CancerCare is a national non-profit organization aimed at helping cancer patients deal with their disease in any way possible. The organization was founded in 1944 and now offer free professional support services. CancerCare realizes support and cancer treatment extends beyond medical care. Cancer patients need to be able to talk with people who can give advice regarding living with cancer. Patients can use CancerCare to connect with other cancer patients or survivors. Aside from offering communication between cancer patients, CancerCare also offers medical advice from their team of professional oncologists. Just last year, CancerCare provided individual help to over 100,000 people. Their web site also had over one million unique visitors.

Services

Some services provided by CancerCare are counseling, support groups, connect education workshops, publications and financial help among other services. All of these services are provided free of charge.

Counseling- Counseling is important for cancer patients and their families to seek out. CancerCare believes counseling with their professionals will help patients feel more in control. It is important for patients to be educated on all aspects of cancer treatment and CancerCare's counsellors believe they can help with that aspect. In addition to educating and offering emotional support, CancerCare offers advice on sharing cancer information with children, offers help with financial challenges and helps patients connect with other sources that may be able to support them in their fight against cancer.

Support Groups- CancerCare offers online, face-to-face and telephone support groups. The online support groups are available 24 hours a day. They are facilitated by an oncologist professional. Telephone support groups occur weekly for one hour. The telephone session are similar to conference calls and always have an oncologist present. Face-to-face support groups meet at a set time in one of CancerCare's offices in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut area. Face-to-face groups are for family members of patients as well. CancerCare can help you find a support group nearest to your home, as well.

Connect Education Workshops- CancerCare workshops can take place over the phone or over the Internet. They are a great way to learn more about cancer from your own home.

Publications- CancerCare offers publications on many different types of cancer or cancer related topics.

Financial Help- CancerCare provides some patients with financial assistance to help with the cost of medication, traveling, childcare and home care. They also have social workers who are trained to help patients find more financial assistance that may be available to them.