Advocacy
National Patient Advocate Foundation (NPAF)
They seek to legislate and create access to insurance funding for evolving technologies.
Sun Safety Alliance
The Sun Safety Alliance seeks to raise the level of public awareness of the importance of
adopting sun safe paractices as a means to prevent skin cancer and to develop public education
programs that will motivate individuals to change behavior.
Caregiver Resources
National Family Caregivers Association
(NFCA)
Addresses much-needed support for those who care for family members who are seriously ill or
disabled.
Clinical Trials
Cancer Trials Support Unit
The Cancer Trials Support Unit (CTSU) is an NCI funded program to facilitate participation
(by both patients and physicians) in phase III NCI sponsored Cancer treatment trials.
Clinicaltrials.gov
National Institutes of Health search site for clinical trials.
Emerging Med
A clinical trial search base for all trials.
Oncolink
This site contains information from the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center and the
National Cancer Institute. It has a melanoma page and lists current medical trials.
Dermatology Resources
American Academy of Dermatology (AAD)
Member dermatologists nationally and internationally; gives free screening locations,
educational information; includes a melanoma page. Publishers of many informative physician
newsletters on research, diagnosis, and treatment.
Dermatrak Imaging Centers
Mole Mapping For Melanoma Screening: Total body photography is provided. This photography is
one of the best ways to document clinical appearance of your moles for future reference. It aids in
the early detection of melanoma and prevents unnecessary surgery. It gives your doctor the tools to
compare your current moles to baseline appearance.
Skin Cancer Foundation
Provides educational material and lists medical providers.
Publisher of the
Melanoma Letter; up-to-date information for physicians.
Prescription Drug Assistance
There are many programs designed by public and private resources that can help patients with the
cost of their medicines. Some of the programs have options for buying drugs at discounted prices,
while others help patients who cannot afford any part of their medicine costs.
- Needy Meds - This service provides information on drugs and offers applications (if available)
for financial assistance, coupons for drugs, discount drug cards, free/low cost clinics and
government program information. Visit
www.needymeds.com
for more information.
- Together Rx Access Card - Visit
www.TogetherRxAccess.com or call (800) 444-4106 to learn more about
this free prescription savings program for qualified enrollees, which provides savings on more than
300 FDA-approved prescription drugs.
- Buying Drugs Online - If you are going to search for pharmacies on the web, always start by
going to the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS) Web page at
www.vipps.info. The VIPPS seal is awarded to Web sites that
have complied with criteria on patient privacy, authentication and security of orders, quality
assurance, and offer meaningful consultation between patients and pharmacists.
- Partnership for Prescription Assistance - This program helps uninsured and financially
struggling patients get access to nearly 500 healthcare and prescription assistance programs that
offer medicines for free or nearly free. Visit
www.pparx.org or call
1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669) for information.
- Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Card - Today, seniors and people with disabilities can save an
estimated 10-25 percent off the cost of their drugs with a Medicare-approved drug discount card.
Some low-income seniors might also qualify for an additional $600 benefit for purchasing
prescription drugs. Call (800) MEDICARE ((800) 633-4227) for more information.
- National Conference of State Legislatures - More than 30 states have programs that will give
you discounts on prescription drugs, often for free. Visit
www.ncsl.org/programs/health/pharm.htm to learn more about the
various programs state legislatures have developed.
- Rx Outreach - Rx Outreach is a prescription assistance program for more than 55 pharmaceutical
companies managed by Express Scripts Specialty Distribution Services, Inc. (ESSDS), a
fully-licensed mail order pharmacy. The program offers prescription generic medicines to uninsured
individuals and families, as well as those who have limited prescription drug coverage. Visit
www.rxoutreach.com or call (800) 769-3880 to see if you qualify.
Early Detection/Prevention
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
Federal agency that provides information on cancer prevention
and control.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Site for the SunWise federal education program.
Melanoma Education Foundation
"Saving lives through eduction." MEF offers a comprehensive education program for middle
school to highschool aged students with an emphasis on skin examination and early detection.
Men's Health Network
Men's Health Network (MHN) is a non-profit educational organization comprised of physicians,
researchers, public health workers, individuals and other health professionals. MHN is committed to
improving the health and wellness of men through education campaigns, partnerships with retailers
and other private entities, workplace health programs, data collection, and work with health care
providers to provide better programs and funding for men's health needs.
Emotional Support & Retreat
Allows cancer patients and family members to talk freely about
experiences, concerns and side effects with a survivor of their same cancer type.
CaringBridge
CaringBridge offers free, easy-to-create web sites that help connect friends and family when
they need it most.
Commonweal
California based retreat center and human ecology research center.
Gilda’s Club
Centers provide social and emotional support along with lectures, workshops, children’s
programs and other services.
Nevus Network
Support group for people with giant birthmarks or garment nevi.
Pregnant with Cancer
A comprehensive guide for those who have cancer during pregnancy with attention paid to their
special needs.
Sunstone Healing Center Tucson-based support center
providing lodging programs and healing retreats in a nurturing environment.
The Wellness Community
The Wellness Community's mission is to help people with cancer and their loved ones enhance
health and well-being by providing a professional program of support, education and hope. All of
their programs and services are provided free of charge!
General Support
American Cancer Society
This site offers many support services, listings of local support groups, and small grants.
Cancer Guide
Support information compiled by a cancer survivor.
Cancer Links
An index of many information and advocacy sites.
Cancer Care
Provides patient counseling, social services, and financial assistance.
Healthfinder
Health and Human Services Department easy entry point to trustworthy health information.
Learnmelanoma.org
Learnmelanoma.org teaches visual distinctions between benign moles and those suspicious for
skin cancer.
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Very comprehensive information from the US Government agency wing of the National Institute
of Health (NIH).
Phillyhealthinfo.org
Phillyhealthinfo.org Sponsored by the College of Physicians of Philadelphia,
Phillyhealthinfo.org is a comprehensive directory of health services, events and information
serving Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.
Physician’s Data Query (PDQ)
A service of NCI which provides answers to both patients’ and doctors’ questions regarding
research, treatment, supportive care, screening, and drug trials.
Web MD
A medical education site from a company that helps both consumers and healthcare providers
navigate the healthcare community.
Hospice
Hospice Education Institute
Valuable information on end-of-life care for patients, caregivers and families.
HospiceNet
A web-based service providing information about hospice.
Hotlines
Melanoma International Foundation: Patient Navigation
1-866-463-6663
PDQ Search Service
for Health Professionals
1-800-345-3300
Outside the United States call 313-831-8292
The National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information
Service
1-800-4-CANCER
Usually operates out of your regional cancer center.
Insurance/Financial Assistance
Community Volunteers in Medicine
Community Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM) is a non-profit community-based volunteer
corporation, serving the primary medical and dental needs of the uninsured working poor residents
of Chester County.
National Patient Advocate Foundation (NPAF)
They seek to legislate and create access to insurance funding for evolving technologies.
Medicare
Site for medicare subscribers.
International Resources
Melanoma Patients Australia (Australia)
The aim of the website is to provide melanoma patients, their family and friends with
information about melanoma and its treatment options as well as providing a support network to
nurture them.
Cancer Index Remarkable multinational
reference site to support information and cancer care organizations in over 100 countries.
Lodging
www.joeshouse.org
Joe’s House is a nationwide, non-profit organization, which serves cancer patients, their
advocates, and social workers by providing a national online directory of local lodging
accommodations.
Oncology Resources
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
Provides cancer resources, and how to find an oncologist.
Eastern Oncology Cooperative Group
A definitive source of current oncology research trials.
People Living With Cancer
Consumer site for American Society for Clinical Oncology
Pain Management
American Pain Foundation (APF)
A pain action guide and offers information, support and advocacy.
Radiation
Research
Friends of Cancer Research
Works to mobilize public support through an emphasis on policy related issues important to
cancer research.
PubMed
Provides quick access to medical research through the National Library of Medicine.
Suggested Reading
The Anatomy of Hope (Jerome Groupman)
Examines how people prevail in the face of illness.
Dancing in Limbo (Glenna Halvorsen-Boyd)
Written by a melanoma patient and a cancer patient; addresses in a refreshing way the
psychological issues that cancer patients face.
Home Care Guide for Cancer (Peter Houts)
Preparation for the caregiver providing home care for a cancer patient during intensive
treatment stage.
The ACS Guide to Complementary & Alternative Cancer Methods
Consumer text features a broad range of topics, including herbs, vitamins, minerals, diet,
manual healing, and alternative treatment methods.
When Someone You Love Has Cancer (Suzanne LeVert)
Hands-on book for the caregiver, including treatment of symptoms and hospice
information.
The Emotional Survival Guide For Caregivers
Barry L. Jacobs
Survivorship
Cancervive
Survivor-run organization providing support for survivors (See also the book
Cancervive, by Susan Nessim and Judith Ellis).
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
(NCCS)
Comprehensive site by this survivor-run advocacy organization.
Transportation
Air Care Alliance
The Air Care Alliance is a nationwide league of humanitarian flying organizations whose
volunteer pilots are dedicated to community service.
Corporate Angels
They arrange free air transportation for cancer patients travelling to treatment using the
empty seats on corporate jets.
Volunteer Pilots
The Volunteer Pilots Association is a charitable non-profit organization providing air
transportation to needy people who must travel to obtain medical treatment.
Updated 3/10/2010
