Design 21: Social Design Network

A.W.O.L. (A Way of Life...after diagnosis) is a program specifically designed for women who have or have had breast cancer. The central purpose of A.W.O.L. is to provide each woman with the support needed to cope with her illness and to improve the quality of her life, which includes an emphasis towards issues of body image that can sometimes be minimized by self, clinicians, family, and even people in the support system due to the life threatening factor of breast cancer. Dealing with these issues is essential to someone whose sense of self is highly based on how she looks on the outside.

As part of A.W.O.L., From Chrysalis to Wings conducts two yearly retreats to help breast cancer survivors tap into their grief and loss as a result of breast cancer diagnosis, the treatment, the loss of a breast and the altered body image. The retreats also give an opportunity to deal with guilt feelings, the anger and the "why me" question and provides an opportunity to express gratitude for their survival, and to remove the stigma of the disease. Retreats are held at a camp where a beautiful nature setting and a loving nurturing environment can be provided. In short, the 3-day (Thursday evening through Sunday morning) retreat is designed to help improve the quality of life and well-being of the survivors.

While all women suffer with anxiety about their breast cancer diagnosis and the invasive treatment, one quarter of women will also suffer from depression in the first or second year following a mastectomy. Some will work through the anxiety and depression, while others won't, and this may interfere with treatment and reduce a chance of full recovery.