Breast Cancer Survival Center services provide education and support for breast     cancer survivors and their families including:

• Bi-weekly psycho-educational groups- Facilitated by a social worker, who is a survivor, participants share experiences and support while developing coping skills.
  

• Buddy program for doctor visits/mammograms-Going back for a mammogram after being treated for breast cancer can be frightening.  Survivors are accompanied by other survivor buddies when they face medical procedures.
  

• Annual Candle lighting events- Provides an opportunity for family members and friends to express their support for a loved one, while educating the community about the prevalence of breast cancer.    

• Quarterly Newsletter-Informs survivors and others about BCSC events, and disseminates valuable information of particular interest to survivors.

• Retreats- The retreats are conducted several times each year.  All of the facilitators will be experts in their field and most of them will be cancer survivors, which is empowering for the retreat participants. In order for survivors to avoid life’s daily distractions and focus on their health, the retreat format is ideal.  Also, the topics that will be covered address both the emotional aspects of coping with the aftermath of the disease and the critical information that survivors need.

• Resource library- In terms of the goals of BCSC, it is not enough for participants to take in information, they need to use the information.  This requires using more than one educational approach.  The informational library provides an opportunity to reinforce information provided in the seminars and to expand on it.  It also provides opportunities to explore a wide range of topics, which may not be covered in BCSC’s other programs, including topics that are very personal for each survivor.  Medical research, local resources for help and information, information covering cosmetic issues and a host of other concerns are provided.

The formats include books, pamphlets, video/DVD and audiotape, thus teaching to the learning style of the participants.  Although much information is available through the Internet, all of that information is not reliable.  Overwhelmed breast cancer survivors cannot be expected to sift through the reams of information on the Internet and make sense of it.  Also, many of the people who are highest risk for recurrence, such as economically disadvantaged minority women, do not have access to the Internet and receive medical care through clinics.  Thus, the informational library is a critical component of the program.  The library is made available at Norwalk Community College, the location where the psycho-educational groups take place. Materials from the library are also made available at the retreats.     

• Speaker Series Education Program- Another critical approach to educating survivors on post-treatment issues is to provide interactive seminars on topics of concern.  Through the psycho-educational groups, survivors identify issues that they would like to learn more about.  This series is open to any one in the community who wants to learn about the topic. Most people learn about the latest research through “sound bites” in the media.  For instance, there has been a widely discussed study that indicates that mammograms are less valuable than was originally stated.  However, the story which people heard was incomplete.  It would be tragic if a post-treatment survivor -- or any woman, for that matter -- decided to forego her mammogram after hearing about this study.  This is especially risky because survivors are often so fearful of going through another mammogram procedure that they may welcome an “excuse” not to have one done. Other requested topics include:

  
  Smart Eating- how a healthy diet can make you feel better and strengthen your body’s ability to prevent and fight cancer.

  
  Stress Reduction through Meditation-stress is a contributing factor to cancer.  Once diagnosed, stress levels increase.  Also, the medical procedures that survivors must undergo are stressful.  Meditation, guided imagery, reiki, and yoga can be invaluable tools for cancer survivors.

  
  Tamoxofin -a drug used to combat and prevent cancer has many unpleasant side effects, but can also be a life saver.  How can survivors decide whether they should use tomoxofin and if they decide to use it, how can they cope with its side effects. 

  
  Menopause - going through menopause presents challenges to all women, but it is especially challenging to post-treatment survivors.  Many younger women have been pushed into early menopause because of their treatment for breast cancer.  There are a host of medications that are options for menopausal women; for survivors, choices about these medications need to be made in light of their special circumstances.