Survivor Helps Breast Cancer Patients Avoid Internet 'Overload'

Fewer resources were available five years ago when Shirley Smith was diagnosed with . Through a mastectomy and chemotherapy, she relied mainly on Internet resources and a friend who was a breast cancer survivor.

But while the Internet delivered a seemingly endless supply of information, it had its downside as well.

"I found a lot of scary stuff. Of course, the first thing that a lot of us will do is go see what is the survival rate. What is this going to do to me? What kind of symptoms am I going to have?" said 70-year-old Smith, a Perry Hall resident.

"We tend to overload ourselves with information," she said.

Smith is now working to provide a more personal and guided treatment experience for breast cancer patients through the Survivors Offering Support mentoring program at .

She started by doing office work within the mentoring organization. Smith then began working with patients one at a time—some by phone, others face to face.

"Right now I have about nine that I personally mentor and it's a personal thing with the mentors. Some people prefer to have only one person. Some people prefer to have a group of them," she said.

"Each patient is different. We have a lot of young patients and it's very scary for these patients ... they have young children and they're terrified, absolutely terrified," Smith said. "We have others who go through it very calmly. They seem to have a big religious presence in their life and a lot of them seem to handle it a little bit better."

Smith has been called on to sit with patients in all stages of treatment. She recently worked with a patient start to finish through the treatment process.

"It's such a good feeling," she said.

Smith plans to continue helping breast cancer patients through the program, especially as she nears the fifth anniversary of her diagnosis.

She believes her survival is cause to celebrate.

"I don't know yet but I just feel like I should do something, even it's just to have a party or dinner with my family," she said.