Patient Resources

General Resources for Breast Cancer Patients

BreastCancer.org  Offers comprehensive resources on breast cancer including up-to-date information on screening, treatment and prevention.

Cancer Care  This national organization that provides free professional support services including counseling, financial support, special support groups, educational services, teleconferences and referrals.

Dr. Susan Love Foundation for Breast Cancer Research Challenges the status quo to end breast cancer and improve the lives of people impacted by it now through education and advocacy. The Foundation drives collaborative, cutting-edge research with nontraditional partners, brings to light the collateral damage of treatment and seeks ways to diminish it, and interprets science to empower patients.

LiveStrong  Offers support services, educational resources, and support services for recovering cancer patients and their support network.

National Cancer Institute  U.S. government consensus on information and assistance for all kinds of cancers. Provides short fact sheets as starting points, such as “Surgery Choices for Women with DCIS or Breast Cancer.”

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network  Provides standard treatment protocols by consensus of cancer center experts.

Physician Data QueryR (PDQR)  National Cancer Institute’s comprehensive database information on cancer types. Provides patient version and health professional version. Unbiased source of evidenced-based research updated several times a year.  Also provides cancer and drug terms, summaries, drug information and dictionaries. Available in Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and Arabic.

 

Resources for Breast Cancer Sub-Types

FORCE This organization is dedicated to empowering individuals and families facing hereditary breast, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, colorectal and endometrial cancers.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer-International Consortium  IBC is rare (less than 5% of U.S. breast cancers), but very aggressive. IBC-IC fosters collaboration among researchers and clinicians and educates to improve outcomes. Information is included on how to find clinical trials.

The Inflammatory Breast Cancer Network Foundation  Detailed information for public and practitioners; FAQ; online 20-lesson Learning Academy; online support through personal “stories of hope” and blog; clinical trials; medical articles. Funds research.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance  Network of breast cancer clinicians, researchers, and advocates, increasing knowledge and promoting research on ILC (invasive lobular cancer of the breast).  Site includes many resources including how to find clinical trials.

Male Breast Cancer Coalition  Breast cancer in men is rare and forms in the breast tissue of men. The Male Breast Cancer Coalition is a global 501(c)3 non-profit, dedicated to supporting and advocating for men diagnosed with breast cancer. This non-profit works with various cancer organizations, researchers, pharmaceutical members, clinicians and medical professionals to ensure men are included in all research and clinical trials related to breast cancer. 

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation  About 10-15% of new breast cancer cases, TNBC tends to be aggressive and cannot be treated with standard drugs for hormone-sensitive or HER2-positive breast cancers. TNBC Foundation offers support services such as a hotline (through CancerCare), information, and research support.

 

Resources for Metastatic Breast Cancer

MBCBrainMets.org  A one-stop resource hub for breast cancer patients with brain metastasis that connects you to cutting-edge information, community and support tailored to your needs that is curated by patients, for patients.

METAvivor  A volunteer-led, non-profit organization that funds vital research to help improve the longevity and quality of life for metastatic breast cancer (“MBC”) patients. METAvivor is the only organization in the US that exclusively funds MBC research through a scientific peer-review process. They award research grants to individuals actively engaged in areas of metastatic breast cancer research, and whose proposals show distinct promise in making a difference for the stage 4 breast cancer community.

The Storm Riders Network  Provides a one-stop tool for metastatic breast cancer patients and survivors, co-survivors and caretakers on clinical trials and other resources to ride out the storm that is breast cancer.

Theresa’s Research Foundation  Funds research, supports clinical trials and empowers patient advocates to engage in the conversation about metastatic breast cancer. They encourage collaboration with patient advocates, researchers and oncologists; provide a search engine for clinical trials; and a MBC Connect patient.

 

Support Resources for Young Women With Breast Cancer

Young Survival Coalition  This national nonprofit addresses the unique needs and quality of life of young adults affected by breast cancer, locally, nationally and internationally. Offers support groups, hotlines, conferences, education webinars and resources.

Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services – Young Breast Cancer Survivor Program  This website serves as source of helpful resources and tools for young women with breast cancer, metastatic cancer, caregivers and health care providers that can help improve quality of life.

Cancer and Fertility  Treatment for breast cancer may impact a woman’s ability to have children. This is an important quality of life consideration for all young women with breast cancer. If you receive a diagnosis of breast cancer, it is important that you discuss your interest in having children with your provider before treatment begins. The American Society of Clinical Oncology states that oncologists have a responsibility to inform patients of the risks of cancer treatment on fertility.  Here are valuable resources:

A list of organizations that provide Fertility Assistance is provided by Alliance for Fertility Preservation.

 

Support Groups and Patient Hotlines

ABCD After Breast Cancer Diagnosis  Provides free, phone-based, one-on-one support with a custom matched mentor.

American Cancer Society  Offers information and support 24 hours 7 days a week.

Beaumont Hospital Sharing & Caring Breast Cancer Education & Support Group  Offers a support groups, workshops and other programs. They also provide health planners for the newly diagnosed which includes a binder with information and resources. The health planner provides basic information on what to expect during the different stages of the treatment process as well as definitions of difficult terms and procedures. It also serves as a reference throughout treatment and is a useful place to keep track of medical reports, questions for providers, appointments, pathology reports, medications and symptoms. 

Breasties  Provides resources for young women with breast or gynecological cancers and includes anyone from previvors to thrivers. Support services include a support group via Zoom as well as a retreat/camp. Operates at the national level as well as individual state groups.

Cancer AnswerLine™ | University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. Call 1-800-865-1125 from anywhere in the country or email them at CancerAnswerLine@med.umich.edu. You’ll get a personal response from an oncology registered nurse. The Cancer AnswerLine™ nurses are experienced in oncology care, including helping patients and their families who have questions about cancer.

The Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor  Provides emotional support and resource sharing through professionally facilitated groups, support programs, webinars and wellness programs for those battling cancer.

Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit – Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit ensures that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action and sustained by community. Offers a welcoming communities of free support for everyone living with cancer.

Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids  Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids provides free emotional healthcare to children, adults, families, and friends on any kind of cancer journey or those grieving the death of someone in their life due to any cause.

Imerman Angels  Provides comfort and understanding for all cancer fighters, survivors, previvors and caregivers through a personalized, one-on-one connection with someone who has been there.

Living Beyond Breast Cancer  A national nonprofit organization that connects people with trusted breast cancer information and a community of support. Offers in-person experiences and on-demand emotional, practical and evidence-based content that is meaningful to those newly diagnosed, in-treatment, post-treatment and living with metastatic disease.

SHARE  Educates and empowers women and families affected by breast or ovarian cancer through online and in-person groups, a helpline, educational programs. Materials in English, Spanish and Japanese.

 

Support Resources for Black and Hispanic Women

Black Women’s Health Imperative. Offers education and advocacy for health policies for affordable quality care across all health concerns. Provides publications and projects including My Sister’s Keeper, health policy leadership development at historically Black colleges and universities, and Rare Diseases Diversity Coalition.

LatinaSHARE  Call 844-ASK-SHARE for support and information with a Spanish-speaking survivor.

Raising Women’s Voices for the Health Care We Need  Provides information, policy agendas and coalitions including with the National Women’s Health Network.

Sisters Network Provides support for black women with breast cancer including a local chapter in Greater Metropolitan Detroit. Offers information, webinars (including Black Health Matters conference), COVID-19 Breast Cancer Assistance (financial support), facts about the impact of breast cancer on African-American women and key questions to ask your medical oncology team.

 

Financial Resources for Breast Cancer Patients

CancerCare Co-Payments Assistance Foundation Helps people with cancer overcome financial access and treatment barriers by assisting them with co-payments for their prescribed treatments. Offers easy-to-access, same-day approval over the phone and online.

It’s a Breast Thing  Offers monetary grants for out of pocket expenses to breast cancer patients who reside within the 19 counties of Mid-Michigan who are in treatment.

Patient Advocate Foundation  National nonprofit provides financial assistance and case management help for breast cancer and other illnesses including: access to care and health insurance coverage; paying for treatment including insurance denials and appeals; paying for living expenses; applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI); and understanding issues related to employment like the Family Medical Leave Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Also offers Metastatic Breast Cancer Financial Aid Fund (for Stages III or IV) which provides $600 for non-medical expenses.  Other medication and financial resources available.

The Pink Fund – The Pink Fund has been formed to help breast cancer patients focus on  healing, raising their families, and returning to the workplace. The Pink Fund will provide short term financial aid for a brief period of treatment and recovery.

The Sprout Love Financial Assistance Program  Through the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor, this financial assistance program is awarding up to $175,000 to 70 families experiencing financial hardship due to cancer and its treatment, including: $83,000 toward rent and mortgage; $31,000 toward car payments and insurance; $25,000 toward utilities; $13,000 toward phone and internet; $10,000 toward groceries and gasoline; and $13,000 toward other necessities including home and auto repairs, childcare, and more.

 

Other Resources for Support

Hope Scarves  Apply for a free scarf and share your story. Sharing hope with people facing cancer through scarves, stories and research.

Little Pink Houses of Hope  Apply to attend a free retreat. Giving the gifts of time, happiness and hope, Little Pink’s mission is to embrace families as they are going through the difficult breast cancer journey with retreats to help them focus on celebrating life.  A cancer diagnosis can be an isolating experience and Little Pink’s signature retreat program connects families and creates strong support networks for all family members.

LiveStrong at the YMCA  LiveStrong offers a free 12-week program to ease your way into physical activity after a cancer diagnosis.  This website helps you find a YMCA near you that offers the LiveStrong program.

Women with Disabilities  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers resources for women with disabilities who are undergoing breast cancer screenings.

Preventing Hair Loss During Chemotherapy There may be a way to prevent hair loss during chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Scalp cooling using chilled caps to cool the scalp is a way to limit hair loss. By limiting blood flow to the scalp, the hair follicles receive less chemotherapy. Scalp cooling will not work for everyone. Success is highly dependent on the type of chemotherapy and the dose of medicine received. Other factors include hair type and age. Unfortunately, most insurance companies will not cover scalp caps. However financial assistance is often available. To  learn more:

For those in need of financial assistance:

Watch This Video About The University of Michigan’s Cancer AnswerLine

Watch This Video About Gilda’s Club of Grand Rapids
Programs For Children Who Have A Family Member With Cancer