Resources
This resource guide is designed to connect cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers with organizations offering resources to the cancer community that Chris found helpful or about which she learned through her journey.
If you know of an organization and would like to see it included, please email Chris at cscorriganwriter@gmail.com.
Lingerie and Clothing for Women Following Breast Surgery
Offers lingerie, swimwear, and breast forms for women who have undergone breast surgery, mastectomy, or breast reconstruction.
AnaOno LLC
Offers lingerie, swimwear, and loungewear made for women with breast cancer by women with breast cancer, including breast reconstruction, breast surgery, mastectomy, or are living with other conditions that cause pain or discomfort.
The Busted Tank®️
A modern mastectomy clothing company with no broadband elastic offering uniquely-pocketed mastectomy garments and Interchangeable bilateral breast form prostheses.
Complete Shaping®️
If you’re a breast cancer survivor who has had a bilateral or double mastectomy surgery without reconstruction, you know that finding fashionable, comfortable apparel is no easy task. Now you have options. Designed by a woman who also has had a double mastectomy, Complete Shaping’s innovative patented mastectomy clothing has no binding or restrictive elastics along the bra line that can irritate mastectomy or lymphadenectomy scars. There is no tight band across the chest—a precaution against the heightened lymphedema risk—just soft, smooth fabric against the skin and scarred areas. Plus, the ultra lightweight breast prosthetics won’t weigh you down.
The Dain Shoppe
https://www.thedainshoppe.com/
Offers a full line of services for breast surgery patients, including lingerie, swimsuits, and breast forms.
Everviolet ®
Everviolet is a beautiful lingerie and loungewear collection nurturing changes in a woman’s body following treatment for breast cancer and other meaningful life events. Designed by a breast cancer thriver, Everviolet’s adaptive garments accommodate sensitivities and limitations resulting from a range of illnesses, surgeries and body-altering phases of life. #beautyofchange
Cancer Organizations
The American Cancer Society is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem through research, education, and advocacy. Provides a variety of programs and support to cancer patients, their caregivers, and families.
American Institute for Cancer Research
The American Institute for Cancer Research focuses on the link between diet and cancer, funds research in the field of nutrition, physical activity and cancer prevention, treatment and survival, and educates the public about its research.
Breastcancer.org
Breastcancer.org is dedicated to providing the most reliable, complete, and up-to-date information about breast cancer. Its mission is to help women, men, and their loved ones make sense of the complex medical and personal information about breast health and breast cancer, so they can make the best decisions for their lives.
Cancer 101
Cancer 101 provides information for patients, survivors, caregivers through individualized organizational tools and resources.
Cancer Core Recovery Project, Inc.
https://cancercorerecovery.org/
The Cancer Core Recovery Project is a nonprofit organization that provides educational workout videos, instructional training manuals and develops exercise programs for cancer survivors to help rehabilitate their bodies after surgery. Women with pelvic and abdominal cancers as well as women who have undergone TRAM flap reconstruction surgeries inspired the creation of the Cancer Core Recovery Project.
CancerCare
CancerCare provides free, professional support services for young adults affected by cancer.
CancerGrad.org
CancerGrad.org seeks to redefine the traditional cancer narrative from a war/battle experience to an educational experience, because words have the power to shape us and our world.
Cancer Support Community – Central New Jersey
https://www.cancersupportcnj.org/
The Cancer Support Community is dedicated to providing support to all people affected by cancer and their loved ones.
Cancer Warrior Alliance
The Cancer Warrior Alliance delivers cancer support resource information to the cancer community by building relationships with and providing resource information to clinics, hospitals and those affected by cancer, and informing and empowering everyone in the cancer community to obtain resources and attend support and information events.
ChemoCare
ChemoCare provides online resources about chemotherapy treatments and managing side effects through survivor forums, message boards, nutritional counseling and long-term concerns.
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Dana Farber Cancer Institute is a hospital committed to providing adults and children with cancer with the best treatment available today while developing tomorrow’s cures through cutting-edge research. Provides excellent patient information and resources.
Diva for a Day
Diva for a Day provides a day of beauty and pampering to women dealing with cancer.
Feather Foundation
https://www.thefeatherfoundation.org/
The Feather Foundation provides financial, emotional and practical support to parents who have cancer. They provide help towards childcare related costs, online groups, guidance and tips on parenting with cancer and self-care with cancer, and resources of other assistance available for parents with cancer.
Fighting Pretty
https://www.fightingpretty.org/
Fighting Pretty is dedicated to sending “pretty packages” to women battling cancer at any stage of treatment to help them feel strong and beautiful.
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
https://www.fredhutch.org/en.html
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is dedicated to the elimination of cancer and related diseases as causes of human suffering and death through prevention and curative treatments accessible to all patients. Conducts research, offers patient education, treatment, and clinical trials.
Infinite Strength
https://www.infinitestrength.org/
Infinite Strength’s mission is to make medical treatments accessible for underserved breast cancer patients and to offset comfort care costs that can make all the difference in the healing process, both physically and emotionally.
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is dedicated to curing leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improving the quality of life of patients and their families. Funds blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.
LIVESTRONG Foundation
LIVESTRONG provides direct support services, connecting people and communities with the services they need, and calls for state, national and world leaders to help fight this disease.
Living Beyond Breast Cancer
Living Beyond Breast Cancer works with women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and their caregivers throughout their experience of diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
Mary’s Place by the Sea
https://www.marysplacebythesea.org/
Mary’s Place by the Sea is a respite home for women who are receiving treatment for cancer that provides services complementing their medical treatment, including oncology massage, nutrition education, individual counseling, Reiki, guided meditation, expressive writing, and yoga.
MD Anderson Cancer Center
MD Anderson Cancer Center is a hospital for cancer treatment. Provides excellent patient information and resources.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is a hospital for people with all types of cancer and allied diseases. Provides excellent patient information and resources.
Metavivor Research and Support, Inc.
Metavivor Research and Support, Inc. is dedicated to the specific fight of women and men living with stage IV metastatic breast cancer.
Minette’s Angel
https://www.minettesangels.org/
Minette’s Angels provides assistance to those in treatment, supports research, and promotes breast health awareness. We offer scholarships to second year nursing students at Seton Hall University’s College of Nursing and Verona students entering the medical field, placing a priority on nursing.
National Cancer Institute
The National Cancer Institute is the federal government’s principal agency for cancer research and training and part of the National Institutes of Health. Provides comprehensive information regarding cancer causes, prevention, treatment, and care for individuals with cancer.
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
https://www.canceradvocacy.org/
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship is a survivor-led advocacy organization working to increase access to improved quality care through legislative and public policy change, patient empowerment and educational outreach initiatives.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network is a not-for-profit alliance of twenty-eight leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education. NCCN is dedicated to improving and facilitating quality, effective, efficient, and accessible cancer care so patients can live better lives.
The National LGBT Cancer Network
The National LGBT Cancer Network addresses the needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people with cancer and those at risk.
National Lymphedema Network
The National Lymphedema Network that provides education and guidance regarding lymphedema management to patients, healthcare professionals, and the general public by disseminating information on the prevention and management of primary and secondary lymphedema.
Pink S.H.O.E.S., Inc.
Pink, the color of breast cancer awareness and S.H.O.E.S. an acronym for Strength, Hope, Optimism, Endurance and Survival gives true meaning to our non-profit breast cancer organization established in 2011 by two women, breast cancer survivor La’Kesha Jackson-Gordon and friend Ganesa Taylor. The Pink S.H.O.E.S., Inc. program is designed to provide financial and other assistance to women currently being treated for breast cancer, with either chemotherapy or radiation treatments. Patients receiving only hormone therapy are not eligible. Patient residency must be in NY (Long Island or one of the five boroughs of NYC).
Remember Betty
Remember Betty is dedicated to minimizing the financial burden associated with breast cancer for patients & survivors by providing direct financial support to them so that they can focus on recovery & quality of life.
Shay Sharpe’s Pink Wishes
http://pinkwishesinc.wixsite.com/sspw
Shay Sharpe’s Pink wishes provides wishes to individuals diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer, between the ages of 18-40 and facing a terminal diagnosis by their physician, as well as Christmas, Play Date, and Scholarship Wishes to children whose mothers are in treatment for breast cancer or who have lost a mother to breast cancer.
Stupid Cancer
Stupid Cancer empowers adolescents and young adults affected by cancer by ending isolation and building community.
StyleEsteem Wardrobe
Chic and comfortable head wraps for every season and every occasion, for all women. Designed with you living your fullest life in mind, at any stage of your hair journey.
Survivor Moda
Created by a breast cancer survivor, The ParkPuff™ is a stylish, chest-comforting, go-anywhere seatbelt pillow for patients worldwide.
Susan G. Komen Foundation
The Susan G. Komen Foundation is dedicated to the fight against breast cancer. World’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists working to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures.
Wildfire Breast Cancer Community
https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/
Publishes Wildfire Magazine, the only magazine for young women with breast cancer.
Young Survival Coalition
https://www.youngsurvival.org/
The Young Survival Coalition is dedicated to the critical issues unique to young women who are diagnosed with breast cancer.
Young Women’s Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation
The Young Women’s Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 corporation dedicated to increasing awareness of breast cancer among young women and providing a support group in the Pittsburgh area.
Financial/Legal
Cancer + Careers
https://www.cancerandcareers.org/en
Cancer and Careers empowers and educates people with cancer to thrive in the workplace. Our innovative programs for survivors and healthcare professionals provide the vital support, tools, and information they need to navigate the practical and legal challenges that follow a diagnosis.
National Cancer Legal Services Network
The National Cancer Legal Services Network promotes access to healthcare and seeks to increase the availability of legal services for people living with cancer, their families and caregivers.
What Is Medicare?
https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/
Medicare is the federal government’s health insurance program that primarily covers people 65 and older and certain younger people with disabilities or kidney failure. Original Medicare does not cover all medical costs.
Does Medicare Cover Cancer Treatment?
https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/coverage/conditions-and-treatments/cancer/
Medicare Part A covers your hospitalization costs related to cancer. Medicare Part B covers most cancer-related medical services and treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Fertility
Alliance for Fertility Preservation
https://www.allianceforfertilitypreservation.org/
The Alliance for Fertility Preservation is made up of a team of professionals who have chosen to join together to advance the field of fertility preservation. Our members are recognized leaders with expertise in all aspects of fertility preservation including, oncology, reproductive endocrinology, urology, psychology, oncology nursing, and reproductive law.
Fertile Action
Fertile Action works to ensure fertile women touched by the disease can become mothers by educating, advocating, supporting, and providing financial aid. Fertile Action provides education to physicians and patients, decreases fertility preservation costs by more than 50% through its network, and offers fertility scholarships on a sliding scale basis. Fertile Action urges oncologists to have the fertility conversation with patients during the treatment planning phase.
Save My Fertility
https://www.savemyfertility.org/
Save My Fertility provides information to adult cancer patients and the parents of children with cancer who want to learn more about preserving their fertility before and during cancer treatment, and protecting their hormonal health after treatment. Save My Fertility also provides information and guidance to oncologists, endocrinologists, and other health care providers concerned with the reproductive health of cancer patients and survivors.
Mastectomy & Nipple Tattoo Artists
The following tattoo artists are known for their mastectomy and/or nipple tattoos.
David Allen
Pink Ink Tattoo LLC
Sarah Peacock
Stacie Rae
https://www.stacie-rae.com/#artist
Vinnie Myers Team
Non-Permanent Nipple Solutions
Pink Perfect
Produces realistic custom-made and ready-made adhesive silicone nipples for women who have undergone unilateral or bilateral mastectomies and breast reconstruction.
Rub-On Nipples®
Rub-On Nipples® are temporary areola tattoos that last one to two weeks and are easily removed with rubbing alcohol.
Peer Support
4th Angel
The 4th Angel Mentoring Program is a cancer patient peer-mentoring service provided by the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Taussig Cancer Institute. The program matches patients or caregivers with trained volunteer mentors who have undergone similar situations.
Cancer Hope Network
https://www.cancerhopenetwork.org/
Cancer Hope Network provides free one-on-one emotional support to adult cancer patients and their loved ones. Its volunteers are at least one year post-treatment or successfully undergoing maintenance therapies. They have faced more than eighty cancer types and speak fifteen languages. Our volunteers offer support from diagnosis, through treatment and into recovery.
The Well Spouse Association
The Well Spouse® Association advocates for and addresses the needs of individuals caring for a chronically ill and/or disabled spouse/partner. We offer peer to peer support and educate health care professionals and the general public about the special challenges and unique issues “well” spouses face every day.
HealGrief®
HealGrief®, a social support network that is there when everyone else goes away, and the real grieving begins. Everything we do is inspired by our core belief that no one should ever grieve alone. HealGrief® provides the tools and resources to guide one’s journey with grief into a healthy personal growth.
Professional Organizations
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Provides referrals to registered dieticians and information about nutrition.
American Psychiatric Association
Provides information about common mental disorders, including symptoms, risk factors and treatment options, as well as referrals to psychiatrists.
American Psychological Association
Provides information related to psychological issues affecting individuals’ daily physical and emotional well-being, as well as referrals to psychologists.
Cancer.Net – American Society of Clinical Oncology
Provides timely, comprehensive information to help patients and families make informed health care decisions, as well as referrals to oncologists.
Wellness
Season in Wellness
https://seasonsinwellness.life/
Specializing in therapeutic massage for breast cancer patients and survivors.