Sharing Experiences to Empower Other Patients With Breast Cancer

In the second part of CURE’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month webinar series, we focused on how patients with breast cancer can empower each other.

We partnered with Susan G. Komen Foundation and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center to discuss how sharing stories with other patients with breast cancer can help the community empower themselves at diagnosis, treatment and through survivorship. We spoke with Miranda Zinn, Helpline Navigator for the Breast Cancer Helpline at Susan G. Komen Foundation, and Jomary Colon, Community Outreach and Engagement Manager at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, to learn more about this topic.

Summary:

0:10 ­— Empowering Other Patients With Breast Cancer

• Sharing experiences with other patients with breast cancer and survivors can be empowering and informative.
• Building a supportive community, whether through support groups or peer-to-peer connections, can help patients and survivors feel less alone and more empowered.
• In some cultures, there may be a stigma surrounding cancer, making it difficult for patients and survivors to discuss their experiences. Open communication and support can help break down these barriers.

4:03 — Sharing Experiences and Providing Support

• Volunteering at organizations or participating in community education programs allow patients and survivors to share their experiences and inspire others.
• Sharing stories online (written, blogs, podcasts) or leaving inspirational messages within the community allows for non-traditional ways to connect and offer hope.
• While support groups are valuable, there are many ways to engage with the breast cancer community, like sharing stories on platforms or engaging in creative acts of support.

6:36 — Creating a Safe and Supportive Environment

• Reaching out through personal connections and community centers is crucial, especially in communities where social media use may be less prevalent.
• Support groups and personal interactions should foster confidentiality and empathy to encourage patients and survivors to share their stories openly.
• Supporters can show empathy by actively listening, validating feelings and allowing space for processing.

8:43 — Available Resources

• Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and other cancer centers offer survivorship clinics, wellness programs and other programs that may be aimed towards particular patient populations.
• Navigators may also help with appointments, education and resource access (wigs, beauty salon).
• There are also online resources and phone support, in addition to Facebook groups and peer-matching services for one-on-one support.

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