Cancer and Treatment Education
American Cancer Society
Website: www.cancer.org
Phone: (800) 227-2345
The American Cancer Society (ACS) funds and conducts research, shares expert information, supports patients, and spreads the word about cancer prevention so patients can live longer and better. In addition to a vast collection of educational materials, the ACS provides programs on a local level to offer patients services such as rides to treatment and lodging. Use the ACS locator to connect with your local chapter.
Cancer.Net
Website: www.cancer.net
Cancer.Net is the patient information website provided by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). The website brings the expertise and resources of ASCO to people living with cancer and cancer caregivers. Well-informed patients are their own best advocates and invaluable partners for physicians. Cancer.Net provides timely, comprehensive information to help patients and families make informed healthcare decisions.
National Cancer Institute
Website: www.cancer.gov
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is a division of the United States’ Department of Health and Human Services. NCI is the federal government’s principal institute for cancer research and training. On the NCI website, you can find lots of information about cancer, treatment, and the latest research.
Emotional Support
CancerCare
Website: www.cancercare.org
Phone: (800) 813-4673
CancerCare provides telephone, online and face-to-face counseling, support groups, education, publications, and financial and co-payment assistance.
Cancer Support Community
Website: www.cancersupportcommunity.org
Phone: (888) 793-9355
Cancer Support Community provides professional programs of emotional support, education, and hope for people impacted by cancer at no charge so that no one faces cancer alone. Cancer Support Community includes Gilda’s Clubs and The Wellness Community locations. You can attend support groups and other fun and educational events to connect with other facing cancer. Find your local group here.
Food Assistance Programs
2-1-1
Website: www.211.org
Phone: 211
2-1-1 is the telephone number of a call center that offers information and provides referrals to health and human services for everyday needs and in times of crisis. Services vary by community. Call 2-1-1 to find resources in your area such as food banks, soup kitchens, meal delivery, and other assistance programs.
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)
Website: www.fns.usda.gov/csfp/
The CSFP works to improve the health of low-income persons age 60 or older. The program is run by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), an agency of the United State Department of Agriculture. To apply, you must contact your state’s distributing agency (SDA). You can find your SDA contact information on the USDA website.
Meals on Wheels
Website: www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org
Phone: 1-888-998-6325
Meals on Wheels provides nutritious meals delivered to seniors at no or reduced cost. Meal delivery is offered nationwide facilitated by independently-run local programs. Use the Meals on Wheels locator on the website homepage to find your local program.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Website: www.fns.usda.gov/snap
Phone: Find your state’s hotline number here
SNAP offers nutrition assistance to eligible, low-income individuals. To apply for benefits, contact your local SNAP office. You can find local offices and each state’s application on this national map.
USDA National Hunger Hotline
Website: https://www.hungerfreeamerica.org/about/our-work/usda-national-hunger-hotline
Phone: 1-866-3-HUNGRY or 1-877-8-HAMBRE
This hotline is a helpful resource for people seeking food assistance. The hotline, operated by Hunger Free America, can be reached Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET.
Food Pantries and Food Banks
AmpleHarvest.org
Website: http://ampleharvest.org
AmpleHarvest.org encourages farmers and gardeners to donate unused fresh foods to prevent food waste. Use their locator to find a pantry in your area. You can search by your address.
Feeding America
Website: www.feedingamerica.org
The Feeding America nationwide network of food banks secures and distributes 4 billion meals each year through food pantries and meal programs in the U.S. Use their locator to find a food bank in your community. You can search by zip code or state.
FoodPantries.org
Website: www.foodpantries.org/
Provides a list of food pantries, soup kitchens, and other food resources by state.
Financial and Practical Resources
CancerCare
Website: www.cancercare.org
Phone: (800) 813-4673
CancerCare provides telephone, online and face-to-face counseling, support groups, education, publications, and financial and co-payment assistance.
NeedyMeds
Website: www.needymeds.org
Phone: (800) 503-6897
NeedyMeds provides free information on patient assistance programs. Their lists of programs are updated regularly. You can search for assistance by drug name, diagnosis, and more. Needy Meds also offers a free discount drug card.
Partnership for Prescription Assistance
Website: www.pparx.org
Phone: (888) 477-2669
Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) helps qualifying patients without prescription drug coverage get the medicines they need for free or nearly free. PPA offers a single point of access to more than 475 public and private programs, including nearly 200 offered by pharmaceutical companies.
Patient Advocate Foundation
Website: www.patientadvocate.org
Phone: (800) 532-5274
Patient Advocate Foundation’s Patient Services provides patients with arbitration, mediation, and negotiation to settle issues with access to care, medical debt, and job retention related to their illness.
RxAssist
Website: www.rxassist.org
RxAssist is an online resource center with information about patient assistance programs, Medicare Part D, programs for low cost medications and other issues related to pharmaceutical access.
Together Rx Access
Website: www.togetherrxaccess.com
With Together Rx Access, individuals without prescription drug coverage can gain access to immediate savings on hundreds of prescription products at their local pharmacy.
Meal Coordination
Meal Train
Website: www.mealtrain.com
Meal Train provides an online tool to organize meals for a loved one with the help of family and friends. Features include an interactive online calendar, alerts and reminders, and the ability to list meal preferences and allergies.
Take Them a Meal
Website: www.takethemameal.com
Through Take Them a Meal, you can create a customized online signup sheet that makes it easy for friends and family to coordinate meal preparation and delivery. The site also offers recipes.
Nutrition Education and Recipes
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Website: www.eatright.org
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. AND is committed to improving the nation’s health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education, and advocacy. On the AND website, you can find expert nutrition information and answers to nutrition questions. If you need nutrition services beyond what PearlPoint can provide, use the AND locator to find Registered Dietitian Nutritionists near you.
American Institute for Cancer Research
Website: www.aicr.org
By funding research, interpreting evidence, and educating the public about the results, the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) is helping Americans realize that it’s never too early and never too late to make choices that protect against cancer and cancer recurrence. AICR provides education on nutrition and lifestyle choices that help prevent cancer. AIRC also offers many tasty and healthy recipes to put cancer prevention on your plate.
Cancer Dietitian
Website: www.cancerdietitian.com
Cancer Dietitian is a healthy living blog run by Julie Lanford MPH, RD, LDN. Lanford is the Wellness Director for Cancer Services, a non-profit in Winston-Salem, NC. She is a registered dietitian, licensed nutritionist and has over 10 years of experience working in oncology. Find up-to-date information on a variety of cancer and nutrition topics and delicious recipes to add to your menu.
Cook for Your Life
Website: www.cookforyourlife.org
Cook for Your Life is a subscription-free website filled with cooking videos and over 1,000 recipes that teach cancer patients how to create healthy and delicious meals at home—at their own time and pace. Recipes and videos are easily searchable and organized by topic specific to the stage of treatment, dietary needs, or simply how patients feel at any given moment.
Oncology Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group
Website: www.oncologynutrition.org
The Oncology Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group is a group within the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for nutrition professionals that specialize in oncology (cancer) nutrition. On the website, you can find research-based information on nutrition and cancer journey along with recipes and other resources.
United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Information Center
Website: www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/cancer
The Food and Nutrition Information Center (FNIC) is a leader in online global nutrition information. Located at the National Agricultural Library (NAL) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the FNIC website contains over 2500 links to current and reliable nutrition information.
For additional resources, visit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s list of Other Helpful Organizations.
