Complimentary & Alternative Medicine
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
A comprehensive site with useful information from the National Institute of Health (NIH) including herbs, A-Z topics, definitions of complementary, alternative and integrative, and how to find a practitioner.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Integrative Medicine
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York offers a comprehensive site on integrative medicine, including information on therapies, herbs and botanicals and integrative research.
Male Breast Cancer
Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Research – Male Breast Cancer
www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/types/male_bc/
www.medicinenet.com/male_breast_cancer/article.htm
http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/BreastCancerinMen/DetailedGuide/index
Online Support Forum – Male Breast Cancer
Legal Resources
www.cancerlegalresourcecenter.org / 866-843-2572 / M-F 9am-5pm PST
Joint program of the Disability Rights Legal Center and Loyola Law School in California. Provides free and confidential information and resources through telephone counseling on cancer-related legal issues such as insurance coverage, employment issues, and potential legal problems.
www.patientadvocate.org / 800-532-5274
Patient Advocate Foundation is a non profit founded in 1996 to solve insurance and
health access issues. They offer legal counseling to patients dealing with managed
care, insurance, financial issues, job discrimination, and debt.
www.cancerandcareers.org
Cancer and Careers is a program of the CEW Foundation, the charitable arm of
Cosmetic Executive Women, Inc., a New York-based non-profit trade organization of
4,000 executives in the beauty, cosmetics, fragrance, and related industries. They
offer legal and insurance information and lists of resources to deal with job related
issues including disability. Click on Legal and Insurance Issues.
www.cancerlinc.org / 877-644-5462
Legal Information for Cancer is a non-profit community-based organization, serving the Greater Richmond, Virginia community. They provide education, information, counseling and referral services for legal assistance to individuals with a cancer diagnosis.
If no other resources are available, they assist financially with costs relat
Housing for Medical Appointments & Treatments
American Cancer Society Hope Lodge / 800-227-2345
www.cancer.org/docroot/subsite/hopelodge/index.asp
The site provides info on free temporary housing when in treatment in another city, for patients and their caregivers. Includes which cities have a Hope Lodge. Eligibility requirements vary by location.
Hospitality Homes / 888-595-4678
www.hosp.org
This organization provides info on free, no-cost, short-term housing in private homes of host volunteers for families and friends of patients when they travel to the Boston area for patient care. Temporary housing for the patient is determined on a case-by-case basis.
Joe’s House / 877-563-7468
www.joeshouse.org/
This online service helps patients and their families find lodging options near treatment centers. They partner with hotels that offer discounted rates to patients when they travel for treatment. (Note:If you call, the phone is answered by Cancer Support Community, which allows Joe’s House to use their phone number and refers callers as needed.)
Nat. Assoc. of Hospital Hospitality Houses / 800-542-9730
www.nahhh.org
This site includes nearly 200 organizations across the country that provide lodging and support services to patients and their families while receiving medical treatment away from their home communities. The cost of accommodations at member facilities varies from free to reduce
Free Local Transportation
www.cancer.org / 800-227-2345
Road To Recovery is a program sponsored by the American Cancer Society to provide transportation for cancer patients to and from treatment, according to the needs and available resources in each community. Volunteer drivers donat
Free Air Transportation
www.corpangelnetwork.org / 866-328-1313
Charitable organization whose mission is to ease the emotional stress, physical discomfort, and financial burden of travel for cancer patients by arranging free flights to treatment centers, using empty seats on corporate aircraft. You must be able to walk unassisted. Financial need is not a requirement. Call or email at least 3 weeks in advance.
www.lifelinepilots.org / 800-822-7972 7:30am – 4:30pm CST
Midwest non-profit group that flies financially needy patients to medical centers. Patients must be able to walk unassisted and require no medical assistance in flight; must be financially needy; able to fly in small 4-6 passenger plane. You need to provide your own transportation to the airport.
www.patienttravel.org / 800-296-1217 (contact available after hours)
Free referral service to facilitate patient access to appropriate charitable medical air transportation as well as long distance ground transportation resources in the U.S.
www.aircharitynetwork.org / 877-621-7177
Network of angel flights organizations that provide free air transportation for financially needy patients. Patients must be able to walk unassisted and require no medical assistance in flight; must be financially needy; able to fly in small 4-6 passenger plane; provide your own transportation to the airport. This network includeswww.angelflight.com .
Free Publications
When you go to the website of each organization, you can call the phone number or click on the CONTACT US button to request a brochure.
MBCN / 888-500-0370/ Metastatic Breast Cancer Diagnosis Brochure
Cure / 214-367-3306 / magazine for cancer patients; includes all cancers
Willow (in Canada) / 888-778-3100 / Living With Metatatic Breast Cancer (brochure)
LBBC /888-753-5222/Understanding Treatment Options for Advanced Breast Cancer (brochure)
The Wellness Community – Frankly Speaking About Advanced Breast Cancer (brochure & DVD)
Young Survival Coalition / 877-YSC-1011/ The Beautiful 8 (DVD)
Cancer Care /800-813-HOPE/brochures: Treating Recurrent Metastatic Breast Cancer;
Update on Metastatic Breast Cancer ; A Helping Hand – Financial Resources
Breast Cancer Org – Understanding Metastatic Breast Cancer (brochure)
Patient Resources: 816-333-3595 x26 Cancer Guide – Metastatic Breast Cancer(brochure)
email: prp@patientresource.net
Retreats
Breast Cancer Options www.breastcanceroptions.org
ph: 845/339-HOPE (4673)
cell: 845/389-2216
Contact: Hope Nemiroff
Metastatic Breast Cancer Retreat: Breast Cancer Options began this free retreat because there are few resources and services for women with advanced breast cancer. Participants are in a welcoming supportive environment where they find understanding and support. The retreat offers an opportunity to look at the issues surrounding their breast cancer, gather information, and move beyond an intellectual understanding of the disease. It is usually offered in the Fall.
Breast Cancer Recovery www.bcrecovery.org
call (888) 821-1140 or email Breast Cancer Recovery today at info@bcrecovery.org .
The Infinite Boundaries metastatic breast cancer retreats are held at Sundara Inn and Spa in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. Participants enjoy guided discussions about issues specific to women with metastatic breast cancer, including dealing with difficult feelings, communicating with friends and family and living with advanced breast cancer. Women learn practices to decrease stress and explore new creative outlets. Retreaats usually offered in May, September and November. See 2015 schedule
To make your life easier
Free Cleaning Service
www.cleaningforareason.org
Yes… they really will clean your house for free – once a month for 4 months! You must submit proof of medical diagnosis.
Making Memories
www.jajf.org
The Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation helps you create travel memories for families with children. Patients must be referred by their oncologist.
Personalized Web Page
www.caringbridge.org / 651-789-2300
Free internet service with a personalized web page for you to post your info and provide updates for friends without having to make phone calls or send individual emails. It is available 24/7.
www.lotsahelpinghands.com/ Contact us at info@lotsahelpinghands.com
Free, private, web-based communities for organizing friends, family, and colleagues – your ‘circles of community’ – during times of need. Easily coordinate activities and manage volunteers with our intuitive group calendar. Answers the question: What can I do to help?
For Caregivers
Offers professional counseling (in person or over the telephone), support groups, educational programs (past programs can be heard on their website) and practical help. Call (800) 813-HOPE to learn more or order their pamphlet “Caregiving for your Loved One with Cancer”.
Caring Bridge Personalized Web Page
Free internet service with a personalized web page for you to post your info and provide updates for friends without having to make phone calls or send individual emails. It is available 24/7.
For Customer support, M-F 8-5pm CST. 651-789-2300
Lotsa Helping Hands – Aid for all who ask How Can I Help?
Free, private, web-based communities for organizing friends, family, and colleagues – your ‘circles of community’ – during times of need. Easily coordinate activities and manage volunteers with an intuitive group calendar. Answers the question: What can I do to help? Contact: info@lotsahelpinghands.com
Health Central – caregiver section
For husbands and partners, information on coping and emotional support including an article on what to do in the first 48 hours after learning the diagnosis.
http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-husbands.html
Cancer and Careers – caregiver section
Helpful articles on caregiver challenges and financial and legal planning.
Guide for Teens: When your parent has cancer (from National Cancer Institute)
A Story for Kids About Metastatic Cancer: New Picture Book Tackles a Tough Topic
Blog review of children’s book The Cancer That Wouldn’t Go Away by Hadassa Field
Family Medical Leave Act
The FMLA entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons with continuation of group health insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions as if the employee had not taken leave.
http://www.dol.gov/whd/fmla/#.UPjLemetyGC
