Today we welcome October and kick off another National Breast Cancer Awareness month. Normally, I would do my part by buying a pink ribbon and then go along my way.  This year, though, as I work to create a world with more birthdays, I find myself thinking much more about how fortunate I’ve been to avoid a diagnosis and what I would do if that changed.  Who would I turn to and where would I go for support?

The go-to answer for me has always been mom. Once I realized that I actually wasn’t smarter than my mother – an epiphany  I didn’t have until I was in my twenties – I found myself turning to her for everything I couldn’t figure out on my own. She isn’t the most sympathetic ear in my family, but she’s always already dealt with some version of my latest struggle and can share her insights and lessons learned to help me get through it or get over it.

But a breast cancer diagnosis is a different story.

I imagine that women who have been newly diagnosed with breast cancer ask themselves a similar question. Who do they turn to if mom (or whomever they trust most in the world) doesn’t have the answer or the understanding to help them through it?

The American Cancer Society helps women with breast cancer cope with their diagnosis and provides support, resources, and help through every step of their journey to get well. In fact, one of their programs – Reach to Recovery – matches women newly diagnosed with breast cancer with other women who truly understand their concerns and can provide answers and empathy because they’ve “Been there. Done that.” And this year, Reach to Recovery is celebrating its 40^th birthday – that’s quite an accomplishment.

Reach to Recovery is a nationwide program made up of more than 11,000 highly trained volunteer breast cancer survivors who dedicate their time to provide comfort and emotional support to women facing the disease by visiting with them either face-to-face or by phone. These volunteers come armed with up-to-date information, including the latest for family members and significant others (because even then a woman is likely more worried about someone else than herself!), and more importantly, living proof that it is possible to enjoy a productive and happy life and celebrate more birthdays during and after breast cancer.

Women who have experienced Reach to Recovery talk about the invaluable support they get in the program. One participant told the Society that none of her friends could match the compassion and understanding that she felt when she was able to connect with another woman who had been through the experience.  I can appreciate that.  I don’t know how I would respond to a friend’s diagnosis – I hope well – but I think the most value I could offer is to point her in the direction of the American Cancer Society and their programs like Reach to Recovery to help her get the best possible support so that her fears could be lessened by one of the committed volunteers.

So this year, instead of buying a pink ribbon and calling it good, my plan is to spend some time learning more about programs offered through the American Cancer Society like Reach to Recovery and other valuable screening and support services so that I can be a better, more educated friend – one who can help the women (and men) I love celebrate more birthdays. I encourage you to do the same.  I’ll keep you posted on my progress.