Breast Cancer Treatment Related Links
The following organizations and resources offer a wealth of information and support to cancer patients and their families. This list is not all inclusive, because there are just too many worthwhile organizations providing breast cancer services. Therefore we have highlighted some of the best ones available that serve a variety of different needs. We have also included a section on some of the international organizations providing care throughout the world. A more detailed list can be found in A Woman’s Decision.
Comprehensive Resources
American Cancer Society: www.cancer.org
Contains a wealth of excellent resources and educational materials on a wide range of topics from basic cancer statistics to cancer support groups. Many of these materials are also available in print.
Breast Cancer Organization: www.breastcancer.org
Provides information on treatment options.
National Cancer Institute (NCI): www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/breast
Provides an enormous amount of timely and valuable information for patients and their families on topics ranging from breast cancer facts to current treatment options, risk factors, clinical trials, and much, much more. Many of these materials are also available in print.
Physician Data Query (PDQ): www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq
NCI’s comprehensive online cancer database. It contains information on a wide range of cancer topics, a registry of 8,000-plus open and 19,000-plus closed cancer clinical trials from around the world, and a directory of professionals who provide genetics services.
Support Services
Breast Cancer Network of Strength (formerly Y-Me): www.networkofstrength.org
Provides information and emotional and peer support to anyone affected by breast cancer.
FORCE: www.facingourrisk.org
Provides support and information to BRCA-positive women.
Living Beyond Breast Cancer: www.lbbc.org
Provides services and educational information to women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds.
National Asian Women’s Health Organization (NAWHO): www.nawho.org
Provides information about a range of health issues, including breast cancer, for Asian-American women.
National Patient Travel Center: www.patienttravel.org
Provides information about all forms of charitable, long-distance, medical air transport services and provides referrals to all appropriate sources of help available in the national charitable medical air transportation network.
Nueva Vida, Inc.: www.nueva-vida.org
Provides support, education, and resources to Latina women with breast cancer.
Sharsheret: www.sharsheret.org
Provides information and support to Jewish women facing breast cancer.
Sister’s Network for African-American Women: www.sistersnetworkinc.org
Provides information and support to African-American women facing breast cancer.
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation: www.komen.org
Offers support, patient advocacy, information, and a wide range of resources for breast cancer patients and their families.
Young Survival Coalition: www.youngsurvival.org
Provides support, education, and resources to young women with breast cancer.
Second Opinion Centers
A number of major hospitals throughout the country offer second opinion consultation services at varying costs. Call the Cancer Information Service at
800-4-CANCER, or visit their website at www.cancer.gov/aboutnci/cis, to locate the center nearest you.
Information on Health Insurance
America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP): www.ahip.org
Provides health insurance coverage to more than 200 million Americans.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: www.cms.gov
Provides information on Medicare and Medicaid and their benefits, how they work together, and what is covered.
Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.): www.iii.org/individuals/healthinsurance
Publishes a number of pamphlets and books and provides information on health insurance basics, buying insurance, and a glossary of insurance topics.
International Resources
Australian New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group: www.anzbctg.org
Promotes breast cancer research in Australia and New Zealand and provides information on the latest clinical trials being conducted.
Breast Cancer Care: www.breastcancercare.org.uk
Provides information and support to cancer patients in the United Kingdom and their families. They offer a national help line, volunteer service, and a wide range of information and audio tapes.
Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation: www.cbcf.org
Provides comprehensive breast cancer information for patients, their families, and the public at large.
Canadian Cancer Society: www.cancer.ca
A national community-based organization that provides a wide range of cancer information, peer support, and financial information to cancer patients and their families.
Cancer Council Australia: www.cancer.org.au
This organization is the Australian counterpart to the American Cancer Society, providing valuable information and support to cancer patients and their families.
Macmillan Cancer Support: www.macmillan.org.uk
This is a leading United Kingdom organization that provides support, counseling and information for cancer patients and their families and friends. It also publishes booklets on specific cancers and their diagnosis and treatment.
