Our Support Services

One-to-One Support
Breast Cancer Support offers one-to-one support from a positive personal experience. Trained volunteers who have experienced breast cancer are available to listen and speak to women with a recent or past breast cancer diagnosis. Support may be received via a telephone call or a face to face meeting. Our volunteers are unable to offer medical or treatment advice and we always recommend that women, in the first instance, seek such information from their medical team. Please contact us by email or telephone on 0800 BreaCanSupport (0800 273 222) to access this individual service.

The Breast Friends Support Groups
Our Breast Friends support groups meet monthly within the greater Auckland area and are coordinated by women who have experienced breast cancer. The meetings provide an opportunity for women with a present or past breast cancer diagnosis to meet in an informal environment for mutual support and encouragement.
Over a cup of tea, women exchange stories, information and lots of laughter! Some months groups will feature a guest speaker or other activity - read the latest news from our groups here.
To join a group or to find out more, please contact us or see the group schedules and contact information listed on this site. Attendance at our groups is free.

Purpose
The Breast Friends Support Groups provide an opportunity for women with a past or present breast cancer diagnosis to meet in a social and relaxed setting for mutual support and fellowship. The emphasis is on helping women cope with the present and look positively towards the future. Coordinators can offer information about other health support services and community support groups.

Attendance
Anyone with a past or present diagnosis of breast cancer is welcome to attend. This could include recently diagnosed women as well as those with secondary disease. Attendance at the groups is free.

Facilitation
An annually appointed coordinator facilitates the meetings. Should anyone need professional help with the emotional, psychological or physical impact of their breast cancer, the coordinator can provide her with appropriate information on support services that are freely available or recommend that they contact their professional health provider.

Expectation
All Breast Friends group meetings offer an informal environment for meeting and speaking with other women who have experienced breast cancer. Meetings often include a guest speaker (who may or may
not have breast cancer as a focus ) or the group may choose a more social format (shared hobbies etc).

Rights of Participants
When participating in a Breast Friends Group meeting women will receive:
The right to confidentiality both in and out of the group.
The right to be treated as an individual.
The right to be respected.
The right to be heard.
The right to agree or disagree.

Disclaimer
Breast Cancer Support Incorporated takes no responsibility for any health related information or advice given by guest speakers or group members and recommends that any such information be obtained from your medical team.