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Jamaica Reach to Recovery is a voluntary group of breast cancer
survivors, friends and well- wishers.
We meet at 5 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month at the Jamaica
Cancer Society, 16 Lady Musgrave Road. The organization, which was
founded by Denise Thwaites, is now 20 years old. The pivotal goals which
were set at its inception have not changed but have however been
expanded to meet the needs of our members and the Society at large.
Our primary goals are:
1. The increase of public awareness of Breast Cancer and to inform that
early detection of the disease is equivalent to a long productive life.
2. To offer on a group and on a one to one basis, emotional and
psychological support to breast cancer survivors, their families and friends.
This support is offered not as professionals and practitioners in the
field, but as women who are ourselves survivors. We share and teach each
other the coping skills and strategies we have developed in dealing with
our emotions, our feelings from the illness itself and from the
treatment protocol (chemotherapy, radiation etc.) prescribed by the
Doctors. These skills and strategies come from our individual
experiences, videos, books, current magazines, & our interaction with
Medical providers & the Society at large. However, we have among our
members several professional councilors.
The active membership at present is 104 and attendance at regular
monthly meetings averages 35.
We visit and counsel through our core group of Volunteers, newly
diagnosed breast cancer patients, in their Homes and in Hospitals.
During these visits we hand out educational material & demonstrate the
exercises necessary for the regaining of flexibility in the arm that is
affected by surgery.
We speak to civic and Church groups where we share our stories, show
videos and present other educational material. We constantly inform and
remind our audiences of the significance of early detection. In other
words mortality rates are lower when the disease is detected at an early
stage.
In our quest to achieve the primary goals, we carry out the following
activities.
Activities:
1. Visit and counsel, through our core group of Volunteers, newly
diagnosed breast cancer patients, both in their homes and in hospitals.
2. Visit Service Clubs, Church groups etc. At these meetings we discuss
awareness and early detection.
3. Provide free of cost, temporary breast padding (which women wear
until the swelling goes down and they can
be fitted with a permanent breast form).
4. Hand out brochures & demonstrate the exercises necessary for the
regaining of flexibility in the arm that is affected by surgery.
5. Import breast forms and special bras which are sold at minimal cost.
6. Meet on the second Tuesday of every month. Meetings begin at 5 p.m.
and are held at the Jamaica Cancer Society.
So join us and “let’s continue to do more, until there is a cure”.
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