One evening in 1976, twelve women diagnosed with breast cancer met face to face for the first time in the office of Dr. Eugene Thiessen. A breast cancer specialist, Dr. Thiessen saw that many women with breast cancer were dealing with the emotional and physical toll of the disease on their own. At a time when treatments were limited and a diagnosis was often seen as a death sentence, it was difficult for women to talk openly about their experiences.
Knowing that peer support – the opportunity to connect with others with similar experiences – could make a difference, Dr. Thiessen put the word out in the newspaper and on the radio, advertising a meeting for breast cancer patients. Dr. Thiessen’s wife, Ina, suggested the name Self Help Action and Rap Experience (SHARE).
With the support of Dr. Thiessen, the women who attended that first meeting created something extraordinary together: a space where they could break the silence that had for so long existed around the disease and share their fears, worries, and questions without judgement. A space where they could find understanding, support, and hope.
“Over time, more women came, and we developed a program,” said Dr. Thiessen in a 2022 interview. He, Ina, and their daughter Jordyn joined SHARE’s volunteers in their efforts to reach more people living with breast cancer. The group started more support groups, added more facilitators, and increased access to shared knowledge. Women referred friends and family members. As the group grew by word of mouth, so did its offerings, including a telephone hotline, informational literature, and connections to more doctors and community health agencies – all at no charge.
A peer-led organization, SHARE has continued to evolve to meet the needs of a growing and diverse group of patients and survivors. Seeing a need for support for people living with gynecologic cancers in addition to breast cancer, SHARE expanded to include programs, resources and online support for ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancers. And as treatment options and health outcomes have improved over the years, SHARE has offered support at every stage of the cancer experience, from early screenings to treatment to navigating life after cancer, while also championing access to quality affordable care.
Through every new development, SHARE has remained true to its roots, providing a safe space for patients and caregivers to share their experiences with volunteers who have been where they are. Understanding the importance of personalized peer support and disparities in healthcare for people from historically marginalized groups, SHARE created culturally sensitive programming for Latina, Black, and Chinese communities, as well as programs to address the unique needs of members of the LGBTQIA+ community with breast/chest and gynecologic cancers.
What began with a visionary oncologist and twelve breast cancer survivors has, over the last fifty years, matured into a thriving community that reaches more than 350,000 patients, survivors, and caregivers a year. As SHARE evolved, our mission has always been – and will always be – guided by Dr. Thiessen’s passion for helping others. He passed away in 2023, but his words continue to inspire us: “The noblest of human activities is to help another human being. SHARE represents this. The membership of SHARE has always been a group of people who have been able to help others.”