Resource List: Cancer

American Brain Tumor Association
Web site: http://www.abta.org
Phone: 1-800-886-2282
Address: 2720 River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018
Educational materials, specialist referrals, support group listings

American Cancer Society
Web site: http://www.cancer.org
24-hour phone: 1-800-227-2345 (TTY: 1-866-228-4327)
National Headquarters: 1599 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329
Referrals to specialists and local chapters (local units sponsor services for patients and families including transportation programs and some supplies), educational materials

National Cancer Institute
English Web site: http://www.cancer.gov
Spanish Web site: http://www.cancer.gov/espanol
Phone: 1-800-4CANCER, or 1-800-422-6237 (TTY: 1-800-332-8615)
Address: NCI Public Inquiries Office, 6116 Executive Boulevard, Room 3036A, Bethesda, MD 20892-8322
English/Spanish educational materials, printed information, referrals to a local mammography center, cancer information specialists

Skin Cancer Foundation
Web site: http://www.skincancer.org
Phone: 1-800-754-6490
Address: 149 Madison Avenue, Suite 901, New York, NY 10016
Public information services, printed and video information

United Ostomy Associations of America
Web site: http://www.uoaa.org
Phone: 1-800-826-0826
Address: PO Box 66, Fairview, TN 37062-0066
Educational materials, specialist referrals, local chapters, printed information, audio information, visual information

Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization
Web site: http://www.networkofstrength.org/
24-hour hotline: 1-800-221-2141; Spanish: 1-800-986-9505
Address: 212 W. Van Buren, Suite 1000, Chicago, IL 60607-3908
Educational materials on treatment options, patient concerns, and questions; telephone peer counseling by breast cancer survivors

Your healthcare plan, local hospital, or regional cancer center are other sources for cancer information. Your healthcare plan may cover individual and family counseling. If not, speak to the healthcare plan social worker about mental health resources within your community.

Group counseling helps people faced with cancer explore their feelings. People who have had cancer actively participate in these groups. They share the experiences and feelings they had after a diagnosis of cancer was made. Some groups meet only during the period of hospitalization, while others continue after the diagnosis is made and treatment is started. Some groups meet only with the patients, while others include spouses, family members, and other special people. These groups provide an opportunity to exchange treatment tips and hints, as well as give support and information to help patients, families, and friends gain more control over their lives.

Faith is a source of strength for many people. Members of the clergy can provide comfort. Some are trained to minister to people coping with life-threatening illnesses. Contact the faith community of your choice. The chaplain of your local hospital will be able to guide you to clergy who are experienced in supporting people after a cancer diagnosis is made.