Rebuilding Life After Breast Cancer: How Rebuild A-B Supports Survivors Beyond Treatment

Tell us about Rebuild A-B, how your organization started, and how you support women affected by breast cancer? 

Rebuild A‑B is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by women who have personally experienced breast cancer and felt called to give back in a meaningful way. Our board is made up entirely of survivors who understand firsthand that life after a diagnosis involves far more than medical treatment alone. We support women affected by cancer by providing scholarships for mental health and intimacy coaching, helping address the emotional and personal impacts that can often be overlooked during survivorship. Each scholarship, valued at up to $500, can be used for individual or group coaching with one of our trusted coaches. At Rebuild A‑B, our goal is to help women rebuild the whole person after cancer, because healing isn’t just about surviving, it’s about truly living.

What made you decide to start offering intimacy coaching? Why does a focus on intimacy after cancer matter?

As cancer survivors ourselves, we wanted to support women in the areas we found most challenging during our own survivorship. While medical treatment often marks the end of one chapter, it can also signal the beginning of emotional and personal struggles that receive far less attention. We initially focused on mental health support and soon recognized how deeply body image and intimacy can be affected after cancer. Physical changes such as scars, early menopause, and adjusting to a new sense of self can make reconnecting with one’s body feel especially difficult. Through intimacy coaching, we aim to give women a safe, supportive space to explore these changes, rebuild confidence, rediscover self‑love, and feel empowered as they continue their healing journey.

How does Rebuild-A-B complement the care that healthcare providers offer their patients?

We believe that when active cancer treatment ends, many women enter a new phase of survivorship where additional support can make a meaningful difference. Rebuild‑A‑B helps women explore resources that address the emotional, personal, and intimate challenges that often arise after treatment, especially during moments when they may feel most vulnerable. By working with our coaches, women are given a safe, supportive space to open up, reflect, and reconnect with themselves. We hope this process not only supports personal healing but also empowers women to bring greater openness and confidence into conversations with their healthcare providers. Feeling more comfortable speaking about their bodies and experiences can help spark important discussions—such as navigating early menopause or addressing pain and discomfort—so they can access the care and solutions they need to support a healthier, more fulfilling, intimate life.

How do you determine eligibility for your scholarships, and what is the application process like?

Scholarships are awarded at the end of each quarter. Each application is thoughtfully reviewed by our board and evaluated based on several criteria, including proximity to a cancer diagnosis, prior participation in similar programs, and financial need, allowing us to prioritize support for those who need it most. Any woman who has been impacted by cancer is welcome to apply, and the application process is simple and completed online. To help ensure recipients receive the full benefit of their scholarship, we ask that all funded sessions or programs be completed within six months.

What’s one thing you wish more healthcare professionals understood about life after cancer treatment?

From one cancer survivor to another, there is a powerful truth that the impacts of cancer extend far beyond the moment treatment ends. While ringing the bell can mark the close of one chapter, it often signals the beginning of a new and complex phase of survivorship. As treatments continue to improve and women live longer after cancer, many are also living longer with post‑treatment effects, particularly those tied to feeling safe in their bodies and learning to love themselves in a form that may feel unfamiliar.

We want to ensure that women have the added support they need not just to live, but to truly thrive after cancer. Healing is not only physical; it is emotional, personal, and deeply connected to how we see and trust our bodies again. We believe that both mental and physical health are essential to long‑term healing, and our mission is to help every woman reconnect with her strength, reclaim her confidence, and unleash her inner bad b*tch.