Cancer survivors' SHOUT offers understanding, hope
Cancer survivors' SHOUT offers understanding, hope

Charlotte Lankard

Published: July 2, 2007

A few weeks ago, my friend Joan Gilmore invited me to speak to a meeting of Friends of the Oklahoma Breast Institute. It was there that I learned of a new organization called SHOUT.

SHOUT stands for Strength, Healing, Optimism, Understanding ... Together.

SHOUT was founded in 2006 by two young breast cancer survivors, Molly Fritch and Sandi Troup, who were diagnosed at ages 31 and 32. Breast cancer typically strikes after age 50, and Molly and Sandi discovered they didn't know any others their age with the disease.

Molly told me, "Cancer can be a very lonely and isolating diagnosis, whether young or old, but younger women with cancer face some different issues.”

The two women found the challenges of motherhood and fertility different than those of their friends or older cancer patients, and they saw a need for young women to have a place where they could meet, share friendship and find hope.

Sandi said, "We originally started as a group of breast cancer survivors, but quickly realized the impact to young women is very similar, no matter what the cancer, and decided early on to invite all young women survivors.”

Whether you or someone you know is newly diagnosed with cancer or going through treatment, they invite you to give them a shout! Check out their Web site atwww.shout-okc.org.

You can reach them by e-mail at info@shout-okc.org or by calling Molly Fritch at 740-7705 or Sandi Troup at 962-9012.

They also publish a newsletter, "The Hot Flash,” with news and information about upcoming events, and articles that pertain to young women and cancer issues.

They are not connected with any particular medical facility and draw from many medical experts in the community. SHOUT invites any medical or mental health professional, social worker or care coordinator to partner with them in their effort.

And all of us can support these young women, whether we are a survivor, health professional or community member. Help them spread the word about their group and/or make a tax-deductible donation. The address is SHOUT, 6608 N Western, PMB 198, Oklahoma City, OK 73116.

The statistics tell us that one in 229 women ages 30-40 will develop breast cancer. SHOUT offers these young women — and others — a safe place to get together, get connected and find hope.

Charlotte Lankard is a marriage and family therapist in private practice with Baptist Counseling Associates and director of the James L. Hall Center for Mind, Body and Spirit at Integris. E-mail her at clankard@cox.net.