ABCD: Fundamental Beliefs

1. People affected by breast cancer – patients, family and friends – benefit from personalized, reliable informational and emotional support as a complement to appropriate medical care.
2. One-to-one support provided by people who have first-hand experience with similar breast cancer diagnosis, treatment history and similar life circumstances is a fundamental element of personalized support.
3. One-to-one support, which we call mentoring, is essential to building a life after diagnosis, leading to a more confident, empowered survivor.
4. The best mentors are well trained and professionally supported.
5. It is important to respect the individual choices of those who turn to us for support.
6. Confidentiality is critical to building trust.
7. Being responsive to the survivorship needs of mentors is a vital part of our work.
8. ABCD will take a leadership role in promoting the value of one-to-one support and establishing it as a standard element of care for all breast cancer patients.
9. ABCD is a credible resource for up-to-date information about breast cancer and a reliable conduit to other personalized support services.
10. Regardless of ethnic background, gender, religion or sexual orientation, everyone diagnosed with breast cancer, and their family and friends, has a right to ABCD’s help without cost.