isn’t good enough. No women should have to go through the diagnosis, surgery and treatment of breast cancer alone. We deserve to be taken care of and nurtured during this very tough time in our lives.

These are a few of the reasons why Breast Friends has decided to expand its program around the country. We are encouraging women to acknowledge the concept and provide the much needed support a Breast Friends program can supply a community. Breast Friends was started by breast cancer survivors but the concept can transcend to other cancers, chronic and life threatening diseases. We are hopeful that caring women will open chapters anywhere there are women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Please email us if you are interested in starting an a Breast Friends Affiliate mail@breastfriends.com