Although there are multiple community based resources available to assist the patient and family with treatment, rehabilitation, and financing, the patient and family are frequently unaware of the services that are offered. Hopefully this page will help identify some resources, as today the emphasis in health care is to reduce the time patients spend in the hospital, and to deliver as much treatment as possible in an outpatient setting, and to keep the patient in the home setting, where extra resourses may be needed.
Check out some reputable web sites, such as:
The American Medical Association at www.ama-assn.org/consumer.htm
The National Institutes of Health at www.nih.gov
The National Women's Health Resource Center at www.healthywomen.org
Free health books are available from www.pueblo.gsa.gov/
Having some problems? The National Fraud Information Center (NFIC)
assists consumers with recognising and filing complaints about fraud on
the internet and telemarketing at www.fraud.org/
The American Cancer Society web site is at www.cancer.org
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship is a grass roots network
of individuals and organizations, their web site is at
www.cansearch.org/
Caancer Information Service, National Cancer Institute web site is at
www.nci.nih.gov
There is also help for the hearing or speech impaired. For a copy of the U.S. Government TDD/TTY Directory, write:
Consumer Information Center
Department 582C
Pueblo, CO 81009
Their web site is www.gsa.gov/et/fic/firs.htm
Help for the blind and dyslexic:
Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic
20Rosel Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
Toll Free:800-221-479
web site is www.rfbd.org
Cancer HotlineToll Free 800-4-cancer
Department of Health and Human Services(HHS) web site www.os.dhhs.gov
Bone Marrow Transplant Family Support Network
P.O.Box845
Avon, CT 06001
800-826-9376
800-MARROW2 (for National Donor Line)
The Bone Marrow Transplant Family Support Network enables families to feel "conected" when coping with the decision to undergo a transplant. Patients and family are given informatio related to the daily routines both before and after the transplant and the required follow-up-care.
Cancer Care, Inc. (nonprofit) and the National Cancer Care Foundation
1180 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
1-800-813-HOPE
E-mail cancercare@aol.com
Cancer Care is a nonprofit, nonsectarian, East coast service agency to help cancer patients and their families cope with the impact of cancer. It is the largest agency in the nation solely dedicated to providing psychological and financial support to cancer patients and their families and community education programs for the general public. Counseling is available on both a group and an individual basis.
The Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation
Bethesda, MD 20814
800-366-2223 or 800-366-CCCF
E-mail 75717.3513@compuserve.com
Candlelighters has two primary goals: to obtain consistent and adequate federal support for cancer research and to help parents and other family members who share the particularly difficult experience of living with a child with cancer. Candlelighters maintains communications between parents and proffessionals through quarterly newsletters and amoung groups by the same method.
YMCA of the USA Encore plus
Office of Women's Health Initiatives
624 9th Street,NW
3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20001
E-mail hn2205@handsnet.org
The YWCA of the USA has a 20-year history of support for women with breast cancer. They have expanded this commitment to include breast and ceverical cancer awarness, education, and referral to screening and treatment links. Amoung with the breast and ceverical education and referral program, there is postdiagnosis support that includes a specially designed exercise regimen and peer group support sessions.
Make-a-Wish Foundation of America
100 West Clarendon, Suite 2200
Phoenix, AZ 85013-3518
800-722-WISH or 602-279-WISH
www.wish.org
This foundation grants wishes for people under the age of 18 who are suffering from life-threatening or terminal illnesses. The wish includes the immediate family and expenses. There are 82 chapters and 18 international affiliates. Contact the national office for a chapter near you.
Make Today Count
Connie Zimmerman, Director
Mid America Cancer Center
1235 East Cherokee
Springfield, MO 65804-2263
800-432-2273
Make Today count is a mutual support group for persons with life-threatening illnesses. It provides support groups and educational programs as well as brochures and handouts. The purpose of the support groups is to allow people to discuss their personal concerns so that they may deal with them on a positive way. There are chapters in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Contact the national headquarters for a chapter near you.
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS)
1010 Wayne Avenue, 5th Floor
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-565-8868
NCCS represents grassroots organzations throughout the U.S. The primary goal of NCCS is to generate a national awareness of survivorship, demonstrating that there can be a vibrant productive life after a cancer diagnosis. Serves as an information clearing house.
The Oley Foundation
214 Hun Memorial, A23
Albany Medical Center
Albany, Ny 12208
800-776-OLEY
The foundation offers support to consumers of home parenteral or enteral nutrition therapy and their families.
US TOO International, Inc.
930 North York Road
Suite 50
Hinsdale, IL 60521-2293
800-80-USTOO or 800-808-7866
US TOO is a nonprofit organization that provides support for survivors of and patients with prostate cancer. The American Cancer Society Recognises US TOO as a national support group,thier #800-ACS2345 (for cancer information).
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization, Inc.
212 West Van Buren
4th Floor
Chicago, IL 60607-3908
800-221-2141
Web www.y-me.org
Y-ME has become the largest breast cancer support program in the United States. Y-ME offers preoperative counseling, open-door meetings, early detection workshops, a speakers bureau, a resource library, a wigs and prosthesis bank,and inservice workshops for health proffessionals.
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