One Day at a Time: Support Group Celebrates 18 Years of Hope and Healing

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a time to honor survivors, support those currently in treatment and raise awareness about the importance of early detection and emotional care. Emotional support and community play a vital role in survivorship, and one group in Battle Creek has been proving that for nearly two decades.

When Diane Olian was diagnosed with stage 2 invasive breast cancer in 2005, she had been working at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital for about a year. After months of treatment, including a lumpectomy, mastectomy and chemotherapy, Diane felt called to do more to support other breast cancer survivors. She recruited her sister’s help, received permission from Bronson and launched the “One Day at a Time” breast cancer survivors’ support group. She wanted to provide a safe space for women to share their experiences and find strength in one another. They have been meeting once a month since January 2008.

Several members have attended the support group since the very beginning. Together, they have weathered everything from the loss of group members to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A cancer diagnosis is life-changing,” Diane said. “Having support from family and friends is vital in the recovery process. It gives you hope.”

Members of the group agree. The personal connections and support make navigating survivorship easier. Julia Malfeld is a research nurse at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital who was diagnosed with both invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma. She met Diane at work.

“Diane invited me to the group and I’m thankful to be a part of it,” Julia said. Soon after she joined the group, Julia met a newly diagnosed woman who was scheduled for a double mastectomy. Because she didn’t know anyone who had been through the surgery, several women from the support group offered to show her what their mastectomy looked like. “She felt so much better once she knew what to expect,” Julia said. “That’s what we do. We share our stories, so no one has to feel afraid or alone.”

Carole Orr is a two-time survivor who has been with the group since it started. She recalls meeting a 42-year survivor who gave her hope. “The fear doesn’t ever go away,” Carole said. “Every test or lab will be concerning. But with good support, you can focus on something else and get through it.”

Kathy Fry is another original group member. She was diagnosed in 2005 with stage 1 breast cancer. The group supported her through years of pain from lymphedema and cellulitis, listening to her fears when she couldn’t share them with her family. “They listened, because we don’t tell our families that we’re scared,” Kathy said. “We tend to hide what we think is weakness. Who better to hear it than others who are hiding it, too?”

In addition to offering camaraderie and emotional support, the group brings in a guest speaker every other month. Members learn coping skills, share advice and participate in activities together. The result is a bond that only comes from a shared experience. “It’s a warm group,” Carole said. “It’s a safe place to laugh and a safe place to cry.”

Many group members keep returning because they want to support women who are newly diagnosed. Robin just finished treatment for stage 3 invasive lobular carcinoma. “If I can share anything that helps someone else, that’s why I’m here,” she said. “I want to learn from them so I can help others.”

Diane and her band of survivors are a testament to the healing that happens when women come together to support one another. “We’ve lost people and it’s like losing a family member,” she said. “But it helps to talk to someone who’s been through it.”

Her group is proof that community fosters healing. “The laughter always outlasts the tears,” Diane said. “We don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. But we know the strength of the hope we have in each other.”

To learn more about cancer support services at Bronson, visit bronsonhealth.com/cancer.