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. 

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.

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.

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]

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.

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.

Dr. Raje, who is also an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, has been a presenter in numerous Connect Education Workshops focused on multiple myeloma. CancerCare‘s educational workshops are one-hour live discussions with leading oncologists across the country that can be listened to over the telephone or online.

Dr. Noopur Raje, MD

Listen to Dr. Raje’s recent presentation on “Coping with the Stress of Caregiving When Your Loved One Has Multiple Myeloma.”

CancerCare will also honor Guadalupe R. Palos, DrPH with our Interdisciplinary Award. Dr. Palos’ career in oncology has included roles as a health educator, clinician in cancer prevention and detection, and researcher in symptom research.

Dr. Guadalupe R. Palos, DrPH

Listen to Dr. Palos present on “Understanding the Important Role of Adherence in the Medical Management of Cancer.”

View all of CancerCare’s upcoming Connect Education Workshops.

CancerCare will also honor the Dan Ferrante Memorial Fund Committee with the Special Fund of the Year Award. The committee was created in memory of Dan Ferrante, who died from lung cancer in 2005, with the goal of raising funds to support people facing cancer. To date, the Dan Ferrante Memorial Fund Committee has raised more than $100,000 in support of CancerCare’s free services for anyone affected by cancer.

• “Caring for Your Bones When You Have Breast Cancer” on Friday, October 7
• “Progress in the Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer” on Thursday, October 13
• “Current Perspectives on Early Stage Breast Cancer” on Friday, October 28

Listen in live by telephone or online. These workshops will also be available as podcasts.

Like all of CancerCare’s services, our Connect Education Workshops are completely free of charge — no phone charges apply. However, pre-registration is required.

Learn more about our free, professional support services for people coping with breast cancer.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, CancerCare’s professional oncology social workers can help you:

• learn ways to cope with an ovarian cancer diagnosis
• communicate with your health care team and loved ones
• find resources in your community
• and manage the financial challenges of cancer.

CancerCare’s Connect^® booklet Medical Update on Ovarian Cancer describes the latest treatments for people coping with ovarian cancer. This publication is based on a CancerCare Connect Education Workshop presented by leading experts in ovarian cancer.

Listen to the workshop.

CancerCare is currently recruiting participants for free support groups for people affected by ovarian cancer. Groups are available online, over the telephone, and in-person at our offices in New York City, Long Island, Connecticut, and New Jersey.

Register for a support group.

CancerCare has also partnered with L’Oréal Paris and Ovarian Cancer Research Fund to provide a telephone counseling and referral service just for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Call the L’Oreal Paris Ovarian Cancer Research Hope Line to speak with a professional oncology social worker: 1‑877‑OV‑HOPE‑1 (1‑877‑684‑6731)

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

Leukemia

Explore CancerCare’s leukemia resource page to see the free services we offer for people affected by leukemia, which include a recent revision of a three-part fact sheet series on coping with chronic mylogenous leukemia.

Lymphoma

Our free services include an upcoming Connect Education Workshop series on living with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. The first workshop will take place Wednesday, September 14 at 1:30pm EST. Register for the workshop.

Multiple Myeloma

CancerCare’s free resources include our new Connect booklet, Advances in the Treatment for Multiple Myeloma. If you have been diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma, you may wish to participate in a free support group for people affected by blood cancers. Learn more and register for this support group.

Prostate Cancer

Register for our upcoming Connect Education Workshop, “Caring for Your Bones When You Have Prostate Cancer” on September 16 at 1:30pm EST.

Ovarian Cancer

Read our new Connect Booklet, Medical Update on Ovarian Cancer. We’ve partnered with L’Oréal Paris and Ovarian Cancer Research Fund on a dedicated telephone counseling and referral service for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. To speak with a professional oncology social worker, call 1‑877‑OV‑HOPE‑1 (1‑877‑684‑6731).

Gynecologic Cancers

Learn more and register for an online support group for people affected by gynecologic cancers.

Thyroid Cancer

Listen to our podcast, “Treatment Update on Thyroid Cancer.”

Childhood Cancers

Learn more about CancerCare’s free services for children diagnosed with cancer. CancerCare also helps children who have a parent, sibling, or other loved one facing cancer. Read our e-booklet, Helping Children When a Family Member has Cancer.