Breast cancer support program returns; training scheduled for April 26 in Cape

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A support program for those facing breast cancer is back up and running.

"Reach for Recovery is a program where women who are at least one year posttreatment for their breast cancer are able to contact newly diagnosed breast cancer patients," said Marcie Lawson, community manager of health initiatives for the American Cancer Society in Sikeston. "It really is an absolutely wonderful program because the people that are the volunteers can answer questions the newly diagnosed have as someone who has 'been there and done that.'"

Over the last year and half there have been a few Reach for Recovery visits "but I have not trained any new volunteers since I've been here," Lawson said. "It was one of our programs that tended to fall through the cracks if it wasn't maintained and we had a staff turnover that led to kind of a fallout of the program."

The program is now back on track with a Reach for Recovery training session for volunteers scheduled for April 26 in Cape Girardeau.

The eight-hour training course is completed in a single day.

"We go over active listing skills, communication skills, the different types of visits for patients who have had a mastectomy versus patients who have had a lumpectomy versus patients who have had reconstruction," Lawson said. "It also includes role playing so they are comfortable with speaking to other breast cancer patients."

The course also includes background information on the American Cancer Society and breast cancer in general.

Participants in the program are referred to the American Cancer Society by their surgeon's office.

"The nurses will ask the patient if they are interested in being visited by a volunteer," Lawson said. Some people, she explained, may want to "keep their cancer as a private medical issue -- we don't want to disturb that."

For those who are interested in having someone help them through their experience, visits are arranged.

"The American Cancer Society provides a kit of literature, a coupon for a bra and a breast form they can use until they get a prosthesis," Lawson said. "The coupon for the bra is something new. Here at the office we have bras for mastectomy patients that are specifically designed for a prosthesis to fit into and those have always been available. The coupon is for a type of bra specifically designed for the first week to three weeks following surgery."

She explained this bra is softer and more comfortable and includes a place for drainage tubes. "We've never had anything like that before," Lawson said.

Cathey Daniels of Matthews, Mo., a local school teacher who has been a breast cancer survivor since 2003, is among the new volunteers breathing new life into the program.

"I think it will help somebody," she said. Daniels said when she went through her breast cancer experience she was fortunate enough to receive support from a couple of co-workers who were breast cancer survivors.

"I think because of what the two teachers told me, it made my expectations a little bit better. Just knowing they survived made me feel like I could; they encouraged me," Daniels said.

Lawson said in addition to training new volunteers, there have also been divisionwide changes made to make Reach for Recovery a better program.

One is the addition of an early support visit by contacting patients by phone before their surgery. "Then they'll follow up for a Reach for Recovery visit after their surgery," Lawson said.

Other changes in the program were made because hospital stays following these surgeries are now typically a couple of days instead of a week. Patients now can choose to have their visit in the hospital or to wait until they return home.

Lawson said they have also made it easier for physician offices to refer patients to the American Cancer Society by simplifying the paperwork.

"I'm excited to breathe new, fresh air into this program because it is so wonderful," Lawson said. "If there are people who are out there who want to become volunteers it's not too late to sign up."

Those interested in volunteering for the program should contact Lawson at the Sikeston American Cancer Society office by calling 573-471-1873.