SHARE Cancer Support

Last updated
SHARE: Self-help for women with breast or ovarian cancer
Company type Non-Profit
Founded1976 in New York City
FounderDr. Eugene Thiessen
Headquarters 1501 Broadway, Suite 704A
New York, NY 10036
Key people
Jacqueline Reinhard (Executive Director)
Didi Lacher (President)
Website

SHARE is a "highly regarded New York City peer support" organization of women affected by breast or ovarian cancer. [1] SHARE is a professionally managed volunteer organization. Trained volunteers and staff who are breast or ovarian cancer survivors operate telephone hotlines in English, Spanish and ten other languages, lead support groups, and offer an array of educational services in 18 sites and in every borough of New York City. [2] [3] SHARE does not charge for any of its services, and has been praised for "their extensive outreach programs to underserved communities in New York City." [4] The organization cooperates with several major hospitals in the New York City area. [5]

Contents

History

1976: SHARE was started by cancer specialist Dr. Eugene Thiessen as an informal support group for 12 women with breast cancer. [6]

1978: SHARE incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in New York State. [7]

1987[ citation needed ]: LatinaSHARE was started to provide support, information, education and advocacy opportunities for people who feel more comfortable communicating in Spanish.

1995: SHARE began offering services for women with ovarian cancer. [7]

2007: SHARE expanded services specifically for women with metastatic breast cancer. [7]

2008: The New York Department of Health issued this statement [8] while announcing a grant to SHARE and nine other community-based breast cancer education, counseling, outreach and support services:

Support groups, education, counseling and related activities can help reduce stress experienced by breast cancer patients, improve their ability to cope and deal with the uncertainties, challenges and life complications that accompany the disease and also enable them to make more effective use of health services. Breast cancer survivors may have a myriad of clinical and psychosocial needs, and support services have been shown to improve their quality of life.

Peer support

A philosophy of peer support guides SHARE activities. Its web site states, "We are breast and ovarian cancer survivors and we're here to help you." A survivor and later volunteer published this first person account of the peer support process:

"I was scared to death," she says, "because I had to make so many major decisions about breast reconstruction, hormonal treatments, possible chemotherapy, and everything else. My knowledge of breast cancer was only that it happened to other women, not me." But communicating her fears, and realizing that other women had similar worries and stories to share, was empowering. "I know that this sounds hokey," Nancy says, "but when I sat in that room, for the first time I felt like I was going to live and that I was not alone. Sitting in a room full of women who were dealing with the same issues, who were also scared to death, gave me strength." Likewise, Nancy says, her communication with a peer match counselor—a volunteer from the SHARE hotline who also had DCIS—was inspiring: "She shared her story with me, and it gave me hope." [9]

The benefits of emotional support to women with breast cancer have been acknowledged in the medical literature. [10]

Global activities

According to the United Nations World Health Organization, more than 500,000 people worldwide die from breast cancer every year, and breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women worldwide. [11] Recognizing the need for women to help each other to deal with the impact of this disease, SHARE volunteers have assisted in creating similar peer-support organizations in Israel and the Czech Republic. [12]

Public policy

SHARE seeks to play an active role in shaping the public policy agenda related to breast and ovarian cancer. [13] Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among women in New York State, and nearly 14,000 New York State women are newly diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and approximately 3,000 die from the disease annually. [8] SHARE hopes to reduce these numbers by advocating for health resources and awareness.

Events

SHARE sponsors "A Second Helping of Life," an annual event since 2003, in which many of the top female chefs in New York City converge in a giant tasting party to benefit SHARE. [14] [15] Among the chefs participating in 2009 were:

Rebecca Charles (Pearl Oyster Bar), Anita Lo (Annisa & Rickshaw Dumpling Bar), Gina DePalma (Babbo) and Alex Guarnaschelli (Butter). Guest Chefs will include Dana Cowin of Food & Wine Magazine, Ruth Reichel of Gourmet, and stars of the stage and screen such as broadcasting mavens including Samantha Mathis, Robin Mattson Ellen Parker, Bravo "Top Chef Masters" host, Kelly Choi, and TV personality Sara Moulton. [16]

In 2009, Chef Lo competed in the TV show Top Chef Masters with SHARE as the named beneficiary of her $20,000 winnings. [17]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breast cancer awareness</span>

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Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) is a not-for-profit organization focused on ovarian cancer research, advocacy and patient support. The organization was formed in January 2016 when the former not-for-profit organization Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, which focused primarily on ovarian cancer research, combined with Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, which focused primarily on ovarian cancer advocacy and support programs, to form one organization.

Natalie Sue Miller was an American fashion model, breast cancer survivor, breast cancer activist, counselor, and author. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, she moved to Denver, Colorado at age 19 as a newlywed and started a career in fashion modeling. After being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 34 and undergoing a mastectomy, she created a fashion show featuring models who had also had breast cancer. In 1981, she founded the Sue Miller Day of Caring, a non-profit organization for breast cancer education and awareness. In its first 35 years, the Day of Caring has been a resource for over 17,500 survivors of breast cancer, providing educational forums and support services at its annual event, held in nine U.S. cities. Miller earned her bachelor's and master's degrees at age 60 and 75, respectively, and wrote her autobiography, I'm Tougher Than I Look, in 2004. In 2002, Miller was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame.

Lillie D. Shockney, RN, BS, MAS, is the University Distinguished Service Professor of Breast Cancer and Professor of Surgery and Oncology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. A two-time survivor of breast cancer, Shockney works both as a nurse navigator supporting patients and as a medical advisor and administrator developing programs for improving patient quality of life, in particular for those with metastatic breast cancer. Shockney has published at least 20 books and 350 articles dealing with cancer and patient care. She has been the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship (2012-2023).

References

  1. ↑ "Peer support groups - information on MedicineNet.com". MedicineNet.
  2. ↑ "Latest News, Diets, Workouts, Healthy Recipes - MSN Health & Fitness". www.msn.com.
  3. ↑ "HELP IS NEARBY IF CANCER STRIKES". 21 October 2008.
  4. ↑ Mayer, Musa Advanced Breast Cancer: A Guide to Living with Metastatic Disease, 2nd Edition O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1998. http://oreilly.com/medical/breastcancer/news/general.html
  5. ↑ "Cancer Services: Expert Diagnosis & Treatment - NewYork-Presbyterian". www.nyp.org.
  6. ↑ Thiessen, E., in Preface to The Cancer Challenge: Sharing the Experience by Miller, Lee. iUniverse 2007, ISBN   978-0-595-42981-3
  7. 1 2 3 "SHARE Cancer Support - Breast and Ovarian Cancer Nonprofit".
  8. 1 2 "10 Grassroots Organizations to Receive Grants for Breast Cancer Support Services". Archived from the original on 2009-04-16. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  9. ↑ "Robin Roberts - Abundantly Blessed". news.cancerconnect.com.
  10. ↑ Goodwin PJ, Leszcz M, Ennis M, Koopmans J, Vincent L, Guther H, Drysdale E, Hundleby M, Chochinov HM, Navarro M, Speca M, Hunter J.: The effect of group psychosocial support on survival in metastatic breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 2001 Dec 13;345(24):1719-26.Pub med ID 11742045
  11. ↑ "Cancer". www.who.int.
  12. ↑ "JDC Initiative Spurs Global Breast Cancer Movement". Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  13. ↑ "Outreach - New York".
  14. ↑ "NY PIX Morning News Blog – WPIX-TV". Archived from the original on 2009-10-03. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  15. ↑ "Helping women with ovarian and breast cancer - 9/20/09 - New York News and Tri-State News - 7online.com". Archived from the original on 2010-02-16. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  16. ↑ "Events » the strong buzz, by andrea strong". Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  17. ↑ "Top Chef Masters - Videos - Winner Interview: Anita Lo - Bravo TV Official Site". Archived from the original on 2009-08-13. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
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