• Find a family member or friend to help you cope with the experience and process the massive amounts of information available on the disease and its treatment. Nancy says her biggest support and source of information was her husband. "You cannot get through it alone, you have to have someone to help you get through this," she says.
• Find someone who has already experienced breast cancer. Through mutual friends, Nancy met a woman who survived breast cancer. This new friend brought a wealth of information. Nancy asked her basic questions such as "When will my hair fall out?" and "What should I do when it does fall out?" Nancy found these talks especially helpful because this woman was able to provide information without becoming overly emotional. Reach to Recovery, a programs of the American Cancer Society offers women diagnosed with breast cancer a chance to talk to and, most of the time, to meet a breast-cancer survivor matched as closely as possible in terms of age, geography, type of surgery, and type of treatment. For more information on Reach to Recovery in your area, call 1-800-ACS-2345.
• Develop a relationship with a health professional who can help you know what to expect and how to deal with events. For example, Nancy profited greatly from her relationship with an oncology nurse who provided chemotherapy treatments. Once they had developed a rapport, Nancy found it easier to ask questions about what was happening to her and to accept the information she was receiving. This nurse also gave Nancy the reassurance she needed that she was coping well with her treatment.
• Cultivate spiritual strength. Nancy says she wouldn't describe herself as an overly religious person, but, she says with a smile, "I can't tell you how many people I had praying for me."
• Keep a sense of humor. "That is the most important part," says Nancy, "the way to keep your spirits up is to find humor in life."

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