CopeLink » Coping with Cancer http://www.copelink.org Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:03:36 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc Financial Help for Women with Metastatic Breast Cancer http://www.copelink.org/2012/01/financial-help-for-women-with-metastatic-breast-cancer/ http://www.copelink.org/2012/01/financial-help-for-women-with-metastatic-breast-cancer/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:43:11 +0000 Kyle Hornyak http://www.copelink.org/?p=2465 CancerCare has launched a new program to provide financial help to women coping with metastatic breast cancer. The program, “CancerCare – Get You There,” provides financial assistance grants for transportation to and from treatment.

To learn more about CancerCare’s financial assistance programs or download an application, visit www.cancercare.org/financial. Or, call 800-813-HOPE (4673).

Metastatic breast cancer is the most advanced stage of breast cancer, which is among the most commonly diagnosed cancers in women. We offer free support services for anyone affected by metastatic breast cancer, including support groups available online and over the telephone.

View all of our resources for women coping with breast cancer. 

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]]> http://www.copelink.org/2012/01/financial-help-for-women-with-metastatic-breast-cancer/feed/ 0 Free Support Groups for People Affected by Cancer http://www.copelink.org/2012/01/free-support-groups-for-people-affected-by-cancer-2/ http://www.copelink.org/2012/01/free-support-groups-for-people-affected-by-cancer-2/#comments Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:39:42 +0000 Kyle Hornyak http://www.copelink.org/?p=2447 CancerCare offers free support groups for anyone affected by cancer, including people with cancer, their caregivers, friends and loved ones, and the bereaved.

A cancer diagnosis can bring many difficult emotions, including fear, anxiety, and a feeling of isolation. Support groups connect you with others in a similar situation who may relate to what you are experiencing.

We offer diagnosis-specific support groups, such as a group for people affected by colorectal cancer, as well as specialized support groups, including groups for men with cancer, young adults with cancer, and parents of children with cancer.

CancerCare’s support groups are led by professional oncology social workers, and are available online, over the telephone, and face-to-face in our offices in New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut. To learn more about CancerCare‘s telephone and face-to-face support groups or to register, call 800‑813‑HOPE (4673).

Online support groups are password-protected, and members must go through a registration process. After completing the registration process, members can participate 24 hours, 7 days a week. New online support groups will be offered starting February 1.

View all of CancerCare’s free support groups.

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]]> http://www.copelink.org/2012/01/free-support-groups-for-people-affected-by-cancer-2/feed/ 0 Most Promising Cancer Treatment Advances of 2011 http://www.copelink.org/2011/12/most-promising-cancer-treatment-advances-of-2011/ http://www.copelink.org/2011/12/most-promising-cancer-treatment-advances-of-2011/#comments Thu, 29 Dec 2011 21:47:16 +0000 Jeanie M. Barnett http://www.copelink.org/?p=2435 New treatment therapies and promising results from a variety of clinical trials over this year are giving new hope to people affected by cancer. Showcased at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), held this past June in Chicago, these advances and breakthroughs in cancer treatments were especially encouraging for people with melanoma, breast cancer, lung cancer and numerous other diagnoses which have been difficult to treat.

CancerCare has compiled these most promising findings in its new booklet, Your Guide to the Latest Cancer Research and Treatments: Highlights from ASCO 2011, available online now. You can also order your free copies from our publications page.

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]]> http://www.copelink.org/2011/12/most-promising-cancer-treatment-advances-of-2011/feed/ 0 Support for Caregivers of People with Cancer http://www.copelink.org/2011/12/support-for-caregivers-of-people-with-cancer/ http://www.copelink.org/2011/12/support-for-caregivers-of-people-with-cancer/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 22:09:47 +0000 Kyle Hornyak http://www.copelink.org/?p=2418 For many caregivers, supporting a loved one going through cancer is a full-time job. Along with providing emotional support, caregivers may be charged with administering treatment or helping to manage side effects. Often, caregivers do all this at the expense of their own health and well-being.

CancerCare CEO Helen H. Miller, LCSW writes about the importance of supporting caregivers of people with cancer in the latest issue of Oncology Nurse Advisor. The article provides tips on how oncology nurses can help caregivers of people with cancer receive emotional and practical support.

Read the article.

CancerCare helps anyone affected by cancer, and offers specialized services for caregivers, including online, telephone, and face-to-face support groups—completely free of charge.

Learn more about how we help caregivers of people with cancer.

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]]> http://www.copelink.org/2011/12/support-for-caregivers-of-people-with-cancer/feed/ 0 Managing the High Costs of Cancer Treatment http://www.copelink.org/2011/12/managing-the-high-costs-of-cancer-treatment/ http://www.copelink.org/2011/12/managing-the-high-costs-of-cancer-treatment/#comments Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:20:06 +0000 Kyle Hornyak http://www.copelink.org/?p=2389 A new article, “Insuring Against the High Costs of Cancer,” offers tips on coping with the high insurance co-payment costs of cancer treatment and features CancerCare and other organizations that offer financial assistance for patients.

While the past few years have seen breakthroughs in cancer treatment, these breakthroughs can come with a hefty price tag—even for those with insurance. “The cost of cancer is increasing at a rate of about 15 percent per year, (which is) nearly three times the rate of increase of overall health costs,” explains CancerCare Program Division Director Rosalie Canosa in the article. “It’s mind-boggling. [But] understanding the costs you can expect before you even begin treatment can help you manage the impact more effectively.”

“You can get to that lifetime cap pretty quickly with cancer,” she says. “A lot of policies are capped at $1 million. It doesn’t take long to get there.”

“Start this conversation with your health care team,” Canosa advises. “Often they’re linked to resources, including less-expensive options.”

Read the article, which appears online at www.bankrate.com.

CancerCare offers limited financial assistance for costs associated with cancer treatment, such as transportation to and from treatment, home care, child care, and over-the-counter pain medication. Learn more about our financial assistance programs, or fill out an application for financial help.

The CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation provides up to $10,000 per year in co-payment assistance to eligible individuals with insurance. The foundation currently offers assistance for the following diagnoses:

  • Colon or colorectal cancer
  • Gastric cancer
  • Glioblastoma
  • Non-small cell lung cancer
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Renal cell cancer

Learn more about the foundation and how to apply for assistance.

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]]> http://www.copelink.org/2011/12/managing-the-high-costs-of-cancer-treatment/feed/ 0 Huffington Post Blogger Honored for Coverage of Lung Cancer http://www.copelink.org/2011/11/huffington-post-blogger-honored-for-coverage-of-lung-cancer/ http://www.copelink.org/2011/11/huffington-post-blogger-honored-for-coverage-of-lung-cancer/#comments Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:25:47 +0000 Kyle Hornyak http://www.copelink.org/?p=2366 The Huffington Post blogger Rob Densen is the recipient of the 2011 Global Lung Cancer Coalition Journalism Award, for raising awareness of lung cancer. Densen was honored for his blog entry, “The Last Refrigerator,” in which he reflects on his wife’s Stage IV lung cancer diagnosis, and the lack of funding for lung cancer research.

Excerpted from “The Last Refrigerator:”

“My wife has Stage IV lung cancer. Given the arc of the disease and the quality of refrigerator design and construction, it is highly probable that this [refrigerator we purchased] will be her last refrigerator. The question is, are we also on our last washing machine, hairdryer or big screen TV?

It is unbelievably painful — but sobering and highly instructive — to look at lung cancer that way. Diagnosed with lung cancer and you’re not talking decades, but kilowatt hours.”

Lung cancer is often referred to as being a “silent killer” due to lack of awareness and patients’ reluctance to discuss their diagnosis.  It is the least-funded of all major cancers, even though the mortality rate of people diagnosed with lung cancer is higher than most other cancers, and more men and women die of lung cancer than breast and prostate cancer combined.

Densen is founder and CEO of Tiller, Inc., a consulting firm based in New York City that works with major corporations to develop marketing programs for causes such as lung cancer awareness. Densen has devoted much of his blog coverage to raising awareness for lung cancer, urging more research and patient support.

Learn more about Tiller, Inc. and Rob Densen.

CancerCare is a participating member of The Global Lung Cancer Coalition. Visit the coalition’s website to learn more about early detection, treatment and supportive care.

CancerCare offers free, professional support services for anyone affected by a lung cancer diagnosis, including an upcoming Connect Education Workshop on December 14, “Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Coping with the Loss of Strength.”

To learn more about how we help people affected by lung cancer, visit our lung cancer diagnosis page or www.lungcancer.org.

[Pictured above: Huff Post Blogger and Tiller, Inc. CEO Rob Densen, with Prevent Cancer Foundation Founder and CEO Carolyn "Bo" Aldige in New York City on November 28, 2011]

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]]> http://www.copelink.org/2011/11/huffington-post-blogger-honored-for-coverage-of-lung-cancer/feed/ 0 New Booklets on Mouth Pain and Multiple Myeloma http://www.copelink.org/2011/11/new-booklets-on-mouth-pain-and-multiple-myeloma/ http://www.copelink.org/2011/11/new-booklets-on-mouth-pain-and-multiple-myeloma/#comments Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:59:25 +0000 Kyle Hornyak http://www.copelink.org/?p=2361 CancerCare’s newest Connect Booklet, Managing Oral Mucositis, is now available.

The term “oral mucositis” refers to mouth sores caused by irritation of the mucosa, soft tissues that cover the tongue and inside of the mouth. Our new booklet offers tips on controlling mouth pain and managing this side effect of some cancer treatments.

Read the booklet or order free copies.

Our new e-booklet, Advances in the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma, is now live on www.cancercare.org. The e-booklet describes the different treatment options for multiple myeloma, and offers tips on coping with the emotional and practical challenges of a multiple myeloma diagnosis.

Read the e-booklet.

Like all of CancerCare’s services, our publications are available to you completely free of charge. View all of CancerCare’s in-stock publications.

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]]> http://www.copelink.org/2011/11/new-booklets-on-mouth-pain-and-multiple-myeloma/feed/ 0 Essence Magazine Shares Breast Cancer Coping Tips for African-American Women http://www.copelink.org/2011/10/essence-magazine-shares-breast-cancer-coping-tips-for-african-american-women/ http://www.copelink.org/2011/10/essence-magazine-shares-breast-cancer-coping-tips-for-african-american-women/#comments Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:14:31 +0000 Kyle Hornyak http://www.copelink.org/?p=2195 A new article in Essence magazine, “The Black Woman’s Guide to Breast Cancer,” offers tips on breast cancer prevention and screening, as well as on coping with a breast cancer diagnosis.

CancerCare Director of Education and Training Carolyn Messner, DSW is quoted in the article. She shares practical ways to support a friend who has been diagnosed, such as arranging a gift basket with some favorite pampering products.

The article appears in the October 2011 issue of Essence, on newsstands now.

CancerCare’s fact sheet, “What You Need to Know about Breast Cancer: A Guide for Newly Diagnosed African American Women,” offers more tips on coping with breast cancer. Read the fact sheet.

Learn more about CancerCare’s free services for women affected by breast cancer.

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]]> http://www.copelink.org/2011/10/essence-magazine-shares-breast-cancer-coping-tips-for-african-american-women/feed/ 0 CancerCare Receives $1 Million Grant from The Avon Foundation for Women http://www.copelink.org/2011/10/cancercare-receives-1-million-grant-from-the-avon-foundation-for-women/ http://www.copelink.org/2011/10/cancercare-receives-1-million-grant-from-the-avon-foundation-for-women/#comments Mon, 17 Oct 2011 19:44:48 +0000 Kyle Hornyak http://www.copelink.org/?p=2142 The Avon Foundation for Women presented a $1 million donation to CancerCare CEO Helen H. Miller yesterday at the 2011 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, held in New York City. Avon’s donation will help support CancerCare’s free services for underserved women facing breast cancer.

CancerCare CEO Helen H. Miller, with actress and Honorary Chairperson for the Avon Foundation Reese Witherspoon

Since 2000, The Avon Foundation for Women has generously supported CancerCare‘s financial assistance services, as well as other programs for underserved women facing breast cancer. Over the past 11 years of our partnership, the Avon Foundation has provided nearly $14,000,000 to over 68,000 women from all 50 states.

CancerCare offers free, professional support services for women facing breast cancer, including counseling, support groups, and financial help. Learn more about how we help people affected by breast cancer.

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]]> http://www.copelink.org/2011/10/cancercare-receives-1-million-grant-from-the-avon-foundation-for-women/feed/ 0 Co-Payment Assistance for Colorectal Cancer Patients http://www.copelink.org/2011/10/co-payment-assistance-for-colorectal-cancer-patients/ http://www.copelink.org/2011/10/co-payment-assistance-for-colorectal-cancer-patients/#comments Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:54:50 +0000 Kyle Hornyak http://www.copelink.org/?p=2128 People with health insurance who are undergoing treatment for colon or colorectal cancer may be eligible to receive up to $10,000 per year in co-payment assistance through the CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation.

The Foundation also provides co-payment assistance to people undergoing treatment for:

  • non-small cell lung cancer
  • gastric cancer
  • renal cell cancer
  • glioblastoma
  • pancreatic cancer

Currently, the funds for breast cancer, prostate cancer, and head and neck cancer are closed. We will notify you as soon as these funds become available again.

Visit www.cancercarecopay.org to learn more about the foundation and how to apply for assistance. Learn more about our free, professional support services and resources for people facing colon or colorectal cancer.

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