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Day-to-day help

Life is not easy for cancer patients and their loved ones; that’s why the American Cancer Society is here to help. We can answer questions about insurance, rides to treatment, temporary lodging near treatment centers, camps for children and teens with cancer, wigs, turbans, clinical trials, and much more. We are here to help with day-to-day issues, so call an American Cancer Society cancer information specialist anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345.

* Rides to and from treatment

* Insurance advice

* Financial advice

* I Can Cope: Online cancer education classes

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* Help with prescriptions

* Lodging for patients traveling far to treatment

* Nutrition for cancer patients

* How to talk to your loved ones about cancer

* Pain Control: A Guide for People with Cancer and Their Families

Emotional support

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No one need face cancer alone. We are here to provide support every step of the way, from the time you schedule a cancer test through recovery and beyond. We know what you are going through and we can put you in touch with others who can speak from experience.

* Support groups & free rides to treatment

* An online community for cancer survivors and their families

* Online cancer education classes

* Stories of Hope

Information

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We can provide you with the most up-to-date information possible on any type of cancer, treatments and clinical trials. Search our Web site, http://www.cancer.org/ , for information on cancer and resources in your area, or call one of our experts at 1-800-227-2345, day or night. They will give you their full attention and all the time you need. If they can’t answer all of your questions, they will find the answers and get back to you in a timely manner.

* What is cancer?

* Find a cancer hospital

* What treatments are available?

* Advice on clinical trials

* Tools to help you decide about treatment

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* I Can Cope: Online cancer education classes

* Books and other information sources

Personalize your information on cancer.org

Helpful web sites:

American Cancer Society: cancer.org

Circle of Sharing helps cancer patients and their caregivers get personalized information about the disease, and share that information with family and friends.You can create a Circle Of Sharing™ for yourself, or create one on behalf of someone you’re caring for. It’s all done through Microsoft® HealthVault™, a secure Web site that will store your personal health information.

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American Cancer Society’s Cancer Survivors Network

I’m Too Young For This

Cancer.net :

CancerCare

Cancer Survivors Gathering Place

Fertile Hope

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Lance Armstrong Foundation

The Wellness Community

For caregivers

If someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer, you may find yourself taking on new, unfamiliar responsibilities as you help them through treatment and recovery. Taking care of a person with cancer is an important, and sometimes difficult, job. The American Cancer Society has launched a new section on cancer.org specifically for caregivers:

Coping as a Caregiver

If you are caring for a person with cancer, you must also take care of your own needs as well, so you can better help your loved one. Learn how to manage the emotions you and your family may be feeling, how to talk about the cancer experience, and how to know when you may need help coping.

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How to Provide Care

Learn more about what to expect as a cancer caregiver. Get practical advice for helping with common side effects of treatment, special nutrition needs of cancer patients, and finding professional agencies to help with caregiving tasks.

Nearing the End of Life

When cancer treatment is no longer working, patients and their caregivers face difficult challenges. Learn how to prepare for this time and how to deal with the grief it brings.

Connect with Other Caregivers

Just as there are millions of cancer survivors, there are millions of cancer caregivers. Connect with others facing similar issues. Find support as you swap suggestions and share stories.

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Other helpful web sites for caregivers:

National Alliance for Caregiving: http://www.caregiving.org/

Cancer Caregiving: http://www.cancercaregiving.com/

Cancer Care: http://www.cancercare.org/

Caring Connections: http://www.caringinfo.org/

National Family Caregivers Association: http://www.nfcacares.org/

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