Lend an ear—or a hand Let your friend know that she’s not alone and actively listen to her, suggests Christina Koenig, director of communications for Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization. Instead of asking what you can do to help her, be specific: ask her what she hates doing most and offer to take on that task. Click on the “Someone I know has been diagnosed” section of the Y-Me website, where you can learn how to support someone facing a diagnosis and link to a group calendar that can help friends and family members coordinate chores such as providing hot meals or rides to treatment.

Help gather info When a woman is dealing with the shock of a breast cancer diagnosis, she may feel too overwhelmed to gather information about her treatment options, says Caroline Hinestrona, Executive Vice-President of Programs and Planning at the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC). “Help your friend or loved one get the information she needs to make informed decisions.” A good place to start is by downloading the NBCC Guide to Quality Breast Cancer Care, or the shorter version, How to Get Good Care for Breast Cancer , which offer jargon-free info on how to understand your diagnosis and make wise decisions about breast cancer treatment.

Lace up your walking shoes Grab your friends and family and participate in a walk or run to raise money to fight breast cancer this October. Sign up for The City of Hope Cancer Center Walk for Hope to Cure Breast Cancer; the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides For Breast Cancer walk or the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run For the Cure.

Shop to save lives Pick up a pair of Fashion Targets Breast Cancer black leather ballet slippers ($98) online or at Scoop and other US retailers. Or instead of brown bagging it, take your lunch to work in style in a Lean Cuisine insulated tote ($9.95). Lean Cuisine will give $5 from each purchase of these lunch bags to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Slip into your favourite jeans Then pledge $5 to fight against breast cancer on October 6, 2006 for Lee National Denim Day. The largest single-day breast cancer fundraiser, Lee National Denim Day benefits local breast cancer prevention services and early detection and treatment research at leading cancer centers nationwide. To sign up, visit http://www.denimday.com/.

Help her to connect If your loved one wants to connect with other women with breast cancer, survivors or counsellors, direct her to web sites including the Cancer Survivors Network at the American Cancer Society; the message boards at the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation http://www.komen.org/ and the Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization, which has a 24-hour hotline and info on how to cope with the disease. The CancerConnection program at the Canadian Cancer Society offers telephone peer support to women recently diagnosed and their caregivers. Willow’s support volunteers are all breast cancer survivors ready to lend an ear through their support line and in support groups.

Make a contribution If you’d like to make a donation to help fight breast cancer, contribute to the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund; American Cancer Society; Canadian Cancer Society; Breast Cancer Society of Canada; or Rethink Breast Cancer.

Don’t miss other articles about breast cancer information, including how to assess your risk and the latest research.