ACS Reach 2.6.0

The American Cancer Society's Reach To Recovery mobile application offers a platform for individuals diagnosed with breast cancer to connect with survivors who have faced similar experiences. This service facilitates online conversations aimed at providing emotional support during challenging times.

Volunteers, who are breast cancer survivors trained by the American Cancer Society, offer peer-to-peer support to assist individuals in managing treatment, side effects, communication with loved ones, employment concerns, and other related issues. It is important to note that volunteers do not dispense medical advice. The program is available free of charge to adults aged 18 and older residing in the United States.

Reach To Recovery is designed to support individuals at various stages of their breast cancer journey, including:

• Considering a diagnosis of breast cancer
• Recently diagnosed with breast cancer
• Having undergone or contemplating lumpectomy or mastectomy
• Exploring options for breast reconstruction
• Experiencing arm swelling (lymphedema) resulting from treatment
• Currently undergoing or having completed treatment

Eligibility to volunteer requires completion of specialized training provided by the American Cancer Society, which prepares survivors to offer compassionate peer support. Volunteers provide empathetic engagement while refraining from offering medical guidance.

To participate, both peers and volunteers must supply basic information such as name, email address, and state of residence. Peers additionally specify their diagnosis and treatment preferences within the "Find a Reach To Recovery Volunteer" section. Volunteers create profiles that detail their own diagnosis and treatment histories.

Matching peers with suitable volunteers involves comparing preferences with volunteer profiles. For example, if a peer wishes to converse with someone who has experienced a mastectomy, they can select this criterion to identify compatible volunteers. Peers can then review profiles of matched volunteers.

Connecting occurs when peers send online chat requests to selected volunteers. Volunteers have the option to accept, decline, or suggest alternative times for the conversation. Typically, volunteers respond within 24 hours, though delays may occasionally occur.

Your profile information is accessible to other program participants in relevant roles. For instance:

• If you are a peer, volunteers can view your provided details in the "Find a Reach To Recovery Volunteer" and "Tell Us About Yourself" sections.
• If you are a volunteer, peers can see your information within your "Diagnosis and Treatment Experience" and "Tell Us About Yourself" profiles.

Rest assured that your personal email address remains private; it is not visible to other participants. All interactions, including scheduling and online chats, are managed through the Reach To Recovery website. You will receive email notifications about new messages, chat requests, and reminders from the platform, but unsolicited messages will not be sent directly to your personal email address.