Friends and Family Will Keep You Going in the Midst of Adversity
Let your friends and family help you. This is the all-important message that will help carry you through your breast cancer treatment. Assemble your team of support and say yes to offers of help. The offers may be as simple as making you a home-cooked meal, taking a walk in the park with you, taking your children for a short time, or even taking them for a sleepover to give you a break from your everyday responsibilities.
In Her Own Words
Finding a support system was very easy for me. I didn't have to find it, it found me. My friends and family were incredible. Another person that walked into my life was a wonderful woman, Christine, who started a wellness group with the local hospital's breast center. I was in the first group. We called ourselves the “A Team.” I would encourage anyone to look into this program.
— Debra, age 47, 4-year survivor
Practice saying yes to others' offers of help. Many women going through breast cancer treatment have shared incredible stories about the caring people in their lives who have helped them. Give someone who cares about you that opportunity and gift to be of service to you. The friends and family around you often feel helpless and want to be in some small way a support to you. On the other hand, not all friends and family are in a position to give and be of support. That's okay too. Enjoy the willing and the able, because they will be your greatest gift while you are going through breast cancer treatment and recovery.
