REACHING OUT TO HELP OTHERS; CANCER SURVIVOR USES EXPERIENCE TO HELP PATIENTS AND TRAIN VOLUNTEERS

When someone looks at Charlotte Lanpher, she wants them to see a wife, a mother, a business owner, a friend and a breast cancer survivor.

Her battle with breast cancer 16 years ago opened a new door for Lanpher. She volunteers with the American Cancer Society's Reach to Recovery program.

As a Reach volunteer, Lanpher is on call to help a woman diagnosed with breast cancer. Often they first meet in the hospital. "I walk in and tell her I'm a breast cancer survivor," she said. "Usually the response is `I can't believe you had breast cancer.'"

That's the point of the program, Lanpher explained. Women need to know it is possible to beat breast cancer. They need someone to talk to who has been there.

In addition to talking one-on-one with women, Lanpher also trains other Reach to Recovery volunteers, and she serves on the American Cancer Society's board of volunteers at the division level.

"She is caring and compassionate. Her ability to relate to others aids her in making patient visits," said Megan Hildebrand, cancer control generalist with the Cancer Society. "On the other hand, she is very goal oriented and well-organized. These qualities lend to her ability to hold Reach training and coordinate the program.

"She is also very forward-thinking," Hildebrand said.

In addition to working with women diagnosed with breast cancer, Lanpher promotes cancer awareness and education.

She chairs breast cancer awareness month in Cape Girardeau County, a campaign to teach women the three ways to detect breast cancer: mammography, breast self-exam and clinical breast exam.

"We work with doctors and the hospitals, and they are wonderful," Lanpher said. "Our goal is to be in touch with a woman as soon after her diagnosis as possible."

In addition, she keeps track of treatment options and research developments.

Lanpher was in her early 30s when she was diagnosed. "I was like lots of women raising a family, working. I never thought about the possibility of cancer," she said.

"We do have options in our treatment," Lanpher said. "It's our choice and we need to make decisions that are best for ourselves and our families."

Sometimes, she said, visiting women who are just starting the battle is tough.

"It brings back all those emotions and memories," she said. "But I just ask God to give me the words to help her understand. I try to be there as an example and to spread the word. People do survive."