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Resource Guide |
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A comprehensive directory of national, statewide & local
resources for cancer patients and their loved ones |
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer
at only 32, it was the furthest thing from my mind! Unbelievably, I didn’t even know anyone first
hand with cancer and no one in my family had experienced it either. Then suddenly people were coming out of the
woodwork with their experiences and advice - some good, some bad.
I was one of the many patients, family members and concerned friends that set out searching on
the internet for information upon hearing a cancer diagnosis. Sometimes what we find out there is disheartening,
outdated, or plain incorrect. How do we filter through all that in the middle of
dealing with the diagnosis itself? What
resources are available before, during and after treatment? What is out there to support families and
caregivers?
As a
coalition of
We will be
continually updating this guide, so visit the People Connected By Cancer links page at www.okpcbc.org for the most current version and more
weblinks.
We wish you
the best on your cancer journey, and hope this guide provides a little bit of
comfort as you connect with the resources and support available in our great
state of
Sandi Troup
Breast Cancer
Survivor & Support Group Chair
People
Connected By Cancer
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Table of
Contents |
Patient Advocacy and Financial Aid
Support Groups for all Cancers
Family & Caregiver Support Groups
Palliative Care and End of Life Resources & Support
Pediatric Cancer Support Groups
En Español - Resources in Spanish
En Español - Hispanic Support Groups
American Indian Cancer Resources
American Indian Cancer Support Groups
Colorectal Cancer Support Groups
Gynecological Cancer Resources
Gynecological Cancer Support Groups
Prostate and Testicular Cancer Resources
Prostate and Testicular Cancer Support Groups
Pancreatic Cancer Support Groups
Brain and CNS Cancer Resources
Brain and CNS Cancer Support Groups
Head & Neck Cancer Support Groups
Skin Cancer Resources & Support
Thyroid Cancer Resources & Support
Nutrition and Complementary Medicine Resources
Nutrition and Complementary Medicine Groups
Patient Advocate Foundation
http://www.patientadvocate.org
A national non-profit organization that seeks to
safeguard patients through effective mediation assuring access to care,
maintenance of employment and preservation of their financial stability.
Address: 700 Thimble
Phone: 1-800-532-5274
E-mail: help@patientadvocate.org
NCI: Financial Assistance and Other
Resources for People with Cancer
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Support/financial-resources
Comprehensive list of financial support available from
government and non-profit organizations.
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
http://www.canceradvocacy.org/resources
Addresses health insurance issues, employment rights
and financial help
Phone: 1-877-NCCS-YES
(1-800-622-7937)
CancerCare
Assist
http://www.cancercare.org/get_help/assistance/cc_financial.php
Limited grants for certain expenses related to
treatment.
Phone: 1-800-813-HOPE (4673)
Website address or e-mail
United Way
Information on local and national assistance available.
Phone: For most areas in
National Children’s Cancer
Society
http://nationalchildrenscancersociety.com/we_help/program.html
Provides direct financial assistance for
medical and non-medical expenses related to treatment for children with cancer,
including: bone marrow transplantation, cancer treatments, meals during
treatment, health insurance premiums, lodging, pharmaceuticals and
transportation.
Phone: 1-800-5-FAMILY
National Patient Travel
Center
www.PatientTravel.org
Based
on a patient’s needs and condition, the center provides referrals to free or
specially discounted medical air transport services.
Phone:
1-800-296-1217
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Patient
Advocacy and Financial Aid (Cont) |
Hill-Burton Free and
Reduced-Cost Health Care Program
http://www.hrsa.gov/osp
Information about how to access
facilities that provide free and reduced-cost services.
Phone: 1-800-638-0742
Partnership for Prescription Assistance
The Partnership for Prescription Assistance brings
together America’s pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other health care
providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help
qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need
through the public or private program that’s right for them.
Phone: 1-888-4PPA-NOW
(477-2669)
Rx Assist
RxAssist offers a
comprehensive database of these patient assistance programs run by
pharmaceutical companies to provide free medications to people who cannot
afford to buy their medicine. Also
provides practical tools, news, and articles so that health care professionals
and patients can find the information they need.
Address: Volunteers in Health
Care
Phone: 401-729-3284
Email: info@rxassist.org
National Cancer Institute
Cancer-specific information, cancer topics like support
and resources, clinical trials, etc.
Address: NCI Public Inquiries Office
Phone:
1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) Monday
through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
American Cancer Society
Links to cancer-specific information, treatment
decision tools, info for survivors and family
Phone: 1-800-ACS(227)-2345 (1-866-228-4327 for TTY)
24 hours a day
National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)
http://www.nccn.org/patients/default.asp
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is a
not-for-profit alliance of 21 of the world’s leading cancer centers dedicated
to improving the quality and effectiveness of care provided to patients with
cancer. Source for treatement guidelines, clinical trials, cancer resource
links.
Phone: 1-888-909-6226
American Society of Clinical Oncology – People Living
With Cancer
http://www.plwc.org/portal/site/PLWC
Comprehensive guides to 120+ types of cancer and
cancer-related symptoms, survivorship, clinical trials, diagnosis and
treatment, coping.
Address: American Society of
Clinical Oncology
Attn:
Communications and Patient Information Department
Phone: 703-519-2927 or
888-651-3038
CancerCare
A national nonprofit organization that provides free,
professional support services for anyone affected by cancer. Includes
education, counseling and assistance.
Address: CancerCare
National Office
275
Phone: 1-800-813-HOPE (4673)
Email: info@cancercare.org
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Resources for
all Cancers (Continued) |
LIVESTRONG – Lance Armstrong Foundation
Will help you understand what to expect, teach you what
questions to ask and give you one-on-one support along the way for survivors,
caregivers, family members or friends.
Source for LIVESTRONG
notebook and other resources.
Phone: 1-866-467-7205
Oncolink
http://www.oncolink.com/oncolife
Information on nutrition, side effects, fertility; develop
a comprehensive survivor care plan
Cancer Survivor Toolbox
http://www.cancersurvivaltoolbox.org
Cancer resources and links, plus an audio program
designed to help cancer survivors and caregivers develop practical skills
to deal with the diagnosis, treatment and challenges of cancer. (Access online, or call to order a free CD)
Address: National Coalition
for Cancer Survivorship
Phone: 1.877.TOOLS.4U (1-800-866-5648)
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship – Resource
Guide
http://www.canceradvocacy.org/resources/guide
A super
resource! Use drop down menus to search
for organizations and resources based on cancer type, cancer-related
information, and essential care.
CancerConsultants.com –
http://www.patient.cancerconsultants.com
Provides interested individuals, cancer patients, and
their families and caregivers with access to the most current information about
the prevention, screening, treatment, and overall management of cancer.
American Psychosocial Oncology Society – Helpline
http://www.apos-society.org/survivors/helpline/helpline.aspx
A toll-free Helpline through which cancer patients,
caregivers and advocacy organizations may obtain referrals for local counseling
services throughout the United States to
connect cancer patients and their caregivers to professionals skilled in the
management of cancer-related distress.
Phone: Toll Free 1-866-276-7443 (1-866-APOS-4-HELP)
E-mail:
sspencer@apos-society.org (Please
put “Helpline Inquiry” in subject line)
CancerQuest
This educational website teaches the biology of cancer.
It assumes no previous knowledge on the topic, but goes into a fair amount of
detail with 3-D graphics and audio. Site
also has a Spanish option.
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Resources for
all Cancers (Continued) |
Oncology Nursing Society - Cancer Symptoms.org
Information to learn about and manage symptoms that
patients undergoing treatment for a cancer diagnoses commonly experience:
anorexia, cognitive dysfunction, depression, dyspnea, fatigue, hormonal
disturbances, neutropenia, pain, peripheral neuropathy, and sexual dysfunction.
Cancer-Pain.org
This Association of Cancer Oncology Resources site
contains information about cancer pain, its causes and available treatments.
Cancer Hope Network
http://www.cancerhopenetwork.org
Free, confidential, one-on-one support to people with
cancer and their families; match patients with trained volunteers who have
themselves undergone a similar experience. Provides support and hope, to help
patients and families look beyond the diagnosis, cope with treatment, and start
living life to its fullest once again.
Address:
Phone: Toll Free
1-877-467-3638
Cancer and Careers.org
http://www.cancerandcareers.org
A great resource for working women with cancer. Also has educational seminar materials,
resources and tips for employers & coworkers, and suggestions on professional
appearance while going through chemotherapy.
Gilda’s Club
Cancer support for the whole family, the whole
time. Mission is to provide meeting
places where men, women and children living with cancer, along with their
families and friends, can join with others to build a personal network of
social and emotional support as an integral part of cancer treatment. Very extensive online resource section for
cancers.
Address: Gilda's Club Worldwide
/
Phone: 1-888-GILDA-4-U
Caring 4 Cancer
Comprehensive cancer information through the entire
journey, survivor stories, online message boards, support groups Also create a Caring Connections page to keep
an online journal and share with others.
Understanding Cancer
Answers to many questions about the nature, causes, diagnosis,
treatment, and prevention of cancer.
When: 2:00 p.m. each
Tuesday
Where: Cancer Treatment
Centers of
Information: (918) 286-5585
St. Francis Educating/Support Group
Support for St. Francis Hospital Radiation Oncology patients and family
members
When: 11:30 a.m. each Thursday
Where:
Information: Jolene
Sanditen (918) 494-1585
Recurrence (Second Diagnosis)
When: 6:00-7:30 pm,
First Monday each Month
Where: Y-ME office,
4606 E. St -- Building 7,
Information: Y-ME (918)
481-3482
Reach to Recovery
Volunteer Program one-on-one Call for more information
Information: American
Cancer Society (405) 782-1106
Radiation - What You Need to Know
What you need to know about radiation
When: 11:00 a.m. each
Wednesday
Where: Cancer Treatment
Centers of America - Conference Room A - 10109 E. 79th Street (81st Street
& Highway 169) Tulsa
Information: 1-918
286-5585
Look Good... Feel Better
Licensed volunteer cosmetologists demonstrate techniques for enhancing
appearance while undergoing cancer treatment with tips on wigs, turbans,
makeup, skin care, etc.
When: 6:30 p.m. - 1st
Tuesday each month except December
Where: Mary Kay Chapman
Health Plaza, 1819 E. 19th / Tulsa, OK
Information: American
Cancer Society, (918) 743-6767
Chemo Class
An informal class explaining the action of various chemotherapy drugs,
possible side effects, and symptom management. Learn what you can do to manage
and improve your experiences before, during, and after receiving chemotherapy,
and the action of various chemotherapy drugs; and possible side effects.
When: 2:00 p.m. each
Thursday
Where: Cancer Treatment
Centers of
Information: (918)
286-5585
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Support Groups
for all Cancers (Cont) |
Thursday’s Friends
Support
group for cancer survivors and their families.
When: Call for schedule.
Where: Midwest
Regional Medical Ctr /
Information: (405)
610-3627
Safe Haven Support Group
General
cancer support group.
When: Call for schedule.
Where:
Information: Kelley O’Neal (405) 231-3002
Cancer Support Group
When: 3rd Tuesday of month, 7:00 P.M.
Where: