The Pink Dream Team: Supporting a Friend with Breast Cancer

When a friend receives the news that she has breast cancer, she's going to need a lot of things: treatment, information, support, love, and the list goes on. Breast cancer touches the lives of not only the one receiving the diagnosis, but also family and friends. In a time when this sort of news leaves you feeling helpless, there are still many ways to help and support a friend through her journey with breast cancer. She needs a team of dedicated loved ones more than ever; think of it as a pink dream team face-off with breast cancer.

If you will be accompanying your friend or relative to doctor's appointments, don't be afraid to ask questions and take notes. If you sense your friend is unsure or unclear about something, ask for clarification. Be available to her afterward if she wants to talk through her treatment options and choices. Let her know you are a listening ear – when she's ready to talk.

A practical way to help your friend is providing meals. But keep in mind this is something that should be organized so that five different meals don't end up on your friend's porch all at once. Consider designing a calendar that allows friends and family to sign up for meals and chores. Even better, post the calendar online for easy access.

And when it comes to chores, don't always depend on your friend to tell you when she needs help. She's often focused on her battle or too tired to care about the laundry. And it also may be difficult for her to ask for help. She's used to being independent, after all. Things like mowing the grass, doing the laundry, or cleaning may be just too much for your friend with breast cancer. Doing these little chores can make such a difference in her day.

Treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation will cause changes in how your friend looks and feels. In fact, more than 50 percent of cancer patients indicate they fear losing their hair more than any other effect of cancer treatment. There are organizations which turn donated hair into real-hair wigs for women undergoing cancer treatment. Consider getting your pink dream team together to shed some of your own tresses in support of your friend. These programs are very successful in helping women with cancer regain some of their confidence and beauty that hair loss may have taken.

Speaking of beauty, was there ever a more appropriate time to express your love and support for a friend? Breast cancer bracelets and other breast cancer jewelry are popular ways to display your support for your friend and a cure for breast cancer, while adding beauty to her life and yours.

Breast cancer bracelets come in so many beautiful varieties and styles, but you might choose a special breast cancer charm bracelet just for your friend. Each member of her pink dream team might choose a special charm for the breast cancer bracelet. Maybe it's a cross, reminding her of your prayers. Or perhaps a sandal representing a memorable beach trip the two of you took together. Get creative with the breast cancer bracelet and present it to her in a beautifully wrapped box. When she's headed for a doctor's appointment or sitting through a treatment, the breast cancer bracelet will remind her she's not alone.

Another great reason to invest in breast cancer bracelets is because a portion of the profits do go towards finding a cure to breast cancer. For instance, one European jewelry designer who created the modular charm bracelet donates a portion of sales from its pink ribbon charm to the Susan G. Komen For The Cure. In 2007, the charm bracelet jeweler contributed a total of $25,000, including a portion of its sales from the pink ribbon charm.

As your friend takes her breast cancer journey – a journey for which she did not ask – encourage her to stay as independent and active as possible. Just knowing her pink dream team is available will help her know a sympathetic ear or two are always near. She isn't on this road alone.

Lewis Jewelers is proud to carry the full line of Pandora Jewelry.  Pandora bracelets, Pandora charms and Pandora beads are only a part of the collection. For more information, contact Lewis Jewelers, 2000 West Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48103, 877-88-LEWIS or visit LewisJewelers.com.