Health
Peer‑led counselling brings hope to breast‑cancer patients across Russia’s Mari El region
In Mari El, a former patient turned peer counsellor is helping women navigate breast‑cancer treatment, while the Russian Red Cross provides logistics for outreach to remote villages.
American Impact Alliance News Desk2 minute read
From personal struggle to community guide
Tatyana Sizhuk was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 while caring for two young children. Over the next nine years she endured ten surgeries and 54 rounds of chemotherapy, relying on a psychologist to confront the emotional toll. After completing treatment, she chose to use her experience to support other patients, creating an online chat where women could discuss practical concerns such as wigs, prostheses, and daily fatigue. Her decision to become a peer counsellor was formalised through training that involved psychologists, lawyers and health professionals.
Building a regional peer network
The Russian Red Cross entered a partnership with Tatyana in late 2024, supplying vehicles, logistical planning and operational oversight for a structured counselling service. Mobile outreach teams travelled beyond the regional capital of Yoshkar‑Ola to reach remote villages, while three peer counsellors now rotate shifts at the regional oncology centre, offering on‑the‑spot listening and guidance. The Red Cross continues to coordinate referrals and link families to broader social and medical assistance, ensuring that the peer network operates within an integrated support system.
Sustaining support beyond the outreach phase
The peer initiative has expanded as two women who received Tatyana’s help completed the same certification and joined the counselling roster. Although the dedicated outreach cycle ended in December 2025, the programme persists through regular group meetings that provide a safe space for sharing advice and emotional encouragement. Ongoing Red Cross involvement keeps the referral pathways active, allowing families to access additional services while the peer counsellors maintain a presence in hospital corridors and community settings.