Garrigan heading local breast cancer program

Connie Garrigan of Emporium is Cameron County's coordinator of the American Cancer Society's (ACS) "Reach To Recovery" program, helping patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer cope with their diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

She recently underwent training to assist her in the ACS survivor-to-patient outreach.

Reach To Recovery volunteers are breast cancer survivors that have fully adjusted to their surgery.

"They are warm, sympathetic individuals who offer unbiased information and emotional support," said the ACS's Laura Cope.

The program is confidential and free of charge to breast cancer patients and their families. No medical comparisons or advice are given. However, the volunteer visitor has the knowledge to refer the patient to health care professionals.

ACS estimates that in Pennsylvania 10,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed and 2,500 will die of the disease this year. For more information, call 1-800-ACS-2345.