Breast Friends Public Service Announcements:

Brave Choices

Helping Women Survive The Trauma of Cancer

Helping the Spouse Cope

Helping the Children Cope When Mom Has Cancer

How to Support an Employee Working Through Cancer

How to Support a Coworker Working Through Cancer

Breast Friends was founded in 2000.  We continue to grow our programs and services and have helped thousands of women and their families since our inception.  We are on a slow growth as we launch affiliates in various locations.  We launched Florida in 2009, and Pennsylvania in 2012.

• When You Learn You Have Cancer…

One of our culture’s most enduring homilies has to do with a beverage.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

When the “lemon” in question is the news that you have cancer, that can be a huge challenge. News like that has a way of stomping around in your brain, crashing into things, knocking stuff over — and certainly (because you’re pretty sure you’ve just been handed a death sentence) making it hard to concentrate on even the simplest of things.

I received that news on June 15, 2000, from a physician assistant named Joe at a Kaiser Permanente clinic next door to Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Beaverton. My wife and I were there to learn the results of a biopsy he had conducted a few days earlier. Of the six samples of tissue taken from my walnut-size prostate, he said, five tested positive.
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Trustees in Support of the Mission

Breast Friends’ governing body is made up of a national board including the two co-founders, executive officers, and board members who also oversee the Oregon Affiliate. We also have Local Advisory Boards in each other affiliate location. To see the local affiliate board members, please visit each affiliate page separately.

Expanding the Mission Through New Workshops

We started in Oregon as a single entity, but with the launch of affiliates in Florida and Pennsylvania Breast Friends is becoming the premiere support organization for women with breast, ovarian and other women’s cancers with presence across the country. 

In 2012, our focus will be to reach new patients across the country by developing and delivering two new workshops:  H.O.P.E., Helping Others Provide Empathy, and Thriving Beyond Cancer.

The H.O.P.E. workshop is for three-hour program for women who are newly diagnosed with cancer.  This is an opportunity for them to bring their spouse, children, or other significant person who is likely to accompany them on their journey to a workshop where we will discuss the role that each person will play.  We will talk about the importance of support, as well as provide ideas and tips on how the friends and family members can care for their loved one through the journey.  We also recognize that those closest to the patient are often impacted.  Our workshop will talk about how a family can reach out and receive support from others.

The Thriving workshop is a two day workshop for women who are done with their treatment and ready to move on to the next phase of their lives, but feel stuck.  This workshop will provide them with the tools they need to move onto a new life after cancer.  Past participants have shared the life changing impact that they felt from attending the program.

For more information about attending a workshop, or becoming a sponsor or host for a workshop, please contact Becky or Sharon at 888-386-8048.

“I just wanted to say thank you for all of your support, kind wishes, and for sending me such a lovely “Welcome to the Sisterhood” packet. I love the hat, the hankie and especially the wonderful list of ideas that you included for family and friends. You are truly a wonderful organization, and I thank you for dedicating your time, and energy to such a good cause. Please know your efforts are greatly appreciated.”

~Fran from NY
Breast Cancer Survivor

“I am so very thankful for the support I receive from Breast Friends.  From day one, they have been there for me.  This is the best breast cancer support organization I have ever met.  The people are so caring and supportive and even take the initiative to follow up with me to make sure I’m doing okay every step of the way.  They make me feel like I am part of their family — so sincere and helpful, and when I’m feeling afraid or just want someone to talk to, a compassionate voice is just a phone call away.  I feel so blessed to have found Breast Friends!”

~Sue from Wisconsin
Breast Cancer Survivor

Hello Ladies,
I just wanted to thank each and every one of you for the love and kindness you’ve showed me since I first wandered in (nearly 2 years ago!). You have helped me take the ugliness that is BRCA and turn it into a thing of beautiful relationships. You’ve helped me conquer my fear, hugged me on bad days, visited the doctor with me, and done so many other little things. I will never forget what you’ve done or the inspiration you’ve been. People ask how I’m coping so well with my BRCA and all I have to say are two words: “Breast Friends.”  I love you all.

~Liz
BRCA Survivor