SAMFund Offers Financial Grants for Young Adult Cancer Survivors; Apply by July 12

July 8, 2010

The SAMFund, a unique nonprofit organization that helps young adult cancer survivors transition into post-treatment life, is offering financial assistance to qualified applicants.  To date, more than 250 individuals across the country have received SAMFund grants and scholarships.

Recipients are awarded an average of $2,000 in grants and scholarships that help cover costs such as medical and living expenses, certain types of tuition, and family-building expenses.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, 17-35 years old, and have completed active treatment. The application deadline is Monday, July 12.

To apply for a 2010 SAMFund grant, visit www.thesamfund.org. 

CancerCare offers specialized, free services for young adult patients, caregivers, loved ones, and survivors including counseling, financial assistance, support groups, and publications.

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Posted by Kyle Hornyak

Medical Schools Teaching Future Doctors about Cost of Care

May 6, 2010

A recent article in The New York Times describes how medical schools are educating future doctors about the high costs of medical treatments and how health care is financed.

Doctors-in-training were traditionally shielded from the cost of the tests and treatment required for their patients.  Students were taught to order tests based on their evaluation of the condition, rather than factor in the high cost to the patient. 

Now, many residency programs are creating courses for students about health policy that include information about treatment costs and insurance. For example, Dr. Yasmin S. Meah, an assistant professor of medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, directs a clinic that she describes as teaching future doctors how to “understand what is necessary and what is not. ” Students there are learning valuable lessons in how to practice medicine more cost-effectively for patients.

These are exciting developments because, as the financial impact of cancer treatment can be overwhelming, cost of care is a key issue for doctors and patients to discuss. Just as important is knowing about the resources that exist to provide patients with financial support.

The Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (CFAC) is a group of organizations, which includes CancerCare, that offers financial help and resources. The coalition educates patients and providers about existing resources through a comprehensive online database.

The CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation provides eligible individuals with up to $10,000 per year in co-payment assistance. 

Learn more about the financial support offered by CancerCare.

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Posted by Kyle Hornyak

USA Today Examines Rising Costs of Cancer Treatments

March 19, 2010

An article published in USA Today this past Wednesday mentions CancerCare in an examination of escalating costs of cancer treatment.

The costs of treatment and care for a person with cancer have skyrocketed in recent years, with overall spending in the U.S. now exceeding $90 billion.  It is impossible to provide an estimate of the “average” cost of cancer treatment, as hundreds of different diagnoses and their respective costs are too extreme to yield an accurate median.

The only certainty is, cancer is an extremely expensive illness to treat.  Charitable organizations such as CancerCare provide financial help to thousands of people per year but are not the total solution to the financial hardships people with cancer too often face.

We are optimistic that this weekend’s vote on health care reform will spark a change towards more comprehensive coverage, and help to ease the already-tremendous financial burden of a cancer diagnosis on individuals and families.

For more than 60 years, CancerCare has provided financial assistance to help with some types of costs, including transportation, homecare, childcare, and pain medication. Our social workers and case managers are knowledgeable about financial issues, and will work closely with you to get you the help you need.

The CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation was created in 2007 to help people with health insurance who are struggling to cover their treatment co-payments.  Qualified individuals with certain diagnoses may receive up to $10,000 per year in co-payment assistance.

CancerCare is a member of the Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (CFAC), a coalition of organizations that help cancer patients manage their financial challenges.  We encourage you to use the coalition’s resource directory to find financial resources in your community.

To learn more about managing the cost of cancer treatment, please visit the ASCO Cancer Foundation’s financial assistance section of their website.

Read the full USA Today article here.

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Posted by Kyle Hornyak

Co-Payment Assistance Available to Kidney and Colorectal Cancer Patients

March 4, 2010

March is both Kidney Cancer Awareness Month and National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. 

The CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation provides up to $10,000 per year in co-payment assistance to eligible individuals facing renal cell carcinoma or colorectal cancer.

CancerCare has also responded to the needs of people facing kidney cancer by hosting Connect Education Workshops that offer information about research and treatment in kidney cancer and offering informative kidney cancer publications in our ever-expanding online reading room.

To learn about treatment updates for colorectal cancer, listen to our most recent Connect Education Workshop, Emerging Treatments for Colorectal Cancer: What’s New? Other Connect Education Workshops have explored colorectal cancer topics such as improved treatment options through clinical trials and updates on genetic testing for recurrence.

Additionally, this month’s Ask CancerCare column gives you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about coping with colorectal cancer.

For more resources on these cancers, visit the diagnoses pages on our website. 

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Posted by Kyle Hornyak

New Study Reveals Higher Out-of-Pocket Costs Associated with Oral Cancer Drugs; Co-Pay Help Available

February 22, 2010

A new study of anti-cancer drug treatments reveals that out-of-pocket costs for oral drugs are higher than costs for drugs delivered intravenously.

While oral anti-cancer drugs are often more convenient for patients than intravenous drugs, they require many different procedures from doctors such as the management of side effects. However, because these services are not reimbursed by Medicare or other payers, out-of-pocket costs can be as much as 25-50% of the total cost. This can add up to thousands of dollars a year – and sometimes even thousands of dollars per month.

One place patients can turn to for help with chemotherapy and targeted treatment copayments is the CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation. The foundation provides financial help to patients in treatment for:

  • Breast cancer
  • Colorectal cancer
  • Head and neck cancer
  • Glioblastoma
  • Non-small cell lung cancer
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Renal cell cancer

Qualified individuals may receive up to $10,000 per year to assist with insurance co-payments. Visit the Foundation’s website to learn how to apply.

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Posted by Kyle Hornyak

New Survey Highlights Financial Impact on Cancer Patients, Caregivers

December 21, 2009

According to new survey results from the Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW), more than half of cancer patients reported that the costs related to cancer negatively impact their ability to focus on their recovery. Experiencing financial strain can also affect how the patient makes treatment decisions.

Other key findings include:
68% reported financial hardship due to medical bills
46% had to cut back on living expenses to pay for their treatment
40% said that they depleted their savings
30% reported having to deal with bill collectors
66% of patients who faced major financial challenges report suffering from depression/anxiety

These findings reinforce the need for patients and their loved ones to seek guidance and support. While patients reported experiencing significant stress, only 1/3 sought out the help of a social worker. It’s important to know that there are professionals who are experienced in navigating care systems and who can provide supportive counseling.

To speak with an oncology social worker, contact us at 1-800-813-4673.

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Posted by jzahora

Pfizer Extends Free Meds Program for People Who’ve Lost Their Jobs

December 15, 2009

Pfizer Inc. announced last week that it will extend through 2010 its program providing free  prescription medications for people who have lost their jobs.

According to the Associated Press, the Pfizer program makes available more than 70 types of widely prescribed medications it manufactures, such as anti-pain drugs and anti-depressants. The program helps people who have lost jobs since Jan. 1, 2009 and have been taking the drug for three months or more.

Visit the Pfizer website for more information about the program and the medications offered. For more information about specific chemotherapy drugs available through Pfizer’s patient assistance program, call 866-706-2400.

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Posted by Jeanie M. Barnett

1000 Cranes of Hope

December 14, 2009

The ancient Japanese tradition of senbazuru promises that a person who folds 1000 origami cranes will be granted a wish, such as long life or recovery from illness.

Boston-based Millennium Pharmaceuticals, owned by the Japanese pharmaceutical, The Takeda Company, recently launched a website honoring the senbazuru tradition, where people facing cancer–patients, caregivers, loved ones–can express their hopes and wishes for the New Year. Each message of hope posted at the site is represented by a bird-shaped paper figurine.

 Millennium Pharmaceuticals is a funder of CancerCare’s Door to Door program, which provides financial assistance to cover transportation costs for people undergoing treatment for multiple myeloma.

Leave your wish at 1000 Cranes of Hope.com (the site is free but log-in registration is required). For every wish left at the site, Millennium will make a donation to a healthcare-related charity.

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Posted by Jeanie M. Barnett

Avon Foundation Awards $1.125 Million Grant to CancerCare to Help Women with Breast Cancer

October 14, 2009
CancerCare's Jane Levy (center) with Carol Kurzig, president of the Avon Foundation for Women and financial expert and Avon Foundation Special Ambassador Suze Orman.

CancerCare's Jane Levy (center) with Avon's Carol Kurzig and financial expert Suze Orman, accepting a $1.125 million grant award, made possible by participants in Avon's annual Walk for Breast Cancer.

 CancerCare was among 8 non-profit organizations receiving substantial grants this past weekend from the Avon Foundation for Women to support direct services and care for women facing breast cancer.

The grant funds were made possible by the more than 4,000 men and women, including hundreds of breast cancer survivors, who walked in the seventh annual Avon Walk for Breast Cancer on Oct. 10 and 11 in New York City and raised a record $8.7 million to support a variety of health care non-profits that assist women facing breast cancer.

The Walk is a noncompetitive event, in which participants collect pledges for completing either a walking marathon (26.2 miles) or a marathon and a half (39.3 miles), split over 2 days. 

The Avon Foundation is a long-time supporter of CancerCare’s free counseling, education and financial assistance programs for underserved women with breast cancer who live in New York City and the tri-state area.

CancerCare received nearly $1.13 million — the second largest grant award presented — during the celebratory Closing Ceremony of the Walk. Suze Orman, financial expert and Special Ambassador for the Avon Foundation for Women, and Carol Kurzig, President of the Avon Foundation, were on hand to present the ceremonial check to CancerCare Director of Patient Services Jane Levy.

To date, Avon’s support has allowed CancerCare to provide its free, professional services to more than 39,000 low-income women facing breast cancer.

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Posted by Jeanie M. Barnett

Increasing Distance and Cost of Travel Adds Extra Burden for Cancer Patients Facing Surgery

September 2, 2009

The trend toward the centralization of where cancer surgeries are performed puts an increased travel burden on patients, according to new findings reported in this month’s issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Numerous studies show that hospitals that perform a higher number of surgeries per year for a specific diagnosis have better patient outcomes. Especially for rare diagnoses, these high-volume hospitals (HVHs) are highly recommended, and patients are heeding this advice. According to this latest study, the number of procedures performed at HVHs increased significantly over the 10-year period examined (1996-2006).

HVHs tend to be located in larger metropolitan areas that are a longer distance from many patients’ homes, the study shows, especially for patients with esophageal and pancreatic cancers, who endured the highest increase in travel distance from home to the facility where their surgeries were performed.

The cost of traveling farther distances for their care may pose a significant barrier to patients with limited resources, the study’s authors suggest. CancerCare helps by providing limited transportation grants to eligible individuals through our Financial Assistance program. CancerCare also assists multiple myeloma patients with treatment-related transportation costs through our Door to Door program.

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Posted by Monica Cavazos Mendez

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