Travel Assistance (County-based)
If you live in any of the following* counties, you may qualify for free transportation or mileage reimbursement for travel to and from breast cancer treatment, support services and diagnostic services. Volunteer drivers can pick up individuals at their homes and bring them to treatment or services. The programs also provide mileage reimbursement for those who transport themselves. There is no income level requirement. Contact the individual program to find out more.
*Androscoggin, Franklin, or Oxford Counties: Community Concepts
1-800-866-5588 or 207-795-6073
http://www.community-concepts.org/transportation/susan-b-komen-for-the-cure/
*Penobscot or Piscataquis Counties: Ride To Wellness Program
973-3695 or 1-866-853-5969.
*York County: Connecting to Cancer Care
http://www.yccac.org/yccac-transportation-home.html 207-324-5762
Travel Assistance---Any County:
Angel Flight Northeast: 1-800-549-9980 or www.angelflightne.org arranges free flights to those requiring access to medical care.
Maine Transit Association: Go to www.mainetransit.org to find out about transportation options in your county.
Road to Recovery: free transportation to treatments (through American Cancer Society, 1-800-227-2345)
Lodging Assistance for People in Cancer Treatment
Arbor House: Located near Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Arbor House provides lodging for patients and their families. For more information about the Arbor House, call 207-795-2398.
AstraZeneca Hope Lodge, Boston, MA offers a free place to stay for patients who travel to Boston for treatments. 617-396-5500 www.cancer.org/Treatment/SupportProgramsServices/HopeLodge/Boston/boston-about-our-facility
General, Medical, and Support Resources (Maine-based and National)
2-1-1 Maine is a comprehensive statewide directory of over 8,000 health and human services available in Maine. The toll free 2-1-1 hotline connects callers to trained call specialists who can help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Finding the answers to health and human services questions and locating resources is as quick and easy as dialing 2-1-1 or visiting www.211maine.org.
American Cancer Society www.cancer.org
Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center: Ellsworth, Maine 207-664-0339 http://www.bethwrightcancercenter.org/
The
Beth C. Wright Cancer Center serves Hancock and Washington Counties,
where the incidence, prevalence, and mortality rates for cancer far
exceed both the state and national averages. The Beth C. Wright Center
is the place to go if you have been diagnosed with cancer. The Center's
mission is to "offer hope, knowledge, and support to cancer patients,
their families, caregivers and friends by providing a source of
information, social services and compassion through all stages of the
cancer journey." The services are free of charge.
For information, visit the Center's website, call 207-664-0339, or email the Center at info@bethwrightcancercenter.org.
Breast Cancer Freebies http://breastcancerfreebies.com/Free resources for people with breast cancer:
The Breast Cancer Freebies website provides information and links to many organizations "whose mission it is to make the breast cancer journey a little easier and take the burden off your wallet with free wigs, hats, make-up, house cleaning, transportation, and more."CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation (not to be confused with CancerCare of Maine) is a non-profit organization that helps people being treated for cancer pay for the insurance co-payments on the prescription medicines they need. Breast cancer is one of the cancers covered by this program. To find out if you are eligible, call 1-866-55-copay (1-866-552-6729) or go to http://www.cancercopay.org.
Cancer Resource Foundation cancer1source.org 508-630-2243 Free, customized cancer resources including a national genetic testing copay assistance program, help with post-mastectomy products and services, and other costs.
Cancer Support Center of Maine: 207-469-6363 http://www.cancersupportcenterofmaine.org
The Cancer Support Center of Maine provides free services to cancer patients & survivors in Maine through outreach, education, advocacy, and social support. Their goal is to help people navigate the often complex and confusing bureaucracy of health management in a time of crisis with an emphasis on free or reduced cost programs.
CarePartners: 1-877-626-1684 www.mmc.org/mh_body.cfm?id=3441
Coordinates the provision of donated healthcare services for low-income, uninsured residents in four Maine counties (Cumberland, Lincoln, Waldo and Kennebec). The program, a partnership between MaineHealth, physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare providers, helps community members who don't qualify for public or private healthcare coverage programs get comprehensive, medically necessary healthcare.
Caring Connections Programs, Bangor: 941-2808 http://bangorymca.org/content/4029/Caring_Connections/1: Caring Connections offers breast cancer support groups, and no-cost breast and cervical screenings for women age 40-64 through the Maine Breast & Cervical Health Program.
2: Bridging the Gap is a grant-funded program of the Maine Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. It provides breast exams and imaging for qualifying women age 20-39 (20-29 with symptoms and 30 – 39 either with symptoms or a family history of breast cancer).
3: Bridging Books is a grant-funded program of the Maine Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. Bridging Books, through the patient’s surgeon, provides a comprehensive book and other resource materials to women newly diagnosed with Breast Cancer. If you are recently diagnosed and would like additional reading/resource information regarding breast cancer, call Caring Connections and request a Bridging Books packet.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Breast Cancer and Mammography Information
http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/dcpc_Programs/default.aspx?NPID=1
Find out where you can get a free or low-cost mammogram or Pap
smear. To learn more about CDC related cancer programs, you can contact
them toll-free at 800-232-4636 or e-mail them at cdinfo@cdc.gov.
Cochrane Collaboration and the Cochrane Library
The
Cochrane Collaboration is an international not-for-profit organization,
providing up-to-date information about the effects of health care.
Systematic reviews are their main product and are published
electronically in successive issues of The Cochrane Library.
Although it requires a paid subscription to access the Cochrane
Library's extensive reviews and resources, free summaries of studies on
many health-related topics can be accessed at the site. To access free Cochrane Library summaries of breast cancer-related studies click here.
Dr. Susan Love www.susanlovemd.com
Access information about breast cancer, including recent research, and women's health.
Force (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered)
http://www.facingourrisk.org
FORCE is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization and website founded by Dr. Sue Friedman after her own diagnosis of breast cancer at the age of 32. Their website provides help and direction to women at risk for hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancer, as well as information about options for managing and living with these risk factors. Your can call their toll-free helpline at866-RISK(7475) or email them at info@facingourrisk.org.
Heating Assistance (Also see Washington Hancock Community Agency listing below.)
Contact the Community Action Program (CAP) office nearest to you. Local listings can be found at www.mainehousing.org or call the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) at (207) 626-4600 or 1-800-452-4688. If hearing impaired: TTY 1-800-452-4603
KidsHealth for Kids: Breast Cancer Information
www.kidshealth.org/kid/grownup/conditions/breast_cancer.html
Information for kids about breast cancer. Word choice is simpler than in most breast cancer sites for adults.
Living Beyond Breast Cancer www.lbbc.org
From the Living Beyond Breast Cancer website: "Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) is dedicated to assisting you, whether you are newly diagnosed, in treatment, recently completed treatment, are years beyond or are living with metastatic breast cancer.
We are also here for your family members, caregivers, friends and
healthcare providers to provide breast cancer information and support.
As
a national education and support organization, our goal is to improve
your quality of life and help you take an active role in your ongoing
recovery or management of the disease, regardless of educational
background, social support or financial means."
Look Good...Feel Better http://lookgoodfeelbetter.org/
Learn to cope with appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment. Look Good… Feel Better
is a free program to help women who are undergoing cancer treatment.
It is offered in group sessions which provide education, information,
and support.
• Practice make-up techniques with skin-care products
• Become informed about free wigs and turbans
• Take home complimentary cosmetics
Look Good ... Feel Better is a free program sponsored by the American Cancer Society, the Personal Care Products Council, and the National Cosmetology Association.
Mabel Wadsworth Women's Health Center: Bangor, 947-5337 or 1-800-945-5337
Mabel Wadsworth Women's Health Center offers annual exams, breast health and menopause education, and support to all Maine women, especially those who are of limited income, lesbian and/or women with disabilities.
Maine Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®: Additional resources may be available through programs funded by grants from the Maine Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. Call 262-7117 or visit www.komenmaine.org/grants/current-grant-recipients/ for a list of current programs funded by the Komen Maine Affiliate.
Maine Breast and Cervical Health Program www.maine.gov/dhhs/bohdcfh/bcp/ 1-800-350-5180; if hearing impaired: TTY 711 (Maine Relay)
The
Maine Breast and Cervical Health Program (MBCHP) is a state and
federally funded program which provides free screening for the early
detection of breast and cervical cancer. A woman is eligible for the
MBCHP if she is 40 or older*; has no health insurance, or health insurance that does not cover mammograms or Pap tests, or has high deductibles, and her income falls within the
MBCHP guidelines.
*(There are limited openings for women age 35-39 who have seen a doctor and need additional tests for a possible breast or
cervical cancer OR if they have not had a Pap in 5 or more years.)
MaineCare: 1-800-321-5557 Provides health insurance to people meeting income and asset restriction guidelines.
MaineHealth Learning Resource Center: Scarborough, Maine
Offers a helpful website for anyone affected by cancer: http://mainehealthcancer.org/Pages/default.aspx
1-866-609-5183
MedAccess: 1-877-275-1787 Provides help with paying for prescription medications.
Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oes/resource/medicare.htm#
Medicare is health insurance for people age 65 or older and under age 65 with certain disabilities.
National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) http://www.breastcancerdeadline2020.org/breast-cancer-information/?source=kbc (for breast cancer resources)
The National Breast Cancer
Coalition's Quality Care Guide
is a free online guide for those diagnosed with breast cancer. Click here for "Breast Cancer Facts and Figures" from the National Breast Cancer Coalition. To read NBCC's "31 Myths and Truths About Breast Cancer" click here.
National Cancer Institute (includes the Cancer Information Service) www.nci.nih.gov/cancertopics/types/breast
National Library of Medicine's Medline Plus Breast Cancer Information
www.nlm.nkh.gov/medlineplus/breastcancer.html
A service of the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Provides links to the latest news in breast cancer research. Also has many interesting interactive tools and general information about breast cancer.
National Lymphedema Network www.lymphnet.org
Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation: 866-316-PANF (7263) http://www.PANFoundation.org Provides co-payment assistance to underinsured patients with chronic
diseases, including breast cancer. Qualified patients will be granted up
to $7,500 per year to cover out-of-pocket expenses associated with
their treatment. Patients can apply for assistance online or by calling
the toll-free number.
Patient Advocate Foundation: 1-800-532-5274 or www.patientadvocate.org
A national non-profit organization that provides professional case
management services to Americans with chronic, life-threatening, and
debilitating illnesses. PAF case managers serve as active liaisons for
you and your insurers, employers, or creditors to resolve insurance, job
retention, and debt crisis matters as they relate to your diagnosis.
Penquis Women’s Health Services: 1-800-941-2836 Health clinics offer sliding scale fees for people who qualify.
Road to Recovery: free transportation to treatments (through American
Cancer Society 1-800-227-2345)
Silent Spring Institute www.silentspring.org
The Silent Spring Institute is a non-profit
organization dedicated to researching the links between women's health
and the environment.
Sister Study www.sisterstudy.org
Click here
to learn more about the progress of this important study of the environmental and genetic risk factors for breast cancer. The study is sponsored by the National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and has recruited
50,000 women, ages 35-74, whose sisters have had breast cancer.
Susan G. Komen For the Cure® (National Website) www.komen.org See above for Maine Affiliate of Susan G. Komen For the Cure® listing.
Washington Hancock Community Agency (207) 664-2424
www.whcacap.org A community action agency
dedicated to fighting poverty and helping low-income people in Down East Maine.
They offer a wide range of services including heating assistance,
transportation, weatherization, and more.
Young Survival Coalition www.youngsurvival.org 877-972-1011
An international, non-profit network of breast cancer survivors and supporters dedicated to the concerns and issues that are unique to young women and breast cancer. Through action, advocacy and awareness, the YSC seeks to educate the medical, research, breast cancer and legislative communities, and to persuade them to address breast cancer in women 40 and under.
