The resources gathered below are provided in an effort to help you find answers to most common questions quickly. That said, every cancer journey is individual and we are not offering ANY TYPE of medical advice or guidance, nor is this list exhaustive. You should always consult with your own doctors and conduct your own research to find answers that work for you. If you’ve just been diagnosed (or someone you love has) our blog has some great starting points but so do the links below.
Find a Cancer Center
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is a program of the National Institutes of Health. There are 72 NCI Designated Cancer Centers of Excellence.
These are hospitals that have demonstrated high quality care when it comes to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. They have deep experience, offer cutting-edge treatments, and engage in research like clinical trials.
Preparing for Treatment
Traditional treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy. Visit links below for resources to help you learn more about these types of therapies and learn what you need to know to prepare to receive treatment.
Radiation Preparation
Immunotherapy Preparation
Managing Side-Effects
Though the side-effects of different treatments will vary, and the way treatment affects YOU individually as a patient will vary, there are some common side-effects and strategies for managing them that you can review to prepare yourself.
Nausea and Loss of Appetite
Fatigue
Neuropathy
Help with Logistics
Managing cancer can be like having another full-time job, especially when you add the logistics of getting to, completing, and returning from appointments, treatments, follow-up, and recovery.
Check with your doctors/hospital system to see what help they offer. Many can offer discounts on local hotels or shuttles to and from the hospital from nearby locations.
Travel Assistance
Hotel or Accommodation Assistance
Managing Appointment Schedule
Managing Home Life
Cancer doesn’t care that you have life responsibilities such as cleaning your home, keeping up outdoor areas like landscaping or pools, preparing and cleaning up after meals, taking care of vehicles, caring for pets, caring for children… the list goes on and on. Even if you have a partner like a spouse to help you with these things, BOTH of you will have more on your plates than you used to once cancer enters the picture. The following are resources you can tap to help you with these things.
Coming Soon…
Meals on Wheels
Financial Resources
Cancer is expensive. It can cost you time at work and even if you have strong insurance coverage, can add debt to your balance sheet for extras like travel, hotels, wigs, assistive devices, etc. Below we’ve provided links to resources that can help you with these questions and concerns.
Creating a personal financial statement can be very useful if you believe you’ll be applying for financial assistance such as a grant to help pay for wigs or medical bills not covered by your insurance.
Creating a Personal Financial Statement
The Rapunzel Project (help with cold-capping)
Hair to Stay (help with cold-capping)
Cancer and Employment
You may be wondering, will I be able to work if I have cancer? The reality is that many of us do have to work through cancer as best we can because (as I said above under “Financial Resources,”) cancer is expensive.
The following are resources for employees wondering what their rights, protections, and financial supports may be as they deal with cancer.
The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are FEDERAL. You will want to research your STATE to see if there are any additional protections or supports that go beyond these.
Emotional Support
A cancer diagnosis is typically a life-threatening event. Life-threatening events are a form of trauma. It is totally NORMAL to be shaken, to have your mental health affected, by a cancer diagnosis for you or someone you love.
Get a therapist
Get a couples counselor/therapist
Find free counseling
Join support groups
Meditation
Yoga and Healthy Movement
Check State & Locally
The landscape of resources from financial support to personal services (like rides or home cleaning) can be dizzying, but keep in mind that there are often STATE and LOCAL resources for cancer patients and their families.
They may be associated with specific interest groups—like “Lions Clubs of Sunnyvale”, or “Norma Jean’s Keeping You Clean”—so don’t forget to conduct internet searches that are very niche/focused.
There are often groups associated with SPECIFIC CANCERS as well. This would be something like “Lymphoma Survivors of Greater Tulsa.”
I am making these up, but they do exist all over the country and sometimes a local group like this will be easier to connect with and get help from—even if it’s just pointing you to someone else who can help you with your needs.