LEWISTON – This year in Maine close to 1,000 women will hear the words, “You have breast cancer.”

For a woman facing breast cancer, talking the experience over with a breast cancer survivor who has gone through treatment not only helps answer questions, but also gives her a role model for recovery.

The American Cancer Society’s Reach to Recovery program offers the opportunity to Lewiston-area women by matching volunteer breast cancer survivors with women dealing with the disease today.

A training class for breast cancer survivors interested in becoming Reach to Recovery visitors and a recertification session for current volunteers will be held at Mr. Paperback’s Community Room at the Promenade Mall, Lisbon Street, from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23. A light dinner will be served.

Reach to Recovery helps breast cancer patients to meet emotional, physical and cosmetic needs. The program is meant to complement a woman’s relationship with her doctor by helping to point out questions she should ask her physician and providing additional nonmedical information.

Visitors also let women know about resources for breast cancer patients. For example, the American Cancer Society will also loan wigs and breast prostheses if a patient’s insurance does not cover the item.

To learn more about the Reach to Recovery program or to sign up for the visitor training, contact Debbie Seybold at the American Cancer Society at 373-3708 or 800-464-3102, press 3.