| Show Patient Assists In Adjustment To Surgery I By FRIEDA KAYE At a time when breast cancer Is In the some women serve as reminders that it is possible to make a complete physical and emotional comeback from the operation that women fear THEY ARE Reach to Recovery helping women like themselves who have undergone or surgical removal of a Reach to Recovery Is the creation of Terese who was operated on for breast cancer 22 years my surgery I worried about so many the petite widow recalls HUSBAND was alive then and I will he my friends pity will I I couldn't get There was On her own she devised to regain strength in her and researched the clothes encouraged by her she shared her understanding and knowledge with another I was able to help that woman walk and face her she embraced me and and I cried with I realized that I had something more important to do in life than just keep house and play That was the start of a one-woman funded by Lasser's husband and from grateful In 1989 Terese Lasser's program became an integral part of the American Cancer Under her direction it has expanded throughout the country and the TODAY its trained volunteers are welcome in hospital If the attending physician requests a Matched according to the patient's age and ethnic a volunteer comes prepared to demonstrate explain prosthetic devices and offer hints on clothing and They candidly discuss all non-medical matters including that delicate question how will the man in my life husband didn't marry you because you had two Terese Lasser tells mastectomy But she admits was concerned after her HUSBAND was a gentle man who waited to see how I would When I came home 1 undressed in the As the months went by and there was no sex between I thought I had become repulsive to Finally Lasser her heart on paper and asked her husband late author of Income to read what she had first words to me have I done to BUT HE hadn't done it to had done it to Reach to Recovery now offers literature and personal coun- when necessary to help the cancer patient and her family deal with these the same women we were except we have to wear something emphasizes this who shows off her trim figure in form-fitting underneath she wears a specially-made garment that gives her a natural bosom CONSTANTLY on call for newspaper interviews and TV talk Lasser hammers home the Importance of regular check-ups and breast am here she I didn't ignore that lump I found in my |
