West Reading Avenues Fall 2021 - 15

Cancer treatment can greatly impact an individual's self-esteem
and body image, and sometimes these very valid concerns aren't
directly addressed. Our new creative arts series of workshops
will address the aforementioned concerns in a supportive,
personalized way - it will let survivors know that treatment may
bring changes, but there are products and skills they can utilize
to help ease some of those concerns and hopefully promote
more positive self-esteem.
New for 2021/2022
Creative Writing Workshop-open to all breast cancer
survivors providing an opportunity to honor life experiences
through the written word. Expressive writing can be a positive
form of expressing emotions and used as a coping strategy.
This thoughtful, relaxing workshop will awaken the creative
spirit, gently, without intimidation or pressure. Taught in an
atmosphere of warmth, compassion, and trust, the workshop is
a safe haven for the experienced and first-timers alike, especially
those who have always longed to write but thought they couldn't.
Therapeutic Art- Art therapy can play an important role as
a complementary therapy for individuals with breast cancer. Art
can be a tool for healing and a constructive form of therapy
that can be empowering. Art enables those with breast cancer
to regain a sense of self-control, self-efficacy and self-esteem by
promoting self-expression. When participating in art therapy there
is a connection between physical and mental health that offers a
means in which to express through art. Through drawing, painting
and other creative activities, individuals have the opportunity
to relax, inspire and strengthen their artistic spirit.
Music Therapy-Music therapy is an effective method of
supporting cancer care for patients at various stages of the
disease and will be practiced within a group setting. It will be
a safe place for individuals to explore fear, anxiety, anger and
the range of emotional responses to living with breast cancer.
Music in this context can be successfully employed to support
social interaction between those with breast cancer in musical
activity. Participating in the shared experience of music therapy
facilitates an increased sense of community, of belonging to a
group and provide a way to decrease stress, promote emotional
recovery and provide relaxation.
Face Up to Safe Beauty- Many breast cancer patients
feel that they have no control over what is happening to their
body. For women in treatment, the value of a beauty tutorial
is more than skin deep; it helps restore a sense of confidence
and normalcy. The Face Up to Safe Beauty program will give
women who are undergoing treatment for breast cancer the
opportunity to receive tailored skin care and make-up tips and
hair care (or hair substitution) methods from specially-trained
makeup artists and/or cosmetologists.
Women who are more comfortable with their appearance can
focus more on getting better and maintaining a positive attitude
throughout treatment. Equally as important as the beauty tips,
the women are able to spend time in a relaxed setting with
others who are in the same or a similar situation.
Volunteering. BCSS is always looking for volunteers to lend
a hand. There are a variety of opportunities from serving on a
committee, to assisting at events, to general administrative tasks
and everything in between. To fill out a Volunteer Application,
visit: bcssberks.org or call the BCSS office at 610.478.1447.
Donating. Visit our website at bcssberks.org to make a
monetary donation. You can like and follow our Facebook page
at fb.com/bcssberks where you can host your own fundraising
event. You can also text BCSS to 44321.
How can you find us? Visit our office at 529 Reading
Avenue, Suite C in West Reading, call us at 610-478-1447, visit
our website at bcssberks.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter
and Instagram.
visitwestreading.org 13
DID YOU KNOW...
* 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer
during her lifetime.
* 90 - 95% of women diagnosed with breast
cancer have NO family history.
* 85% of cases are among women ages 45
and older.
*
In the 1960's, the 5-year survival rate for
regional breast cancer in women was 63%.
Today it is 89%!
* There are over 3.5 million breast cancer
survivors in the United States.
*
Breast cancer is most often found in women,
but men can get breast cancer too. About 1
out of every 100 breast cancers diagnosed
in the United States is found in a man.
* On average, every 2 minutes a woman is
diagnosed with breast cancer in the United
States.
http://www.bcssberks.org http://www.bcssberks.org http://www.fb.com/bcssberks http://www.bcssberks.org http://www.visitwestreading.org
West Reading Avenues Fall 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of West Reading Avenues Fall 2021
