http://ecancertrials.com
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Information on participating in clinical trials.
http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Information on current clinical trial research and participating in clinical trials.
http://www.cc.nih.gov
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Information about clinical trials. Clinical Trials Fact Sheet.
www.komen.org
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)—University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute
Interactive website with information about clinical trials and personal stories.
http://www.upmccancercenters.com/trials/index.html
TREATMENT—INFORMATION ON TREATMENT OPTIONS
American College of Radiology
Information on current radiation therapy treatment options.
http://www.acr.org
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
Treatment guidelines and information on treatment options.
http://www.cancer.net
American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
Information on breast reconstruction.
http://www.plasticsurgery.org
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Consumer information on breast implants.
http://www.fda.gov
COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY—GENERAL INFORMATION AND SEARCH TOOLS FOR SCIENTIFIC STUDIES
National Cancer Institute (NCI)—Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine (OCCAM)
Detailed information on complementary and alternative medicine therapies for people living with cancer.
http://www.cancer.gov/cam
National Institutes of Health (NIH)—National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
Detailed information on complementary therapies.
http://nccam.nih.gov
National Library of Medicine—PubMed
Search tools for scientific articles on complementary therapies.
http://www.pubmed.com
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Medicine Database
Information on complementary therapies.
http://www.naturaldatabase.com
Natural Standard
Detailed information on complementary therapies.
http://www.naturalstandard.com
COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES—SAFETY INFORMATION
National Institutes of Health (NIH)—Office of Dietary Supplements
Information and safety alerts on dietary supplements.
http://ods.od.nih.gov
U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Safety alerts on complementary and alternative medicine therapies.
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/health.shtm
U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC)—Cure-ious Resource Page
Information on false cancer treatment claims; how to file a complaint.
http://www.ftc.gov/curious
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Safety alerts on complementary and alternative medicine therapies.
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—Fake Cancer Cures
Information on scam treatments.
http://www.fda.gov/cder/news/fakecancercures.htm
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—MedWatch
Information on drug and medical products; how to file a report on a drug or medical product safety concern.
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch
U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP)
Information on whether a dietary supplement has been tested and USP verified for integrity, purity, and safe manufacturing.
http://www.usp.org/USPVerified/dietarySupplements
COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES—LICENSING STATUS OF COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE PROVIDERS
American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
Information on the licensing status of naturopathic physicians.
http://www.naturopathic.org
American Massage Therapy Association
Information on the licensing status of massage therapists.
http://www.amtamassage.org
Information on the licensing status of chiropractors.
http://www.fclb.org
National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork
Information on the licensing status of massage and bodywork therapists.
http://www.ncbtmb.com
National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)
Information on the licensing status of providers of acupuncture and Oriental medicine.
http://www.nccaom.org/find/index.html
COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES—CLINICAL TRIALS
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Information on and a listing of clinical trials of complementary therapies.
http://nccam.nih.gov/research/clinicaltrials
See also Treatment—Clinical Trial Information.
COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES—INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS AND CENTERS
National Library of Medicine—Directory of Health Organizations
Information on local health care organizations and centers offering complementary/integrative therapies.
http://dirline.nlm.nih.gov
GETTING GOOD CARE
Administrators in Medicine—Association of State Medical Board Executive Directors
Information on finding a licensed physician.
http://www.docboard.org
American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)
Information on verifying whether a physician is board certified.
http://www.abms.org
American Cancer Society (ACS)
Information on care for people living with cancer.
http://www.cancer.org
American Medical Association (AMA)—DoctorFinder
Information on finding a licensed physician.
http://www.ama-assn.org/aps/amahg.htm
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
Information on finding an oncologist.
http://www.cancer.net
Health Care Choices
Information on many breast cancer care issues, including patient volume data and insurance coverage.
http://www.healthcarechoices.org
Intercultural Cancer Council
Promotes programs and policies to remove ethnic/racial barriers to breast cancer care.
http://iccnetwork.org
Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations
Information on finding a health care organization that meets the commission’s safety and quality standards.
http://www.qualitycheck.org/consumer/searchQCR.aspx
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Information on care for people living with cancer.
http://www.cancer.gov
National Center for Quality Assurance (NCQA)
Information on the accreditation rating (based on quality standards) of health management organizations (HMOs).
http://reportcard.ncqa.org
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS)
Teamwork: The Cancer Patient’s Guide to Talking with Your Doctor.
http://www.canceradvocacy.org
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Information on FDA-approved mammography facilities.
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/mammography/certified.html
AFTER TREATMENT
Fertile Hope
Financial aid for women with breast cancer whose insurance will not cover fertility treatment.
http://www.fertilehope.org
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Informat
ion on genetic testing for inherited gene mutations related to breast cancer.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancer_information/prevention/
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Information on weight control and physical activity.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov
National Lymphedema Network
Information on lymphedema.
http://www.lymphnet.org
Young Survival Coalition
Information and networking services for young breast cancer survivors.
http://www.youngsurvival.org
SOCIAL SUPPORT
American Cancer Society (ACS)—Cancer Survivors Network
Online community for cancer survivors and caregivers.
http://www.acscsn.org
American Cancer Society (ACS)—Reach to Recovery
In-person and telephone support for people living with cancer.
http://www.cancer.org
American Cancer Society—I Can Cope
Support for people living with cancer, their spouses, and partners.
http://www.cancer.org
Association of Cancer Online Resources
Information on online support groups.
http://www.acor.org
Cancer and Careers
Information for working women with cancer.
http://www.cancerandcareers.org
CancerCare
Information on online support groups.
http://www.cancercare.org
Gilda’s Club Worldwide
Support services for people living with cancer, their family, and friends.
http://www.gildasclub.org
Living Beyond Breast Cancer
Information on breast cancer support and care.
http://www.lbbc.org
Mautner Project for Lesbians with Cancer
Social support services for lesbian women living with cancer and their partners.
http://www.mautnerproject.org
Men Against Breast Cancer
Services to help men be good caregivers of women with breast cancer.
http://www.menagainstbreastcancer.org
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS)
Teamwork: The Cancer Patient’s Guide to Talking with Your Doctor.
http://www.canceradvocacy.org
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
Information on local hospice care.
http://www.nhpco.org
Susan G. Komen for the Cure—Talking with Your Health Care Provider
Visit the “Questions to Ask Your Doctor” section.
http://www.komen.org
The Wellness Community
Support for people living with cancer and their families.
http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org
Well Spouse Foundation
Social support for spouses and partners.
http://www.wellspouse.org
FINANCIAL ISSUES—GENERAL INFORMATION
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
Choosing and Using a Health Plan.
http://www.ahcpr.gov/consumer
A.M. Best Company
Information on insurance company ratings.
http://www.ambest.com
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
Information on health issues, Medicare, and health insurance programs for people over age fifty.
http://www.aarp.orghealth
American Cancer Society—Taking Charge of Money Matters
A financial workshop for people living with cancer.
http://www.cancer.org
America’s Health Insurance Plans
National directory of health insurance plans and information on types of coverage.
http://www.ahip.org
Association of Community Cancer Centers
Cancer Treatments Your Insurance Should Cover.
http://www.accc-cancer.org
Medicaid
Find your state’s Medicaid toll-free hotline.
http://cms.hhs.gov/medicaid
Medicare (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
Information on the Medicare health insurance program, including Medicare prescription drug plans.
http://www.medicare.gov
National Association of Insurance Commissioners
Find your state insurance commissioner.
http://www.naic.org
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
Working It Out: Your Employment Rights as a Cancer Survivor; What Cancer Survivors Need to Know About Health Insurance; and A Cancer Survivor’s Almanac: Charting Your Journey.
http://www.canceradvocacy.org
Patient Advocate Foundation
Legal and advocacy help for disputing insurance claim denials; financial assistance information.
http://www.patientadvocate.org
FINANCIAL ISSUES—MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
Breast Cancer Network of Strength
Financial assistance for wigs, prostheses, and mastectomy bras.
http://www.networkofstrength.org
CancerCare
Financial assistance for diagnostic workups; information on specific prescription drug assistance programs.
http://www.cancercare.org
See also Transportation Assistance.
NeedyMeds.com
Information on drug assistance programs.
http://www.needymeds.com
Partnership for Prescription Assistance
Information on drug assistance programs.
https://www.pparx.org
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
Directory of drug manufacturers’ assistance programs.
http://www.phrma.org
Social Security Administration
Find your local Social Security office.
https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps6z/FOLO/fo001.jsp
Susan G. Komen for the Cure and CancerCare’s Linking A.R.M.S.
Financial assistance for some medications and medical supplies.
http://www.cancercare.org
Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Patient Advocate Foundation’s Co-Pay Relief (CPR) Program
Insurance copayment assistance.
http://www.patientadvocate.org
FINANCIAL ISSUES—TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE
Air Charity Network
Air travel assistance for people living with cancer and their caregivers.
http://aircharitynetwork.org
American Cancer Society (ACS)—Road to Recovery
Local transportation assistance.
http://www.cancer.org
CancerCare
Financial assistance for transportation to and from treatment. Childcare when a parent is having tests or treatment.
http://www.cancercare.org
Corporate Angel Network
Air travel assistance for people living with cancer.
http://www.corpangelnetwork.org
Lifeline Pilots
Air travel assistance for people living with cancer and their caregivers.
http://www.airlifelinemidwest.org/index2.htm
Mercy Medical Airlift
Air travel assistance for people living with cancer and their caregivers.
http://www.mercymedical.org
National Patient Air Travel HELPLINE
Air travel assistance for people living with cancer and their caregivers.
http://www.patienttravel.org
Raquel’s Wings for Life
Air travel assistance for people living with cancer and their caregivers.
http://raquelswingsforlife.com/default.html
LODGING ASSISTANCE
American Cancer Society (ACS)—Hope Lodges
Lodging for families during cancer treatments.
http://www.cancer.org
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Nancy G. Brinker
Ambass
ador Nancy G. Brinker is regarded as the leader of the global breast cancer movement. Her journey began with a simple promise to her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would do everything possible to end the shame, pain, fear, and hopelessness caused by this disease.
Shortly after Susan’s death from breast cancer at the age of 36, Brinker founded Susan G. Komen for the Cure® in 1982. Today Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all, and energize science to find the cures.
In 1983, Ambassador Brinker founded the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®, which is now the world’s largest and most successful education and fundraising event for breast cancer. To date, virtually every major advance in breast cancer research has been touched by hundreds of millions of dollars in Komen for the Cure funding.
Brinker has enlisted every segment of society—from leaders to citizens—to participate in the battle. In 2009, President Barack Obama honored her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, for this work. The same year, she was named Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control for the United Nations’ World Health Organization, where she continues her mission to put cancer control at the top of the world health agenda.
Brinker was named one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People” in 2008. She served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Hungary from 2001 to 2003. Most recently she served as U.S. Chief of Protocol from 2007 to 2009, where she was responsible for overseeing all protocol matters for visiting heads of state and presidential travel abroad. In 2008, President George W. Bush appointed her to The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees.
She has received numerous accolades for her work, including the prestigious Mary Woodard Lasker Award for Public Service, the Trumpet Foundation’s President’s Award, the Independent Women’s Forum Barbara K. Olson Woman of Valor Award, the Champions of Excellence Award presented by the Centers for Disease Control, the Porter Prize presented by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, and the Forbes Trailblazer Award. She was named one of Ladies’ Home Journal’s 100 Most Important Women of the 20th Century and Biography magazine’s 25 Most Powerful Women in America.