LEWISTON — Cancer patients in Maine have a free resource to help with the many questions that arise after receiving a diagnosis.

The Maine Cancer Resource Connection is a toll-free number that provides cancer patients, their families, and caregivers from all regions of Maine with financial assistance, help with transportation, travel expenses, in-home help, and support. Staffed by Karen Page, a cancer resource coordinator at the Dempsey Center, the hotline focuses on reaching patients in rural areas of Maine that may have limited access to assistance.

Kristene Mills is one of those people. She reached out to MCRC a few months ago after receiving her diagnosis. For her, the personal connection was key. “Just to hear a voice on the other end of the line was huge,” she said. “Instead of somebody saying, ‘I can’t help you right now’, Karen said ‘I can connect you to someone else.’ You know, sometimes all we need to hear is, it’s going to be OK.”

The Maine Cancer Resource Connection is co-operated by the Dempsey Center in Lewiston, the Cancer Community Center in South Portland and the Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center in Ellsworth. The toll-free number is 1-866-446-4865, or visit the website at mainecancerresourceconnection.org.