Sunrise Group

Sunrise, the first breast cancer survivors' support group in Palestine, was founded by Patient's Friends Society-Jerusalem (PFS) in 2000. In Palestine, breast cancer accounts for almost 30% of all cancer in women, yet a stigma surrounds a diagnosis of cancer, so a great need for community education and support for breast cancer "survivors" and families exists. Sunrise now has over 50 members, ages 35 to 68 years, who come from Jerusalem and the West Bank. They meet monthly to share and to learn.

In 2004 we started to branch out and meet survivors and patients in Jericho, Ramallah, Bethlehem and Hebron.

Sunrise's long-term goals are to change community perceptions and attitudes about breast cancer and to promote early detection of the disease.

Sunrise's accomplishments include:

• Operating a "hotline": Several Sunrise members have been trained to provide information, advice and support for patients, their families and the general public.



• A Reach to Recovery program:  Trained survivors visit newly operated breast cancer patients to offer support and information.

• Preparing kits containing educational leaflets and an exercise rope for women receiving Reach to Recovery visits.



• Offering wigs and prostheses to breast cancer survivors at reduced cost.



• Organizing fund-raising activities, including an annual breakfast and placing of collection boxes for donations.



• Helping develop leaflets, such as: "Your Life after Breast Cancer" and "Exercises after Breast Surgery", "Family and Patients - Living with Cancer" and a hot line flyer.



• Providing psycho-social support to one another.
  
  
• Enhancing self-care capabilities through learning activities, such as language courses, a first aid course and Reiki workshops.

Sunrise fundraising breakfast 2007

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