For Survivors, By Survivors
The YMCA of Middle Tennessee’s After Breast Cancer (ABC) Program was designed by survivors, for survivors, to provide education and healing for mind, body and spirit after a breast cancer diagnosis. During the free 16-week program, you’ll find a community of other survivors to help you through as you bridge that gap of “treatment’s over… now what?”
Together, along with a team of professionals, you’ll begin to define and discover your own unique “new normal” through supervised exercise, nutrition classes and discussion groups.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
What
- A 16-week program for breast cancer survivors to find a community of healing and hope
- Offered in a group setting of 8-10 people
- Learn about healthy eating, resume or begin a regular exercise program, and form a healing community in small group discussions
- In-person and virtual options available
Program Components
- Lymphedema Education with a certified lymphedema therapist
- Exercise with a Pink Ribbon Certified Trainer in a small group setting (12 weeks; two 1-hour workouts per week (24 total workouts))
- Nutrition Education with a Registered Dietitian
(4 weeks; one 1-hour sessions per week, delivered virtually. Individual consultations also available.) - Small Group led by survivors and ABC graduates who are trained to facilitate discussions that are designed to unlock emotional healing and discover each person’s unique “new normal”. Our curriculum, Journey to Wholeness, is written specifically for breast cancer survivors. (9 weeks; one 90-minute meeting per week)
Who
- Anyone who’s had a diagnosis of breast cancer, regardless of when that diagnosis was made.
- Must have completed all treatments and surgeries (medical clearance for physical activity is required)
- Ladies with metastatic breast cancer are welcome to participate
Cost
ABC is completely free of charge, and funded by grants, private donations and generous corporate and community sponsors.
Program Locations
- Bellevue
- Brentwood
- Clarksville
- Donelson
- Franklin
- Green Hills
- Margaret Maddox
- North Rutherford
- Robertson County
- Sumner County
- Virtual (via Zoom)
Interested in a future group or a location not listed above? Please fill out our inquiry form to join our contact list.
Participants must have completed all treatments for breast cancer, including chemotherapy, radiation and surgeries, and no longer have physical restrictions. Ladies with metastatic breast cancer are welcome to participate.
The YMCA of Middle Tennessee offers the Livestrong Program. This program is open to all cancer patients and survivors of any type of cancer, at any stage of their journey. Learn more about Livestrong. Once you’ve completed all treatment, you’ll be eligible to participate in ABC at that time.
Fill out our interest form or contact us here. You can also select the location you are interested in above to get in touch with the ABC Coordinator at that specific location. You will be contacted within one week of receiving your email and/or interest form.
We are currently in 10 of the 12 YMCAs in Middle Tennessee. The list of current locations can be found above. We also offer a virtual group every summer.
ABC focuses on the mind, body and spirit of survivors. To get the full impact of the program, we ask that participants commit to all components of the program. We ask that participants attend 75% of sessions.
No. Prior membership is not required. You will receive a complimentary 4-month membership as part of the program.
The goal of the ABC Program is to enable all participants to learn and continue healthy lifestyle habits, and to define and discover their own unique "new normal." ABC participants build life-long friendships, many continuing to get together for dinners, workout and alumni reunions. The YMCA joining fee is waived for ABC participants who want to join the Y after they finish the program, and our Open Doors policy provides financial assistance to those who qualify so that everyone can afford a membership. We also have other spirit-mind support groups that can offer ongoing support to participants on their journey after ABC ends.
Due to the limited space available in cohorts, we limit options to repeat the program. If you participated virtually and would like to participate in-person, you are more than welcome to do so. Also, if you’ve had a reoccurrence since you participated, you are welcome to participate again.