People with cancer and their families sometimes need assistance coping with the emotional and practical aspects of their disease. This fact sheet includes some of the national organizations that provide this type of support. This resource is not intended to be a comprehensive listing; for more listings, please visit the National Cancer Institute web site at: http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/8_1.htm.
The focus of this fact sheet is to provide information useful to individuals nationally. For that reason, it does not include the many local groups that offer valuable assistance to patients and their families in individual states or cities.
American Cancer Society (ACS)
1599 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30329-4251
tel: (404) 320-3333
toll free: (800) 227-2345
www.cancer.org
ACS is a voluntary organization that offers a variety of services to patients and their families. ACS also supports research, provides printed materials, and conducts educational programs. A local ACS unit may be listed in the white pages of the telephone directory under "American Cancer Society."
American Institute for
Cancer Research (AICR)
1759 R St. NW
Washington, DC 20009
tel: (202) 328-7744
toll free: (800) 843-8114
www.aicr.org
AICR provides information about cancer prevention, particularly through diet and nutrition, including a toll-free nutrition hotline and funding of research grants. AICR also offers the AICR CancerResource, an information and resource program for cancer patients.
Cancer Care, Inc.
275 Seventh Ave.
New York, NY 10001
tel: (212) 712-8080
toll free: (800) 813-4673
www.cancercare.org
Cancer Care is a national nonprofit agency that offers free support, information, financial assistance, and practical help to people with cancer and their loved ones. Services are provided by oncology social workers and are available in person, over the telephone, and through the agency’s web site. Cancer Care’s reach also extends to professionals—providing education, information, and assistance.
Cancer Hope Network
Two North Road
Chester, NJ 07930
toll free: (877) 467-3638
www.cancerhopenetwork.org
The Cancer Hope Network provides individual support to cancer patients and their families by matching them with trained volunteers who have undergone and recovered from a similar cancer experience. Matches are based on the type and stage of cancer, treatments used, side effects experienced, and other factors.
Candlelighters Childhood Cancer
Foundation (CCCF)
P. O. Box 498
Kensington, MD 20895-0498
tel: (301) 962-3520
toll free: (800) 366-2223
www.candlelighter.org
CCCF is a nonprofit organization that provides information, peer support, and advocacy through publications, an information clearinghouse, and a network of local support groups. A financial aid list is available that lists organizations to which eligible families may apply for assistance.
HOSPICELINK
Three Unity Square
P. O. Box 98
Machiasport, ME 04655-0098
tel: (207) 255-8800
toll free: (800) 331-1620
www.hospiceworld.org
HOSPICELINK offers information about hospice and palliative care and can refer cancer patients and their families to local hospice and palliative care programs.
Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF)
P. O. Box 161150
Austin, TX 78716-1150
tel: (512) 236-8820
www.laf.org
LAF, a nonprofit organization founded by cancer survivor and cyclist Lance Armstrong, provides resources and support services to people diagnosed with cancer and their families. LAF also provides scientific and research grants for the better understanding of cancer and cancer survivorship.
National Childhood Cancer Foundation (NCCF)
440 E. Huntington Drive
P. O. Box 60012
Arcadia, CA 91066-6012
tel: (626) 447-1674
toll free: (800) 458-6223
www.nccf.org
NCCF supports research conducted by a network of institutions, each of which has a team of doctors, scientists, and other specialists with the special skills required for the diagnosis, treatment, supportive care, and research on the cancers of infants, children, and young adults. Advocating for children with cancer and the centers that treat them also is a focus of the NCCF.
National Hospice and Palliative
Care Organization (NHPCO)
1700 Diagonal Road, Suite 625
Alexandria, VA 22314
tel: (703) 837-1500
toll free: (800) 658-8898
www.nhpco.org
NHPCO is an association of programs that provide hospice and palliative care. It is designed to increase awareness about hospice services and to champion the rights and issues of terminally ill patients and their family members. It offers discussion groups, publications, information about how to find a hospice, and information about the financial aspects of hospice.
National Patient Travel Center (NPTC)
4620 Haygood Road, Suite One
Virginia Beach, VA 23455
toll free: (800) 296-1217
www.patienttravel.org
NPTC provides the National Patient Travel Helpline, a telephone service that facilitates patient access to charitable medical air transportation resources in the United States, offers information about discounted airline ticket programs for patients and patient escorts, and operates Special-Lift and Child-Lift programs.
R.A. Bloch Cancer Foundation, Inc.
4400 Main St.
Kansas City, MO 64111
tel: (816) 932-8453
toll free: (800) 433-0464
www.blochcancer.org
The R.A. Bloch Cancer Foundation matches newly diagnosed cancer patients with trained, home-based volunteers who have been treated for the same type of cancer. They also distribute informational materials, including a multidisciplinary list of institutions that offer second opinions.
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250
Dallas, TX 75244
tel: (972) 855-1600
toll free: (800) 462-9273
www.breastcancerinfo.com
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation’s mission is to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening, and treatment. Breast health and breast cancer materials are available.
National organizations that offer services to people with cancer and their families. Altern Med Alert 2003;6(9 suppl):S1-S2.
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