“With my diagnosis, I had the whole shebang – surgery, chemo, radiotherapy and hormone therapy,” Sarah says. “I was 38 at the time so I joined a Facebook forum for younger people with cancer. I didn’t necessarily participate, but I did read other people’s stories. That was helpful because it made me realise I wasn’t alone.”
During her treatment, Sarah did some fundraising – but she knew she wanted to do more.
“I didn’t have unlimited money to donate, but what I did have was time. When I saw this volunteer opportunity come up, I thought it’d be good to see how I could use that time to support others.”
Helping others feel less alone
As a Telephone Buddy, Sarah has supported six people so far.
“Some want to talk about their cancer, and some would rather talk about other things. Everyone I’ve spoken to has been at different stages on their journey. I first spoke to one lady within a couple of weeks of her being diagnosed, and I’ve spoken to other people who’ve already had surgery or treatment.”
Because Sarah has been through cancer herself, people often feel able to open up to her.
“I want them to feel comfortable asking the questions they can’t – or don’t have time – to ask their clinical team. Appointment times can be short, plus it’s easy to get side-tracked once you’re in there. I’ve been there myself.”
Emotional and practical support
As well as offering emotional support, Sarah also offers practical suggestions.
“I told a lady to get a little notebook to write down any questions that crop up between appointments – she found that super useful. Another lady was getting bombarded with messages from family and friends asking for updates. I suggested she set up a WhatsApp group to communicate news in one go. She did and said it was really helpful.”
Sarah finds that calls often become a safe space where people can let their guard down.
“I’ve had people get quite teary. I think they’ve been trying to hold it all together for spouses, children and family members. They don’t always feel like they can break down. It feels rewarding to provide that space for them.”
