Financial Help for Women with Metastatic Breast Cancer

January 27, 2012

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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Managing the High Costs of Cancer Treatment

December 2, 2011

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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CancerCare Receives $1 Million Grant from The Avon Foundation for Women

October 17, 2011

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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Co-Payment Assistance for Colorectal Cancer Patients

October 11, 2011

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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CancerCare Helps Cover Co-Payment Costs of Treatment for Seven Diagnoses

July 1, 2011

The CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation provides up to $10,000 per year in co-payment assistance to eligible individuals facing the following diagnoses:

  • colon or colorectal cancer
  • gastric cancer
  • glioblastoma
  • non-small cell lung cancer
  • pancreatic cancer
  • renal cell cancer

Also, people affected by prostate cancer may be eligible to receive up to $5,000 per year in co-payment assistance through the foundation.

Currently, the funds for breast 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 to apply for assistance.

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New Drug Approved for Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

May 6, 2011

The FDA has approved a new drug for the treatment of advanced-stage pancreatic cancer.

Approximately 60% of people with pancreatic cancer are diagnosed in its advanced stages, where the disease has spread to other parts of the body and is difficult to treat. Afinitor, made by Novartis,  is the first drug in nearly 30 years to be approved for advanced pancreatic cancer.

Read Novartis’ press release about Afinitor.

CanceCare offers free, professional support services for people affected by pancreatic cancer, including financial help,  thanks in part to funds donated by the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, a nonprofit organization that provides resources and support to pancreatic cancer patients and their families.

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Number of Cancer Survivors Has Increased by 20%, According to Study

March 11, 2011

An article in today’s edition of The New York Times addresses a new study showing a 20% rise in the number of cancer survivors.  The study’s results show that approximately 65 percent of cancer survivors have lived at least five years since receiving their diagnosis, 40 percent have lived 10 years or more, and nearly 10 percent have lived 25 years or longer.

Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control, noted that these results contradict notions of cancer as an immediate, terminal disease. “For many people with cancer there’s a need for them and their families to realize that this is a stage,” he says. “They can live a long and healthy life.”

One aspect of cancer survivorship that the article does not address, however, is the emotional and financial impact a diagnosis has on survivors. CancerCare has responded to the need for this support by providing free counseling, support groups, and financial help for anyone affected by a cancer diagnosis.

Read the article.

CancerCare’s booklet, “After Treatment Ends: Tools for the Adult Cancer Survivor” provides tips on living with and beyond cancer.

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New Multiple Myeloma Fact Sheets are Available

February 10, 2011

Three new CancerCare fact sheets are available for people coping with multiple myeloma.

Coping with Multiple Myeloma offers tips for managing multiple myeloma so that patients can feel more in control of their diagnosis.

Multiple Myeloma: Finding Resources and Support provides information on local and national resources that are available for people coping with multiple myeloma.

Multiple Myeloma: Making the Most of Medical Appointments explores ways to improve communication with your health care team.

These fact sheets can be ordered free of charge from CancerCare’s online order form. Our newest Connect® Booklet, Advances in the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma, is also available to order through the form.

Learn more about CancerCare’s resources for people coping with multiple myeloma, including our “Door to Door” program that provides individual grants of up to $600 annually to multiple myeloma patients for covering transportation costs such as gasoline, parking and tolls, and taxi, bus or train fare to and from their medical care.

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Co-Payment Assistance is Available for People Facing Prostate Cancer

January 5, 2011

The CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation provides up to $5,000 per year in co-payment assistance to people facing prostate cancer.  Visit www.cancercarecopay.org to learn how to apply, and to see a list of covered medications.

Read about “game-changing” research in prostate cancer treatment in CancerCare’s new booklet, Your Guide to the Latest Cancer Research and Treatments.  You can order free copies of the booklet, along with publications such as Living with Metastatic Prostate Cancer and Caring for Your Bones When You Have Prostate Cancer.

Learn more about CancerCare’s free support services for people affected by prostate cancer.

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CancerCare Extends Co-Payment Assistance to Gastric Cancer Patients

October 21, 2010

People undergoing treatment for gastric cancer who have health insurance can now receive up to $10,000 per year in co-payment assistance through the CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation. The foundation was established in 2007 to help cancer patients who have health insurance coverage but may be unable to afford the out-of-pocket costs of their insurance co-payments for treatment.

Visit www.cancercarecopay.org or call 1-866-55-COPAY (6729) to learn more about eligibility requirements, diagnoses and treatments covered, and how to apply for assistance. 

Learn more about CancerCare’s free, professional support services for anyone affected by gastric cancer.

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