Mentoring Resources
Imerman Angels: “Having a mentor from Imerman Angels was so helpful - I met someone who was a survivor of the same kind of cancer that I have and she ended up becoming a very close friend. She also encouraged me to communicate my needs to my family and friends because otherwise they often would not intuit them - she was quite right.”
Visual Support
Great Cartoons on Instagram about Fighting Cancer-- from E Moore, PSP member and Cancer Warrior.
Support Resources
Breasties (lots of info and a great vibe)
The Bright Spot: Helping families through cancer. Bright Spot Network has virtual support groups for parents and caregivers who are going through cancer while raising young children.
Stupid Cancer: “Stupid Cancer is a cancer support group for young adults - nationwide with a lot of tools and events.”
Cancer101: “Check out Cancer101. It was created to help the newly diagnosed manage the impact of the disease and help them navigate through the questions that they have and the resources available.”
Facebook: “Facebook is a good start. There are FB online communities that support patients suffering from just about everything. Throughout that community you can ask and find local in-person groups and other resources. NYS has organizations like Parent to Parent that are amazing resources for families. NJ should have non-profit organizations that will help with mental health, peer support, transportation and many other services.”
Red Door Community (formerly known as Gilda's Club NYC): “Gilda’s Club is an incredible resource offering free support for cancer patients and their families. All the branches throughout the US operate independently you will have to find one close to you. The NYC branch is very active.”
Summer Hope Foundation: “Summer Hope does 'hope baskets' that are personalized baskets intended to bring joy to people with cancer. They are free and really, really nice.”
Friend’s Health Connection: “A non-profit called Friend’s Health Connection is based in NJ and the idea is to connect sick patients with fellow patients who are similar age, ailment, gender etc. who they can relate to since they are both sharing similar experiences.”
Unconditional Healing: "Unconditional healing is essentially about finding sanity, compassion, and connection during adversity. The tendency during health crises is to isolate and to live in your head, always problem-solving and catastrophizing. This is the website for the group."
Retreats
For breast cancer warriors:
Image Reborn Breast Cancer Survivor Retreats: "They are located in Utah. Airfares not included."
Send Me On Vacation: "They are located in Nevada but the retreats are Italy, Mexico and Napa Valley."
Camp Mak-A-Dream: "The camping is in Montana."
For women with cancer:
Mary's Place by the Sea: "It’s a fabulous organization that generously welcomes women with any form of cancer to their gorgeous house in Ocean Grove, NJ (one block from the beach). You can go for a day or up to 2 nights, fed delicious vegan meals, and partake in their many services (massage, reiki, nutritional counseling, meditation, yoga, etc)...all for FREE! Highly recommend to any woman newly diagnosed, currently in treatment, or up to 1 year post treatment as that is their guideline. Special place to spend time to heal: mentally, physically, and spiritually."
For Stage 4 cancer survivors:
Unite for Her (for breast and ovarian cancer warriors): "They are located in PA, great resource for nutrition while dealing with treatments."
Inheritance of Hope (for families facing the loss of a parent): "They have great retreats for families to make great memories."
For cancer warriors under age 40:
First Descents: "Have adventure/outdoorsy retreats all over the country. I participated in one earlier this year, and it was great."
Project Koru: "Specifically have surfing and snowboarding retreats in Hawaii and Utah, respectively I think."
Miscellaneous Advice and Resources
American Cancer Society: “There are some interesting resources on the American Cancer Society website.”
The Truth About Cancer: “Watch The Truth About Cancer. It's incredibly informative, and chock full of information, and a must watch for anyone thinking about cancer.”
Stages of the Cancer Journey, by Jeannine Walston and Lora Matz, MS, LICSW: "An interesting article on the stages of cancer. I thought the information surrounding the diagnosis was particularly helpful. I know some of these things rang true for me."
Thoughts from a PSP member: “1. Stay away from the internet. The worst thing my I did was to look there. Now is not the time to look there, there will be time to look and research web but not now! 2. Let someone close deal with the doctor appointments. You need time to digest your diagnosis you don't want to be stressed about the appointments. 3. Let other people in your family help, let them cook and let them clean, they need it and you need it. 4. If you have children let other people help you with them. 5. Talk to someone who went through it to help navigate your feelings and fears. 6. Ask for help 7. Sleep and, if you need to, take pills to help you with your anxiety 8. It is rough...it is rough on everybody in your family. Take a deep breath and then another one and then another one...one at the time."
Leukemia Resources
Childhood Leukemia: A Guide for Families, Friends & Caregivers, by Nancy Keene: “Nancy Keene is an excellent resource for leukemia information, and her book 'Childhood Leukemia' is particularly helpful in covering pretty much any aspect of the illness and treatment.”
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society: “I've watched the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society really grow so I'd start with them. They seem to have a support line too. There is so much that is out of your control as a cancer patient and it’s really hard on young adults who are trying to find their own identity, etc.”
Further reading on Park Slope Parents
Resources to talk to a child or teen about cancer
Support Groups for Coping with Cancer
How a child's class can help a student sick with cancer
