Mary : Peer Support Volunteer

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 32 I knew that my life would never be the same again. The experience of coping with the diagnosis, surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy while busy with four young children challenged me. My journey along the way was influenced by the support of many other women who had been through the experience of breast cancer. It was through their support that I found people who could understand me, women with whom I could laugh and cry. Our experiences were all different, however our fears and concerns were all the same. The support was invaluable to my emotional healing, this gave me the desire to want to be able to support other women through their breast cancer experience.

I have been a volunteer at BreaCan since it started in 2003. My work is rewarding and fulfilling. Women come into BreaCan to have a look, borrow a resource, attend a session or just chat. When they leave they have had the opportunity to talk to someone who understands, someone who has been through what they are experiencing. It is through the sharing of my experience and that of the other volunteers that we are able to support these women. Knowing you can help someone through a difficult journey, which you yourself have travelled, is very rewarding.