Resources
Non-Profit Network Systems for African American Women With Breast Cancer
Sister to Sister African American Outreach
Sister to Sister offers safe and welcoming support to African American/Black women. We offer a support group that meets every other week, cancer education workshops, wellness programs, and community
outreach.wcrc@wcrc.org ✦ 510.601.4040
2908 Ellsworth St, Berkeley, CA 94705
Circle of Promise
What is Circle of Promise?
The Komen San Francisco Bay Area Affiliate, together with the six other affiliates in California, is working to address breast cancer disparities at both the system and individual levels. Our state-wide initiative will enable Komen to coordinate and deliver partnerships and resources that assist African American women most in need.
The initiative will provide:
• Community Organization: Building partnerships and leveraging strategic relationships to address barriers by pooling resources, sharing best practices, reducing redundancies in services, and uniting partners around the project’s goals and objectives.
• Direct Education: Komen-supported community educators will provide direct outreach and aid women in scheduling a mammogram appointment. These educators will also provide continuous follow-up
Non-Profit Network Systems for African American Women With Breast Cancer
to support women through the process and increase the rate of completed mammograms.
• Screening and Navigation Services: Komen’s community organizing practices will help to identify available services, ensure that services meet the standard 60 day quality care benchmarks and provide supplementary grants to fill any gaps in screening. Additionally, each Affiliate will utilize a grant-funded patient navigator to coordinate follow-up.
Achieving the Bold Goal: Closing the Gap in Breast Cancer Disparities in the East Bay
Susan G. Komen San Francisco
1469 Pacific Avenue San Francisco, CA, 94109
P: 415-397-8812 / info@komensf.org
Office Hours Monday – Friday 9 AM –
THE DENISE ROBERTS BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION The Angela Pittman Life Saver Outreach Program is an outreach program that strives to educate teenagers and young adults about breast health and recruit members of The Denise Roberts Breast Cancer Foundation’s (TDRBCF) mission. This advocacy/ recruitment program focuses its outreach on students, ranging
Non-Profit Network Systems for African American Women With Breast Cancer
from high school to college. TDRBCF trains the Life Savers to be breast health advocates who encourage all people to be aware of their health, regardless of age.
info@tdrbcf.org/1.888.833.6473/ P.O. Box 83163/ Los Angeles, CA 9008
Sisters Network
sistersnetworkinc.org
A NATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN BREAST CANCER SURVIVORSHIP ORGANIZATION ®Inc National Headquarters
Sisters Network Inc / National Headquarters /
9668 Westheimer Rd., Ste. 200-132 / Houston, TX 77063 713.781.0255
866.781.1808
The AABCA is dedicated to providing hope, awareness, education, emotional and social support to breast cancer survivors, their family members and the community.
Address: P.O. Box 8981. Minneapolis, MN 55408
Phone: (612) 462-6813
E-mail: info@aabcainc.org
Non-Profit Network Systems for African American Women With Breast Cancer
Since 1983, we have been the only national organization dedicated solely to improving the health and wellness of our nation’s 21 million Black women and girls – physically, emotionally and financially.
55 M Street SE, Suite 940
Washington, DC 20003
202.787.5931 | info@bwhi.org
A sister by Choice (SBC) was founded in 1989 by Dr. Rogsbert F. Phillips-Reed, a prominent Atlanta-based breast surgeon. SBC provides breast exams, mammograms and other breast services including to unemployed and homeless women each year as well as providing free educational seminars, workshops, and health fairs to promote breast cancer awareness.
5910 Hillandale Drive, Suite 104 Lithonia, GA 30058
Phone: 770-987-2951 Fax: 678-418-3995
Non-Profit Network Systems for African American Women With Breast Cancer
This organization’s main mission is to provide resources to those undergoing treatment. Patients who meet income requirements or are uninsured are eligible to receive free mammograms. These group has a wig bank, provides prostheses and hosts support groups
lbbc.org
40 Monument Road, Suite 104
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Phone: (855) 807-638
Founded in 1944, CancerCare is the leading national organization providing free, professional support services and information to help people manage the emotional, practical and financial challenges of cancer.
800-813-HOPE 275 Seventh Avenue New York, NY 10001 (4673) info@cancercare.org
Non-Profit Network Systems for African American Women With Breast Cancer
COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER
FOR LIFE, FOR LOVE, FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES.
Project Angel Food was created by a group of compassionate volunteers who were concerned about our most fragile community members suffering in silence from malnutrition and the many other ravages of HIV/AIDS. We expanded our service to any person battling critical illness.
angelfood.org
323.845.1800
922 Vine St.
Los Angeles, CA 90038
spiritofchange.org
The original and only authentic “headcovers,” we pioneered the first line of fashionable hats and wigs for chemo patients over 23 years ago. Founded by Carol Galland, a breast cancer survivor and her daughter, Danielle, we are recognized as the industry's worldwide leader. We were the first online store dedicated to head covering options during cancer treatments; our original designs set the standard. Our mission is to provide comfort through our compassionate service, enlighten you with information and empower you to feel like yourself, even with hair loss.
Toll Free (USA & Canada):
1-800-264-4287 (HATS)
281-334-4287 (HATS)
214 S. Iowa Ave.
League City, TX 77573
Additional Cancer Resources and Information
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
(866) 423-3965 Membership Required
aacrfoundation.org (Foundation Website)
AACR is the oldest and largest scientific organization in the world focused on every aspect of cancer research. Programs and services foster the exchange of knowledge and new ideas among scientists dedicated to cancer research, provide training opportunities for the next generation of cancer researchers, and increase public understanding of cancer.
American Cancer Society (ACS)
(800) ACS-2345
ACS maintains a website with access to information about all types of cancer, news stories, research information, statistics, alternative approaches, and tips for living with cancer. A nice feature of this site is the section on how to tell children about a parent’s cancer diagnosis.
Breastcancer.org
Breastcancer.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the most reliable, complete, and up-to-date information about breast cancer. Their mission is to help women and their loved ones make sense of the complex medical and personal information about breast health and breast cancer, so they can make the best decisions for their lives.
Bringing Hope Home
(484) 580-8395
Bringing Hope Home is a non-profit organization that provides unexpected amazingness to local families with cancer through financial and emotional support. Through our Light of Hope Family Grant Program, we offer a one-time grant to pay essential household bills for families with cancer in the Greater Philadelphia Area.
Cancer and Careers
(646) 929-8032
Cancer and Careers is a program of the CEW Foundation, the charitable arm of Cosmetic Executive Women, Inc., a New York-based nonprofit organization of executives in the beauty, cosmetics, fragrance and related industries. Cancer and Careers’ mission is to empower and educate people with cancer to thrive in their workplace by providing expert advice, interactive tools and educational events.
Cancer Connect
You are not alone—The CancerConnect Online Community is a fully moderated, peer-to-peer support group for cancer patients and caregivers. CancerConnect offers patients and caregivers a thriving community to learn, share information, and support each other.
Cancer Support Community (CSC)
(888) 793-9355
In July 2009, The Wellness Community and Gilda’s Club joined forces to become the Cancer Support Community. Backed by evidence that the best cancer care includes emotional and social support, the Cancer Support Community offers these services to all people affected by cancer. The organization delivers a comprehensive menu of personalized and essential services including support groups, counseling, education and healthy lifestyle programs. It offers a network of community-based centers and online services run by trained and licensed professionals.
CaringBridge
(651) 452-7940
CaringBridge is a 501(c)(3) non-profit web service that connects family and friends during a critical illness, treatment or recovery. CaringBridge’s website is personal, private and available 24/7. It helps ease the burden of keeping family and friends informed. Patients and caregivers draw strength from loved ones’ messages of support.
Charlotte Maxwell Clinic (one of BLACC- Stanford OCE collaborators) *new 2023
(510) 601-7660
The Charlotte Maxwell Clinic is a free women’s clinic that specializes in offering life-enhancing complementary therapies for low-income, underserved, and immigrant San Francisco Bay Area women with cancer. Located in Oakland, California, our services are provided by a dedicated pool of volunteers who are licensed and certified practitioners of holistic modalities.
LympheDIVAs
(866) 411-DIVA
LympheDIVAs create medically correct compression apparel for women with post-breast cancer lymphedema. The founders want to inspire women cancer survivors to feel beautiful, strong and confident.
HealthWell Foundation
(800) 675-8416
A nationally recognized, independent non-profit organization founded in 2003, the HealthWell Foundation serves as a safety net for underinsured patients by providing access to life-changing medical treatments they otherwise would not be able to afford.
HealthWell provides financial assistance to adults and children facing medical hardship resulting from gaps in their insurance that cause out-of-pocket medical expenses to escalate rapidly. HealthWell assists with the treatment-related cost-sharing obligations of these patients.
Lolly’s Locks
(240) 428-1985
Founded in 2012 in Bethesda, MD, Lolly’s Locks is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing high-quality wigs to cancer patients suffering hair loss as a side-effect of chemotherapy.
Look Good...Feel Better
(800) 395-LOOK
Look Good…Feel Better is a non-medical, national public service program to help women offset appearance-related changes from cancer treatment. It offers a free program that helps improve self-image, appearance and quality-of-life in people undergoing cancer treatment.
Male Breast Cancer Coalition
Since 2014, the Male Breast Cancer Coalition has provided an online space for men with breast cancer to share their stories and read the stories of others. The site includes a list of resources about male breast cancer. MBCC's mission is to ensure no man feels alone when he hears the words "You have breast cancer."
Metastatic Breast Cancer Network
(888) 500-0370
MBCN is a national, independent, non-profit, all volunteer, patient-led advocacy organization dedicated to the unique concerns of the women and men living with metastatic breast cancer, also known as Stage IV or advanced breast cancer.
My Hope Chest
(727) 642-4243
My Hope Chest provides funding for uninsured women who desire reconstruction to have it. Its goal is to enable these women to return to a normal life with feelings of hope, self-worth and completeness.
MyLifeLine.org
MyLifeLine.org is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that encourages cancer patients and caregivers to create free personalized websites. Our mission is to empower patients to build an online support community of family and friends to foster connection, inspiration, and healing.
OncoLink
(215) 349-8895
The University of Pennsylvania's Cancer Center runs OncoLink, a database that provides comprehensive information about specific types of cancer, updates on cancer treatments and news about research advances.
Patient Access Network Foundation (PAN)
(866) 316-PANF
An independent, non-profit group, the Patient Access Network Foundation is dedicated to assisting those who cannot afford the out-of-pocket costs associated with treatment needs. Throughout all 50 states and three U.S. territories, it provides trained case managers that patients or their advocates may speak with about their care.
The Pink Fund
(877) 234-PINK
The mission of The Pink Fund is to provide short-term financial aid to breast cancer patients in active treatment. The Pink Fund will make a direct bill payment for the maintenance of health insurance premiums and non-medical bills such as, a house or rent payment, a car or vehicle lease payment, utility payments, car insurance payments, and/or license plate tabs.
SHARE
(212) 719-0364
SHARE's mission is to create and sustain a supportive network and community of women affected by breast and ovarian cancers. SHARE brings these women and their families and friends together with others who have experienced breast or ovarian cancer, and provides participants with the opportunity to receive and exchange information, support, strength and hope. Services include hotlines in English and Spanish, with capacity in 12 other languages; support groups; wellness programs; educational meetings; and advocacy activities.
Sharsheret
(866) 474-2774
Sharsheret provides culturally sensitive support to young Jewish women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer as well as to those facing the risk of developing breast cancer, and offers related resources for Jewish communities and healthcare organizations.
Sisters Network
(866) 781-1808
Sisters Network Inc. is committed to increasing local and national attention to the devastating impact that breast cancer has in the African American community.
Susan G. Komen
(877) GO-KOMEN
The mission of the Komen Foundation is to eradicate breast cancer through research, education, screening and treatment.
Triage Cancer
(424) 258-4NAV
Triage Cancer is dedicated to helping survivors, caregivers, and health care professionals navigate cancer survivorship issues by connecting them to experts, information, and resources. Triage Cancer provides both in-person and online services. They provide speakers on a wide variety of cancer survivorship topics for educational events through their Speakers Bureau. They also deliver turnkey conferences and other educational events for hospitals, cancer centers, community clinics, professional associations, cancer advocacy organizations, and other groups.
Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation
(877) 880-TNBC
This organization seeks to ignite interest in the study of triple-negative (ER-/PR-/HER2-) breast cancer among researchers, physicians, educators and scientists; support professionals seeking to identify the
Non-Profit Network Systems for African American Women With Breast Cancer
causes and discover new and effective treatment options; and increase public awareness and support of this subtype of breast cancer.
Young Survival Coalition (YSC)
(877) YSC-1011
Young Survival Coalition is an international, nonprofit network of breast cancer survivors and supporters dedicated to the concerns and issues that are unique to young women and breast cancer.
Health care assistance
Medical care and other medical items
Komen Treatment Assistance Program
Offers financial assistance for some medical equipment and lymphedema supplies.
1-877 GO KOMEN (1-877-465-6636)
The Pink Fund
Offers financial assistance for health insurance premiums. www.pinkfund.org/get-help/
Sisters Network Inc.
Offers financial assistance for breast prosthesis, medical bras and compression arm sleeves.
www.sistersnetworkinc.org/programs.html
Social Security Administration
Find your local social security office.
Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act (U.S. Department of Labor) Find information on federal laws requiring insurance coverage of breast reconstruction after mastectomy.
www.dol.gov/ebsa/publications/whcra.html
Prescription drug assistance
CancerCare – Co-payment Assistance Foundation
Offers health insurance co-payment assistance for chemotherapy and targeted therapy drugs.
866-55-COPAY (866-552-6729)
Komen Treatment Assistance Program
Offers financial assistance for some medications, medical equipment and lymphedema supplies.
1-877 GO KOMEN (1-877-465-6636)
Medicare
Find information on Medicare prescription drug plans for people 65 and older.
NeedyMeds.com
Offers information on drug company assistance programs. www.needymeds.org/pap
Patient Advocate Foundation
Find an online directory of drug company assistance programs. www.patientadvocate.org/
Patient Advocate Foundation – Co-Pay Relief Program Offers financial assistance for prescription drug co-payments. 866-512-3861
Partnership for Prescription Assistance
Offers low-cost and free prescription drug programs for people with limited income.
888-4PPA-NOW (888-477-2669)
Rx Hope
Find an online directory of prescription drug assistance programs. www.rxhope.com/
Strings for a Cure
Offers financial assistance for prescription drugs co-payments. www.stringsforacure.org/SFAC-Programs/
Genetic testing
Cancer Resource Foundation
Offers financial assistance for genetic testing.
www.cancer1source.org/genetic-testing-programs
Myriad Financial Assistance Program
Offers financial assistance for genetic testing.
www.myriad.com/myriad-cares-2/financial-assistance-program/
Transportation assistance
American Cancer Society – Road to Recovery
Offers local transportation to and from cancer treatments. 800-ACS-2345 (800-227-2345)
CancerCare – AVONCares
Offers financial assistance for transportation to and from cancer treatments.
800-813-HOPE (800-813-4673)
www.cancercare.org/financial/information
The Catherine H. Tuck Foundation
Offers financial assistance for transportation to and from cancer treatments.
Komen Treatment Assistance Program
Offers financial assistance for transportation to and from cancer treatments.
1-877 GO KOMEN (1-877-465-6636)
Long-distance transportation
Air Charity Network
Offers air travel to treatment centers for cancer patients and their caregivers.
877-621-7177
Corporate Angel Network
Uses empty seats on corporate planes to help cancer patients reach treatment centers. (Travel for caregivers is not covered.) 866-328-1313
Lifeline Pilots
Offers air travel to treatment centers for cancer patients and their caregivers.
800-822-7972
Mercy Medical Airlift
Offers air travel to treatment centers for cancer patients and their caregivers.
800-296-1217
National Patient Travel Center
Offers free or discounted air travel to treatment centers for cancer patients and their caregivers.
800-296-1217
Lodging assistance
American Cancer Society – Hope Lodge and hotel lodging Offers lodging for families during cancer treatment. 800-ACS-2345 (800-227-2345)
www.cancer.org/treatment/support-programs-and-services/patient-lodging.html
Joe's House
Find an online directory of free and discounted lodging for cancer patients and their families.
www.joeshouse.org/Lodging.aspx
Child care and elder care assistance
CancerCare – AVONCares Program
Offers financial assistance for child care during treatment. 800-813-HOPE (800-813-4673)
www.cancercare.org/financial/information
Komen Treatment Assistance Program
Offers financial assistance for child care and elder care during treatment.
1-877 GO KOMEN (1-877-465-6636)
Financial Issues - Personal expenses
The Catherine H. Tuck Foundation
Offers financial assistance for personal expenses including rent, utilities and food.
The Pink Fund
Offers financial assistance for personal expenses including mortgage or rent, utilities and car payments.
Strings for a Cure
Offers financial assistance for personal expenses including mortgage or rent, utilities, food and car payments.
www.stringsforacure.org/SFAC-Programs/
Clinical trial costs
National Cancer Institute - Insurance Coverage and Clinical Trials Find information on insurance coverage of clinical trial costs. www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/clinical-trials/paying/insurance
Low-cost and free mammograms
Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance companies cover the cost of mammograms.
Since September 2010, the Affordable Care Act has required all new health insurance plans to cover yearly mammograms with no co-payment (co-insurance) for women ages 40 and older.
In many parts of the U.S., low-cost or free mammograms are also offered through national programs and community organizations.
Komen Affiliates fund breast cancer education and screening projects in their communities for those who need it most. Find an Affiliate in your area to learn what resources are available.
Call the Komen Breast Care Helpline at 1-877 GO KOMEN (1-877-465-6636) Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET and from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. PT to help find low-cost options in your area.
Each October, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, many imaging centers offer mammograms at reduced rates. To find a certified mammography center in your area, visit the FDA website (www.fda.gov).
National Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program Provides access to breast cancer screening to low-income, uninsured and underinsured women.
Planned Parenthood
Offers clinical breast exams and referrals for mammography (and any follow-up testing, such as breast ultrasound).
Information below comes from WebMD
Metastatic Cancer: How to Tell if Treatment is Working
Breast Cancer: Answers to Your Questions
How do you tell the kids? How can you stay calm? There are some questions your doctor can't answer. Here are insights from people who understand – other women with breast cancer.
By Jayne Garrison
This article is from the WebMD Feature Archive (WebMD archives content after 2 years to ensure our readers can easily find the most timely content.)
Am I going to make it?
We all ask this question, even if only in our minds. The difficult truth, of course, is that no one can give you a guarantee -- not your surgeon, not your oncologist. But you have far better odds than you may think. Most women with breast cancer in the U.S. survive more than five years, the yardstick used by most doctors.
Our suggestion?
Do a lot of research! Go on the Internet or to the local library. Take notes! You'll feel more in control if you're informed. And it'll help you ask the right questions to get the answers you need from your doctors. Some doctors may not offer to show you your pathology report showing the type of cancer you have and possibly information on how far it has spread. Ask for it! Some doctors may not offer you all the treatment choices. Others may lay out every possible choice, then say the decision is up to you. Either way, you'll feel more confident if you've done your own research.
Also, talk to other survivors. Go on the Internet and visit message boards for breast cancer survivors. Just post the question: Anyone out there who was diagnosed 10 or even 20 years ago? You'll be amazed by all the women who answer you. They can offer you the hope and courage you need now.
How am I going to look after treatment? The answer depends on what you do.
If you have a mastectomy that is covered by your health insurance, your insurance is required to cover full reconstructive surgery as well. You can even have the plastic surgeon waiting to walk into the operating room the moment your breast surgeon walks out. But you'll have to ask for this; don't expect your doctor or insurer to suggest it! Plastic surgeons can rebuild real looking breasts with implants or with tissue from your own body (like fat and muscle). They can even rebuild the nipple.
If you have a lumpectomy, you may have a small dimple in your breast -- or a large divot -- it all depends on how much tissue the surgeon removes.
Many women choose no reconstruction. Yes, you'll have a flat chest, but for some women that's no big deal.
There's no right choice here. The important thing is that you do what feels right for you. You can have some good-looking breasts reconstructed. Or you can fit a pad into your bra whenever you feel like it.
Losing your hair may bother you nearly as much as losing your breast! There's just something about seeing clumps of hair falling onto your shoulder that makes it seem like you're really sick. You can also expect to lose eyelashes and brows, nose hair, and pubic hair. Most women cut their hair very short before beginning chemo, so the hair loss isn't so dramatic. Several women on WebMD even shaved our heads, and it felt great. You'll have enough to cry over during these early months of diagnosis without crying about your hair. Once again, there's no right choice -- except to be true to yourself. If your hair is important to you, splurge and buy a terrific wig. If it's not, have fun trying out some stylish turban wraps. And even if you haven't worn much makeup since high school, play around a little! Call the American Cancer Society and sign up for their "Look Good Feel Better" program. They'll hook you up with a volunteer cosmetologist who can teach you how to draw on eyebrows, apply makeup, and wrap turbans.
One last point: Don't be surprised if you gain 10 or 20 pounds during treatment. Most doctors warn you about losing weight because of nausea. But some medications cause you to gain weight, and so do many of the foods that settle your stomach -- mashed potatoes, crackers, etc. Never go on a diet during treatment without talking to your doctor.
Remember, pamper yourself in every way possible. Eat what you want to eat, within reason. Buy what you want to buy to make yourself look good in your eyes. It's important to know yourself, and to give yourself what you need.
