0800 273 222
Support, acceptance,
and aroha from us
for as long as you need.
How we can support you
When you reach out to us for help, you'll be welcomed into a safe and confidential community of support, acceptance, and aroha for as long as you need.
Whether that's short-term through diagnosis and treatment, or long-term support into recovery, we want you to know you and your caregivers are not alone.
Need to Talk?
Call our breast cancer support line for confidential support.
We're always here to support you. If you want to talk to someone about what you're going through, our breast cancer support line is available for you from 8.30am to 5.00pm, 365 days a year.
Individual support
Our peer support volunteer Mentors provide free 1:1 support either by phone, video calling (Zoom, Skype, Facebook Messenger), or in person by arrangement.
To get help, all you need to do is send us a message via our contact form or call us on 0800 273 222.
Group support
We offer monthly online support groups on Zoom for individuals, and for families and caregivers. These groups are peer-led by our trained volunteers.
Our Christchurch 'in-person' community group meets monthly.
All groups provide a safe, reassuring space for giving and receiving peer support.
Buddy/Mentor Programme
Our Buddy/Mentor Programme matches newly diagnosed men and women from any culture or ethnicity with a trained breast cancer support Buddy who provides 1:1 emotional and practical support.
You may feel vulnerable in the weeks following a diagnosis and you’ll probably have many decisions to make about your treatment and care.
All aspects of life – personal, family, and professional – are impacted by the diagnosis which makes having the right support network around you critical.
Our Buddies do not provide medical advice (we’ll refer you to your medical team for this information) but they can provide helpful advice on a number of topics, including, but not limited to:
How it works
Step 1: Referral
Referrals for a breast cancer support Buddy are generally made via:
- Your dedicated breast care nurse (in public or private practice).
- Your GP, medical clinic, or other organisations such as the Cancer Society.
- Self-referral if you are newly diagnosed with breast cancer.
Step 2: Matchmaking
We match you with a breast cancer support Buddy who shares similar, or the same, characteristics of:
- Age.
- Ethnicity and cultural background.
- Sexual identity (if applicable).
- Family/young children.
- Diagnosis/surgery/treatment plan.
Once you have been paired with your Buddy, you then connect on a weekly basis for a 1:1 support session for approximately 4-6 weeks after diagnosis.
For more information about the breast cancer Buddy service please get in touch.
If you would like to volunteer as a breast cancer Buddy, please contact us for more information.
