A breast cancer diagnosis immediately changes the life of not just the patient but also the people in her life. Thankfully women with breast cancer and their loved ones have a wide array of support, information, education, research, and advocacy resources to lean on. Breast cancer is not an easy battle, but no one has to fight alone as shown by the work done by these 25 organizations.
Susan G. Komen is probably the name most closely associated with the global fight against breast cancer. A major provider of breast cancer advocacy, education, support, and resources, the Susan G. Komen Foundation has been a driving force since the 1980s and has a stated goal of cutting the number of breast cancer deaths in half by 2026.
Breastcancer.org is a leading provider of information about the illness, treatment options, day-to-day expectations, and support networks. The site also provides a wealth of opportunities for families and caregivers to get involved.
Share Cancer Support supports women with both ovarian cancer and breast cancer. The organization provides media resources like educational programs and webinars while maintaining a database of information about symptoms and treatments for both diseases. Share Cancer Support also maintains a helpline and provides a comprehensive list of support groups.
The My Hope Chest motto is "losing a breast changes your life, having it back is life changing." The organization, which was founded by a breast-cancer survivor, provides financial assistance toward reconstructive surgery for uninsured women.
The mission of the recently renamed Breast Cancer Prevention Partners is to promote the prevention of breast cancer by discovering, highlighting, and eliminating its causes. The group provides information and educational materials about chemical and environmental elements that have been identified with an increased risk of being diagnosed with the disease.
Bringing Hope Home provides financial assistance to cancer sufferers and survivors for a variety of needs. Beneficiaries have received money to cover a loss of income, assistance with treatment and medication expenses, help with mortgage payments, and even gifts for family members.
CancerCare provides access to information on counseling, support groups and publications. The organization, which represents 16 million cancer patients and survivors, also offers educational workshops as well as financial assistance.
The Cancer Support Community provides a range of services including information about the disease, networking, and support. The community conducts both research and advocacy, and it provides resources about living with cancer. Visitors to the site can also find support and volunteer opportunities.
Living Beyond Breast Cancer serves five critical functions. It provides a guide to understanding the emotional and practical concerns associated with diagnosis, it maintains a helpline, offers an educational program, publishes an informative blog, and provides tips for finding good support.
Named after a woman who lost her own battle with cancer, Lolly's Locks provides high-quality wigs to cancer patients who suffer hair loss during treatment. The organization focuses on low-income patients, 475 of whom in 47 states have received wigs.
The Food and Drug Administration maintains a comprehensive list of organizations that deal with issues relating to breast implants. The list, which is updated every year, includes governmental entities, consumer groups, professional societies, and private companies.
The TNBC Foundation exists solely to serve those affected by triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a particularly aggressive and hard-to-treat form of the disease. Among the foundation's services is a comprehensive guide to understanding TNBC.
Women between ages 18 to 39 who have suffered from cancer can join First Descents to network with other young survivors and take on outdoor activities to regain both strength and confidence.
Cleaning for a Reason gives the gift of free housecleaning to women who are suffering from cancer or undergoing treatment. Individuals or cleaning services interested in volunteering their time and services can apply to participate in the program.
Men Against Breast Cancer is a unique group that focuses on educating and preparing husbands, male partners, and other men in the lives of breast cancer victims to help them perform the crucial role of caregiver.
Kids Konnected is a support network that connects children and teens who have a parent with cancer. Kids in the network get together for activities such as camps, poker tournaments, educational activities, and support group meetings.
The Patient Advocacy Foundation offers relief to women with breast cancer and their families if they are having trouble making their co-payments. The group also helps educate patients about their best insurance options.
A subsidiary of Mercy Medical Angels, the Patient Travel Referral program helps cancer sufferers travel to distant specialists and treatment centers. The program, which provides both air and ground travel depending on the level of emergency, has served nearly 109,000 people since 1972.
The Mautner Project, which is part of Whitman-Walker Health, a community health center in Washington, D.C., is dedicated specifically to women in the LGBT community. The organization offers transportation to medical appointments, referral to local specialists and support groups, and education about the illness.
Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE) is an advocacy organization designed to support women who face hereditary breast cancer, ovarian cancer and related illnesses. The organization's main issues are access to care, privacy, insurance and research funding.
Nueva Vida is an organization that exists to serve Latina women and their families. It provides local outreach, patient navigation, survivorship, mental health services, and education. The organization is supported by the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Sisters Network Inc. is a breast cancer survivorship organization dedicated to serving African-American women. Sisters Network organizes tours and events that travel to major American cities. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among African-American women.
The Cancer Survivors Network, which is part of the American Cancer Society, is a community that was established by survivors. The organization provides resources and support, as well as information and updates on new treatments and other emerging topics.
Imerman Angels works to match patients and caregivers with one-on-one support from the organization's network of Mentor Angels. The personalized and individual support is always free, and prospective volunteers can apply to become Mentor Angels.
The signature service of After Breast Cancer Diagnosis is match mentoring, which provides personalized peer support to cancer fighters and survivors. Services are also available to their families, friends, and caregivers.