October 7: Pink Aroostook

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and our Pink Aroostook breast health program is ready! Pink Aroostook is a breast health program designed for support, advocacy, education and awareness of breast health issues in northern Maine.

Thanks to Cary Medical Center and collaborations with the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition, the National Breast Cancer Coalition, the American Cancer Society in Maine, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Maine – ACS CAN, the Maine Association of Cancer Support Centers and the Maine Breast & Cervical Health Program, Pink Aroostook helps connect people diagnosed with breast cancer to local and national resources which may be able to provide financial and emotional support. We also have a limited financial support fund available to help Aroostook County residents dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis – regardless of where they are receiving treatment.

To learn more about how you can get involved with Pink Aroostook or to access financial support or resources, please visit us on the web at https://www.pinkaroostook.org or call Bethany at 207.498.1361.

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Pink Aroostook provides educational resources to those living with and at risk of breast cancer and maintains a robust social media presence to increase our reach and facilitate community engagement. We participate in advocacy at the local, state and national levels to help push forward political policy that will change the landscape of breast cancer and pave the way for life saving research and access to care for those living with and at risk for breast cancer. We also do a lot of media advocacy to engage our local networks and partners and provide them with regular opportunities to participate in our work with social media calls to action. To get involved in our social media advocacy work, please be sure to LIKE and follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/pinkaroostook.

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The incidence of life-threatening disease doesn’t stop because the world is in quarantine and while medical appointments and treatments may be a little more difficult to navigate in these unusual times, there are support resources that have become a lot more accessible thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. While some organizations already had an online presence prior to the pandemic, many were forced to assess their impact and fine-tune their offerings to remain relevant and accessible for the people who needed them most. The COVID-19 pandemic has moved us all a minimum of 6 feet away from one another in the name of physical distancing, but for people living with breast cancer in our communities, safe connections are just a call or click away. Events, programs and resources that were once difficult, if not impossible, to access from remote and rural areas like Aroostook County are now readily available to anyone from anywhere. If you are facing a breast cancer diagnosis or treatment, you are not alone! Here are a few support resources that are currently available for people in Maine.

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY: Whether it’s the middle of the afternoon or the middle of the night, cancer information specialists are available to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 24/7 Cancer Helpline 800.227.2345 or Live Chat at cancer.org.

BETH C. WRIGHT CANCER RESOURCE CENTER:

Safe Harbor Cancer Support Group, 2nd & 4th Thursdays of each month, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

Open Arms Breast Cancer Support Group, 1st Sunday of each month, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

For more information or to register call 207-664-0339 or email: [email protected]

CARING CONNECTIONS:

Men’s Cancer Network Group, Wednesday, October 7, 6:00pm

Breast Cancer Network Group, Wednesday, October 14 and 28, 12:30pm

For more information and to register, please visit: https://www.bangory.org/virtual-ymca/cancer-support/

DEMPSEY CENTER:

Man Up to Cancer Roundtable – 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 6-7pm

Women’s Drop-In Cancer Support Group – Wednesdays, 1:30 – 3pm – starting Sept 9

Care Partner Drop-In Support Group – Wednesdays, 3:30 – 4:45pm

Evening Drop-In Cancer Support Group – Wednesdays, 5-6:30pm

Advanced Cancer Support Group – Thursdays, 10 – 11:30am

Daytime Drop-In Cancer Support Group – Thursdays, 2:30 – 4pm

Teen Group – Thursdays, 4:30 – 6pm

For more information on classes, workshops, and support groups please e-mail [email protected] or call 207-376-9648.

PINK AROOSTOOK:

Limited financial assistance for Aroostook residents in treatment for breast cancer.

Contact Bethany Zell at [email protected] or 207.498.1361 to apply.

REACH TO RECOVERY:

Through online chat or by phone, volunteers provide support to individuals who are facing a possible breast cancer diagnosis, recurrence, or advanced-stage breast cancer, considering or undergoing treatment and/or experiencing lymphedema.

To request a phone visit with a Reach To Recovery volunteer, call 1-800-227-2345 or visit reach.cancer.org.