Breast cancer support through Reach for Recovery

EVERY year more than 8 000 women in South Africa are diagnosed with breast cancer, and what these women need during this difficult time is to talk to someone who has walked this journey, someone who will understand what they are going through, who can give hope and provide practical support on the road to full recovery.

Reach for Recovery breast cancer support group has been providing this service for 51 years.

Its peer support volunteers, all of whom are breast cancer survivors, support more than 5 000 breast cancer patients per year at 137 treatment centres across six provinces.

Each patient also receives a care bag with a booklet and pamphlets dealing with various topics relevant to breast cancer patients, a soft prosthesis (temporary breast form), a cushion for under arm comfort and a bag to contain the port-au-vac drain.

“A breast cancer diagnosis can be devastating, overwhelming and confusing for any woman. The loss of a breast and the consequent body disfigurement can not only cause physical discomfort but also affect a woman’s self-image and identity. Many of these women are still of working age and need to return to work to avoid economic hardship,” said Stephné Jacobs, Reach for Recovery board chairperson.

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Reach for Recovery believes that a breast prosthesis is an important step in her recovery, especially to those women from communities where there is still a stigma attached to a cancer diagnosis. Since 2011, its Ditto Prosthesis Support Project provided a total of 5 857 silicone prostheses costing more than R3,7 million to women who could not afford one.

“I am always humbled by the impact a silicone prosthesis has on its recipient. The overall effect is a sense of recovery with self-esteem, dignity and confidence restored. It is a gift of hope that helps every survivor to move on from a negative experience and start enjoying life to the full again,” said Stephné.

Reach for Recovery welcomes any form of support for our services to breast cancer patients: through volunteering your service or donating towards our cause.

Follow the organisation on Facebook at Reach4RecovertSA or visit: www.reachforrecovery.org.za.

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