Healthy Living Newsletter
Mercy Hosts “Reach to Recovery” Volunteer
Training
No one should have to face breast cancer alone. To help
area patients diagnosed with breast cancer, the American
Cancer Society (ACS) offers “Reach to Recovery”,
a program that has been helping women (and men) with breast
cancer cope with their diagnosis, treatment and recovery
for more than 30 years.
Mercy Regional Cancer Center will host a Reach to Recovery
volunteer training in April, conducted by ACS professionals.
During the five-hour training, volunteers will be provided
valuable information on how they can help others faced with
a breast cancer diagnosis.
“Reach to Recovery volunteers are breast cancer survivors
who are committed to offering support to others in the area
diagnosed with breast cancer,” comments Andrea Eastwood,
Mercy Regional Cancer Center’s Cancer Committee coordinator.
“The ACS reports that talking to a Reach to Recovery
volunteer offers comfort and help in making informed decisions,”
explains Andrea. “This volunteer can assist by providing
an opportunity for a person with breast cancer to express
feelings, verbalize fears and concerns, and ask questions
of someone who is impartial and objective. Volunteers serve
as role models — people who have not only survived
breast cancer, but continue to live a productive life.”
Mercy will host the Reach to Recovery volunteer training
Monday, April 17, and invites any community resident who
is a one-year breast cancer survivor to become a Reach to
Recovery volunteer.
The ACS reports that Reach to Recovery volunteers are carefully
selected and trained; and are those who have adjusted to
their breast cancer surgery and treatment experience. Patients
and volunteers may meet face to face or by telephone. Volunteers
are trained to provide support and up-to-date information.
If you are a breast cancer survivor who would like to become
a Reach to Recovery volunteer. Or if you have recently been
diagnosed with breast cancer and would like to be placed
in touch with a trained volunteer, please call the ACS at
1 (800) 227-2345, (option 4). You can also visit the ACS
online at: www.cancer.org.
|
