National Resources
The following organizations represent just some of the major national breast cancer organizations. By listing the following institutions as resources, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, North Central Alabama Affiliate does not intend to recommend them over any others. All groups are listed in alphabetical order. If you would like us to consider including a national breast cancer resource not listed or to add or update information not included in the current listing, please contact our office at 205-930-8886 or e-mail us.
American Cancer Society
National Office
1599 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
1-800-ACS-2345
http://www.cancer.org/
The American Cancer Society is a nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service. The Society is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with state Divisions in more than 3,400 local Units. The American Cancer Society is the largest source of private, nonprofit cancer research funds in the United States. Some of the Society's patient service programs include transportation, "Reach to Recovery," "Look Good...Feel Better," and "I Can Cope."
American College of Radiology
1891 Preston White Drive
Reston, VA 20191
1-800-ACR-LINE
http://www.acr.org/
The purpose of the ACR is to advance the science of radiology, improve radiologic service to the patient, study the socioeconomic aspects of the practice of radiology, and encourage improved and continuing education for radiologists and allied professional fields.
Cancer Information Service (CIS)
1-800-4-CANCER
http://www.nci.nih.gov/
The Cancer Information Service (CIS) is a program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Nation's lead agency for cancer research. The CIS is a national resource for information and education about cancer and a leader in helping people become active participants in their own health care by providing the latest information on cancer in understandable language. Through its network of fourteen regional offices, the CIS serves the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For 25 years, the Cancer Information Service has provided the latest and most accurate cancer information to patients and families, the public, and health professionals by interacting with people one-on-one through its toll free (1-800-4-CANCER) telephone Information Service, by working with established national, state, and regional organizations to reach minority and uninsured women through its Partnership Program, by participating in research efforts to find the best ways to help people adopt healthier behaviors, and by providing access to NCI information over the Internet.
Cancer Research Institute
681 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10022
212-688-7515
1-800-99-CANCER
Supports leading-edge research aimed at developing new methods of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer.
Medicare Hotline
1-800-633-4227
The Medicare Hotline will provide information on coverage, joining Medicare, and address changes.
National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations (NABCO)
9 East 37th Street, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10016
212-719-0154
1-888-80-NABCO
nabcoinfo@aol.com
http://www.nabco.org/
NABCO is a visible and vocal Patient Advocacy representative addressing the breast cancer needs and concerns of women and men alike in all fronts including in the medical community, the media, and legislation. NABCO provides educational programs, information services, and patient advocacy opportunities. Through NABCO's educational program, they offer the public with the facts about breast health and breast cancer. Information Services has Information Specialists who provide callers with referrals for screening sites and provide information about breast cancer treatment options. Low- to no-cost services.
National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC)
1707 L St. NW Suite 1060
Washington, DC 20036
202-296-7477
http://www.stopbreastcancer.org/
The National Breast Cancer Coalition is a grassroots advocacy organization dedicated to fighting breast cancer. NBCC aims to eradicate breast cancer through action and advocacy. To achieve its mission, the National Breast Cancer Coalition focuses on three main goals. One is to improve research by increasing appropriations for high quality, peer reviewed research and working within the scientific community to focus research on prevention and finding a cure. Two is to increase access for all women by reducing the barriers that prevent women from having access to high quality treatment and care and to breast cancer clinical trials. Three is to augment influence, by increasing the influence of women living with breast cancer and other breast cancer activists in the decision making that impacts all issues surrounding breast cancer.
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
1-800-4-CANCER
http://www.cancer.gov/
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
1700 Diagonal Rd. Suite 300
Alexandria, VA 22314
1-800-658-8898
www.nhpco.org
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization is the largest nonprofit membership organization representing hospice and palliative care programs and professionals in the United States. The organization is committed to improving end of life care and expanding access to hospice care with the goal of profoundly enhancing quality of life for people dying in America and their loved ones. The organization advocates for the terminally ill and their families. It also develops public and professional educational programs and materials to enhance understanding and availability of hospice and palliative care; convenes frequent meetings and symposia on emerging issues; provides technical informational resources to its membership; conducts research; monitors Congressional and regulatory activities; and works closely with other organizations that share an interest in end of life care.
The Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) Co-Pay Relief Program
PAF Co-Pay Relief
700 Thimble Shoals Boulevard
Suite 201
Newport News, VA 23606
Toll Free: (866) 512-3861
www.copays.org
PAF Co-Pay Relief (CPR) provides direct financial assistance to qualified patients, assisting them with prescription drug co-payments their insurance requires. The program offers personal service to all patients through the use of CPR call counselors. The call counselor works directly with the patient as well as with the provider of care to obtain necessary medical, insurance and income information to advance the application in an expeditious manner. One of the seventeen programs which is operated within the Patient Advocate Foundation umbrella is the Co-Pay Relief Program (PAF CPR). CPR assists insured Americans who qualify financially and medically with their prescription co-payments.
The Susan G. Komen for the Cure
National Headquarters
5005 LBJ Freeway
Dallas, TX 75244
1-800-I'M-AWARE
http://www.komen.org/
The Susan G. Komen for the Cure was established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at the age of 36. Today, the Foundation is an international organization with a network of volunteers working through local Affiliates and Komen Race for the Cure® events to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening and treatment. The Foundation runs one of the most innovative, responsive grant programs in breast cancer today. In addition to funding research, the Foundation and its Affiliates fund community-based breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment projects for the uninsured women. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure also has a breast cancer helpline in which trained volunteers who have been touched by breast cancer in some way answer calls to provide timely and accurate information to callers about breast health and breast cancer in a compassionate and understanding manner. Volunteers can answer questions on a wide variety of topics, including breast health, breast cancer screening techniques, information on current clinical trials, certified mammography locations and support issues.
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization
212 W. Van Buren
Chicago, IL 60607
1-800-221-2141 (English Hotline)
1-800-986-9505 (Spanish Hotline)
http://www.y-me.org/
The mission of Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization is to decrease the impact of breast cancer, create and increase breast cancer awareness, and to ensure through information empowerment and peer support, that no one faces breast cancer alone. Spanish services available.
Young Survival Coalition
77 Fulton Street, Suite 19K
New York, NY 10038
212-577-6259
http://www.youngsurvival.org/
A group of young breast cancer survivors who wish to give a louder voice for women under the age of 45, since it seems that young women are a silent minority overlooked by the breast cancer community. The majority of the research within the breast cancer community is concentrated around women over the age of 45. Most support groups are attended by women over the age of 45. The legislation around mammograms is focused on women who have Medicare as their primary insurance carrier.
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
1-800-4-CANCER
http://www.cancer.gov/