Survivors Offering Support (SOS) 

Survivors Offering Support (SOS) is a resourceful network of women who have battled breast cancer and are making a difference by offering their support and knowledge to newly-diagnosed patients. SOS is funded by the Maryland Affilate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and St. Joseph Medical Center.

The Breast Center at St. Joseph is proud to offer this valuable program under the leadership of Edla Coleman, a breast cancer survivor who knows the emotional impact that this diagnosis creates.

“We help women through the initial shock and then continue to provide them with vital support,” she explains. “There’s a big emotional gap with breast cancer. Your family tries to help, your friends try to help, but they don’t really know what to say.”

SOS mentors are expertly trained volunteers who not only know what to say, but will meet in person, help patients communicate with their physicians, provide computer resources, and are available by phone whenever needed. This psychosocial and emotional support is integrated into St. Joseph’s standard of care.

The program was founded by survivor Denise O’Neill, who was recognized with the 2007 Daily Record Healthcare Heroes Award for Community Outreach. 

“At first, the emotional response to abreast cancer diagnosis is total devastation,
but a little later you begin to understand there are gifts to this experience, and SOS is here to support women through the journey,” says Coleman.

To learn more about the program, become a volunteer mentor or be assigned a mentor contact: Edla Coleman, SOS Coordinator at 410-427-2513 or EdlaColeman@catholichealth.net.

SOS is supported by a grant from the Maryland affiliate of Susan G. Komen For the Cure.