Once diagnosed with breast cancer, a woman can
become overwhelmed by the taxing steps that lead
towards successful survival, and as anyone knows,
it is much easier managed with someone walking
beside you. After all, even the strongest and most
independent individual eventually needs a shoulder
to lean upon, and going through a cancer diagnosis
and treatment is definitely warranted as a time to
cash in on allowing others to support you. Don’t
get the notion that juggling appointments, filling
out paperwork to apply for financial assistance, and
dealing with emotional instability on top of coping
with weakened health falls solely upon you if your
best friend lives in another state. Vowing not to be a
burden to friends and family when they aren’t readily
available to offer assistance, doesn’t mean you will
have to go it alone. There are several programs to help
you every step of the way, and if you need assistance
with something that your treatment team cannot help
you with, look into the American Cancer Society’s
programs. After compiling support from your local
team of nurses and oncologists, the American
Cancer Society (Cancer.org) should be a woman’s
first go-to arsenal towards successful survivorship.
and being a part of an American Cancer Society
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk will
bolster your resume for any aspect of event planning.
No matter what sort of time you have to offer, there
are plenty of pre-planning positions to promote the
walk, as well as day of needs to be filled. Helping
at registration tables or water stations is vital to
having a smoothly run event that honors and
celebrates women affected by breast cancer. The
walks are designed to not only raise funds for the
many programs to help women diagnosed with breast
cancer, but to raise awareness for the community.
This year’s walk is October 27, kicking off at 7:00
am at Lake Eola Park. (MakingStrides.acsevents.org)
No matter what, you are not feeling your best as
radiation and chemotherapy leaves you nauseous,
extremely fatigued, easily bruised, and constipated;
these are just a few of the side effects. Probably the
most devastating effect is losing the hair all over your
body, and the clincher to depleting your emotional
health and self-esteem. The Look Good Feel Better
program guides women through these changes,
and provides them with simple techniques towards
feeling good on the outside. Sometimes all it takes
to boost your dwindling confidence is someone
taking the time to help you feel pretty when your
appearance has altered. Cancer treatments are brutal,
and that’s why the Look Good Feel Better group
workshop employs volunteer licensed aestheticians,
beauty professionals, and coordinators that are
available to work with you to create a healthy
outer appearance. How you see your reflection
directly impacts your fragile self-esteem, and these
volunteers are sure to furnish you with the necessary
encouragement to derail your debilitated confidence.
Programs that aid women during this devastating
experience are made possible through a vast
network of volunteers that helps with anything from
arranging and transporting patients to and from
treatments, to comforting patients by providing
informatio n on understanding the path ahead, as
well as boosting a patient’s depleted self-esteem with
an all over make-over. All of these vital positions
filled by volunteers offer endless ways to help, and
suit an array of interests, time frames and skillsets.
In fact, volunteering with the American Cancer
Society is a great resource for boosting your resume
towards building a career. Central Florida thrives At some point, breast cancer touches the women in our
on events for just about everything under the sun, lives, whether she is family, a friend, or even yourself.
continued on pg. 50
OCTOBER 2018
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