How the Third Edition Was Developed
Breast cancer survivors, advocates, physicians, nurses, other health professionals and health educators throughout North Carolina reviewed the Second Edition and shared their thoughts on how we could further improve this Third Edition. We listened.

Intensive research, thousands of telephone calls and contacts, and countless hours of work by our two-person staff and volunteers went into this edition. All chapters were reviewed by an expert review panel to assure that we are providing the best information currently available.

What You Will Find Here
Educational information. Summarizing the most accurate, reliable information available, we provide general overviews of the breast cancer experience, from diagnosis and treatment through end-of-life issues, as well as survivorship issues. In every section we point you in the direction of organizations, books and web sites so you can find more detailed information.

Support. When someone is diagnosed with breast cancer, it can be an emotionally difficult time. We provide support information and resources for the breast cancer patient, family and caregivers, and children, including over 150 support groups and programs across North Carolina. A special feature, Women Building Bridges, allows a breast cancer patient to connect with over fifty breast cancer survivors in North Carolina who are willing to share their experiences and offer support.

Empowerment. Possessing accurate information and knowing where to go for the answers you need can give you a sense of empowerment and confidence at a time when you may feel most powerless. We provide a tool to help women help themselves. A well-informed patient is better able to navigate through the breast cancer experience with confidence—in herself and in her health care providers.

How to Use the Resource Directory
Finding information about breast cancer resources is not always easy. The Resource Directory provides information from hundreds of different sources all in one book. We have organized chapters so that information and topic-specific resources are easy to find.

Each chapter begins with information about different aspects of the breast cancer experience. At the end of each chapter, you will find the Resources. These include Organizations (local, state and national), Books and More (related to topics covered in the chapter), and Web Sites. To find a specific topic, take a look through the Table of Contents or check the Index at the back of the Resource Directory.

Help Us Stay Current.
While we make every effort to be sure the information we provide is current and accurate, changes do happen. Here’s how you can help. Let us know of new resources, updates or corrections for the online version (and future print editions). We welcome your thoughts on how we can continue making this Resource Directory the best that it can be.