No man or woman should have to battle breast cancer alone.

To ease the times of worries, sleepless nights, and apprehension about the future, people turn to support groups and prayer for strength.

“I don’t see how anybody can get through it without prayer,” said Jan Parker, survivor of nine years. “Prayer is your friend. A lot of times you can’t even pray because you’re so scared. It’s hard to pray for yourself sometimes, and so it’s prayers of others that get you through it.”

Breast cancer survivors and those currently undergoing treatments can also find support from each other in one-on-one mentoring through Reach to Recovery, which matches a newly diagnosed patient with a survivor for personalized support.

“This woman guides the other woman through her cancer journey,” said Scarlet Thompson, Alabama communications and marketing director for the American Cancer Society.

Although hospitals in Montgomery and Birmingham have mentoring programs through the hospitals, neither the Montgomery Cancer Center nor Vaughan Regional Medical Center has programs in Selma at this time.

Parker would like this to change.

“What I think we need is a support group,” Parker said. “We need to start one.”

She has volunteered to serve as leader of the group and encourages any survivors or current breast cancer patients to contact her about creating the support system.

“I’m all for doing whatever it takes to make somebody feel like they have a chance,” Parker said. “You’re always scared it’s going to come back, especially if you’re two or three years out, but people see you’re a long-term survivor, I think it encourages people to think ‘I can make it.’”

To volunteer or find a mentor with Reach to Recovery, contact 1-800-227-2345.

If interested in starting a support group in Selma, contact Jan Parker at the Selma-Dallas County Library at 874-1732.