By: Victoria Rego
The phrase “walk a mile in someone else’s shoes” has new meaning to me as a breast cancer survivor. I now understand it’s impossible to know what someone is feeling unless you’ve actually been there yourself. When I was first diagnosed, I didn’t think that talking to others would help, but I was wrong.
August Resource Roundup
Welcome to our monthly resource roundup! Each month, we’ll be curating study opportunities, new clinical trials, research results, news articles, personal perspectives, and upcoming events of interest to women and families affected by breast, ovarian, or metastatic breast cancer.
Why did you decide to be a SHARE Breast Cancer Helpline volunteer?
I became a SHARE Volunteer because SHARE helped me through my cancer journey and kept me sane. I went to a SHARE support group two days after my diagnosis (because my doctor at the time told me not to.
This September, join ovarian cancer advocates across the country for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month through the #IWishIKnew campaign.
In honor of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month this September, SHARE, along with other ovarian cancer nonprofits, is highlighting the voices of ovarian cancer survivors and patients speaking out on what they wish the public knew about ovarian cancer.
2019 Anne Grant Advocacy Leadership Award Winner
Andrea Jung is President and Chief Executive Officer of Grameen America, the fastest-growing microfinance organization in the United States. The former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Avon Products, Inc.
Sandra Lee is a Gracie and multiple Emmy® Award-Winning advocate, activist, philanthropist and an internationally acclaimed home life expert. She is a best selling author of 27 books and the Editor in Chief of Sandra Lee Magazine and Sandralee.
I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer a little over a year ago and from my experience, relationships change a lot with cancer. While I’m not one of those people who will paint a rosy picture of cancer — and I definitely won’t call it a blessing — I will say that some of those changes are for the better.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of LatinaSHARE, we are telling stories of women who have turned to LatinaSHARE over the years and helped make LatinaSHARE into the thriving and critically important program it is today.
1. What was it like when you were first diagnosed? What resources did you access?
My gynecologist requested that I get a baseline mammogram when I was 35. During that time, I was a single parent raising a son, working full time and attending college part-time.
Why did you decide to become a SHARE Helpline Volunteer and Peer?
Being matched with a peer with the same diagnosis as mine, and joining SHARE’s DCIS Support Group, sustained me during this trying period in my life. I felt that SHARE was there for me during my entire process: biopsy, lumpectomy, radiation treatment and adjuvant therapy.
We are so pleased to have Barbara Sibley back as our executive chef this year for the 16th anniversary of A Second Helping of Life! Get tickets to the event here.
