We have a compelling and unending quest to reduce the incidence of breast cancer in our communities. We have promoted many initiatives since 2006 to help build awareness of the importance of breast health and mammograms.
Firmly etched within our service communities, we are known for our commitment to education, access to care, and its well-established powerful social support network the breast cancer support group, called The Journey.
The inception of The Journey was May 21, 2007, after patient requests to have a more focused group for women journeying through breast cancer, survivors, and co-survivors. The support group provides participants with breast related education, emotional support, and serves as a powerful source of healing. It is through the voices of patients/residents of the communities that the success stories of FRRH’s committed work are told.
Two books, Valley of Courage, and Valley of Hope, that are reflections by breast cancer survivors, their families, and friends. These books are available for purchase at Amazon.com
Valley of Courage, Reflections by Breast Cancer Survivors & their Families
Valley of Hope, Reflections by Breast Cancer Survivors & their Families and Friends
A member of the support group offered these words:
“I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Fish River Rural Health for giving us the gift of hope and providing us with a sense of belonging….as a group member I can tell you that your amazing work has inspired many. Thanks to the informational, therapeutic, and inspirational speakers along with group survivors and their families. A big thank you goes out to the kind and considerate facilitators who pulled this all together and worked tirelessly to make each meeting a success story in its own right. They meet needs of individual that otherwise would not have been met. This is a group of individuals who carry the torch of hope, when hope was lost for most survivors who were trying to find a place to fit. You have provided us with a much needed sense of home and belonging…sharing stories and journeys each unique unto itself. We are kept informed of cutting-edge technologies which are being explored, clinical trials and latest developments on the horizon, which adds to our sense of hope and survival. We as survivors have finally found a home and I wish to thank each and everyone involved for providing us with that safe haven of hope, which is so desperately needed during this difficult time. This group is truly a godsend especially in such a rural area as this and we owe it all to Fish River Rural Health for making all this possible. We are truly blessed!”
FRRH must stay vigilant and continue our outreach efforts to help reduce breast cancer mortality rates within our communities. Our healthcare providers continuously educate patients on the importance of timely breast cancer screening and work closely with patient’s that may be reluctant to seek preventive breast cancer screenings. The clinical team are addressing social determinants of health during a patient visit and making appropriate referrals to care management services, thus further linking patients to internal and external resources.
FRRH is also an active participant in the Maine CDC Breast and Cervical Health Program (MBCHP) and under a cooperative agreement, we are helping to identify, develop, and implement resources aimed at increasing screening rates for breast/cervical cancer in primary care clinics, especially FQHCs. This combined effort seeks to foster a collaborative approach between MBCHP and FRRH in the following ways:
(1) identifying the challenges and successes of implementing breast/cervical cancer screening Quality Improvement (QI) activities at a resource-constrained FQHC, and
(2) undertaking ways to increase breast/cervical cancer screening rates at each of FRRH’s three primary care clinics.
FRRH continues to shake it up, thus making a difference for the people we serve, one patient at a time.
For more information on the Maine Breast and Cervical Health Program, visit
Free Pap Tests & Mammograms – MBCHP – Division of Disease Prevention – Maine CDC: DHHS Maine