Breast Cancer Resources
The American Cancer Society’s Breast Cancer Network
(800) ACS-2345
www.cancer.org
The American Cancer Society is a nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy and service. The site contains breast cancer basics, information about clinical research trials and free programs such as the Reach to Recovery program, which provides one-on-one support to newly diagnosed patients.
Breastcancer.org
Breastcancer.org is a nonprofit organization for breast cancer education. The site contains medical information, research news, a celebrity talking dictionary, pictures of breast cancer, discussion boards, open chat rooms and more. The mission of breastcancer.org is to help women and their loved ones make sense of the complex medical and personal information about breast cancer, so they can make the best decisions for their lives.
Fertile Hope
(888) 994-HOPE
www.fertilehope.org
Fertile Hope is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing reproductive information, support and hope to cancer patients whose medical treatments present the risk of infertility.
FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered)
www.facingourrisk.org
FORCE is a nonprofit organization for women who are at high risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer because of family history and genetic status and for members of families in which a BRCA mutation may be present.
KidsCope
www.kidscope.org
KidsCope’s mission is to help children and families understand the effects of cancer or chemotherapy on a loved one, to provide suggestions for coping and to develop innovative programs and materials that communicate a message of hope to diverse families coping with this crisis.
Kids Konnected
(800) 899-2866
www.kidskonnected.org
Kids Konnected provides peer support and age-appropriate books for children whose parents have been diagnosed with cancer.
Komen Champions for the Cure™
www.actnowendbreastcancer.org
Komen Champions for the Cure™ is a grassroots program designed to educate Congress, the president and other policymakers about breast cancer through community involvement.
Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF)
www.livestrong.org
(512) 236-8820
The mission of the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) is to inspire and empower people with cancer to live strong. They serve their mission through education, advocacy, public health, and research programs. LAF believes that in the battle with cancer, unity is strength, knowledge is power, and attitude is everything. Founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong, the LAF provides the practical information and tools people living with cancer need to live strong.
Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC)
Survivors’ Help Line (888-753-LBBC)
www.lbbc.org
The mission of Living Beyond Breast Cancer is to empower all women affected by breast cancer to live as long as possible with the best quality of life. TLBBC offers educational information to women affected by breast cancer. Programs include conferences, teleconferences, newsletters, survivors’ help line, young survivors’ network and other outreach programs.
Men Against Breast Cancer
www.menagainstbreastcancer.org
Men Against Breast Cancer is the first national nonprofit organization designed to provide targeted support services to educate and empower men to be effective caregivers when breast cancer strikes a female loved one. It also targets and mobilizes men to be active participants in the fight to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease.
Mothers Supporting Daughters with Breast Cancer (MSDBC)
www.mothersdaughters.org
This is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing support to mothers whose daughters have been diagnosed with breast cancer. This organization offers a free mother’s handbook and daughter’s companion booklet that provides basic information about breast cancer and its treatment as well as some recommended constructive ways for mothers to provide support physically, emotionally, financially and spiritually. The organization also matches mothers with mother volunteers across the country based on the daughter’s (patient’s) clinical age at time of diagnosis and anticipated treatment plan.
National Breast Cancer Coalition
www.natlbcc.org
The National Breast Cancer Coalition is a grassroots advocacy effort in the fight against breast cancer. In 1991, the coalition was formed with one mission—to eradicate breast cancer through action and advocacy. To achieve its mission, the National Breast Cancer Coalition focuses on three main goals. Research: Increasing appropriations for high-quality, peer-reviewed research and working within the scientific community to focus research on prevention and finding a cure; Access: Increasing access for all women to high-quality treatment and care, and to breast cancer clinical trials; and Influence: Increasing the influence of women living with breast cancer and other breast cancer activists in the decision making that impacts all issues surrounding breast cancer.
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
www.canceradvocacy.org
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship is the oldest survivor-led cancer advocacy organization in the country and a highly respected authentic voice at the federal level, advocating for quality cancer care for all Americans and empowering cancer survivors.
National Cancer Institute
www.cancer.gov
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), one of eight agencies that compose the Public Health Service (PHS) in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The NCI, established under the National Cancer Act of 1937, is the federal government’s principal agency for cancer research and training. NCI coordinates the National Cancer Program, which conducts and supports research, training, health information dissemination and other programs with respect to the cause, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cancer, rehabilitation from cancer and the continuing care of cancer patients and the families of cancer patients. The web site has up-to-date information on current clinical trials available.
National Consortium of Breast Centers
www.breastcare.org
The National Consortium of Breast Center’s mission and purpose is “to promote excellence in breast health care for the general public through a network of diverse professionals dedicated to the active exchange of ideas and resources.” The website also provides a directory of breast centers.
National Patient Advocate Foundation
www.npaf.org
The National Patient Advocate Foundation is an organization whose mission is to create avenues of access to insurance funding for evolving therapies, therapeutic agents and devices for patients through legislative and policy reform.
Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF)
(800) 532-5274
www.patientadvocate.org
Patient Advocate Foundation is a national nonprofit organization that seeks to empower patients to take control of their health care. Case managers work with patients to discover local, state and federal programs that provide assistance for their individual needs. If you or someone you know needs assistance with their insurer, employer and/or creditor regarding insurance, job retention and/or debt crisis matters relative to their diagnosis of life-threatening or debilitating diseases, please contact PAF.
Pregnant with Cancer Network
(800) 743-4471
www.pregnantwithcancer.org
This national network was created by three women who all lived through cancer during pregnancy. This special bond has now grown into a national support group. The mission of the Pregnant with Cancer Support Group is to let women who have been diagnosed while pregnant know that they are not alone.
Ribbons of Pink Foundation Fund
www.ribbonsofpink.org
The mission of the Ribbons of Pink Foundation (ROP) is to promote breast health and support young women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Founded in 1999, ROP provides a free e-mail reminder sent on the first day of the month to promote monthly breast self-exams (BSE), utilizing a unique tool called the “BSE Tracker.” ROP also provides grants and funding to other non-profit organizations that support the ROP mission.
Sharsheret
(866) 474-2774
www.sharsheret.org
Sharsheret is a national not-for-profit organization of cancer survivors dedicated to addressing the unique challenges facing young Jewish women living with breast cancer. Sharsheret, Hebrew for “chain,” was founded in 2001 by Rochelle Shoretz, who recognized the need for a breast cancer organization that would provide culturally sensitive support for Jewish women after her own diagnosis at age 28.
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
(800) I’M-AWARE
www.komen.org
For more than 20 years, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation has been a global leader in the fight against breast cancer through its support of innovative research and community-based outreach programs. Working through a network of U.S. and international affiliates and events like the Komen Race for the Cure®, the Komen Foundation is fighting to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by funding research grants and supporting education, screening and treatment projects in communities around the world.
Susan Love, M.D.
www.susanlovemd.org
Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book, Vol. 3
This fully revised edition of Dr. Love’s book reflects every major new development in breast care, screening, diagnosis, treatment and research.
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization
(800) 221-2141 (24 hour national hotline)
www.y-me.org
The mission of Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization is to ensure, through information, empowerment and peer support, that no one faces breast cancer alone. Services include a 24-hour Y-ME national hotline, wig and prosthesis bank, advocacy in action and culturally sensitive breast cancer services and resources.
Young Survival Coalition
www.youngsurvival.org
The Young Survival Coalition (YSC) is the only international, nonprofit network of breast cancer survivors and supporters dedicated to the concerns and issues that are unique to young women and breast cancer. Through action, advocacy and awareness, the YSC seeks to educate the medical, research, breast cancer and legislative communities and to persuade them to address breast cancer in women 40 and under. The YSC also serves as a point of contact for young women living with breast cancer.
