Agency Type: Not For Profit
CANDLELIGHTERS The Candlelighters is a support group which serves as an informal forum where parents share feelings, experiences and information on family life with a child with cancer. I CAN COPE I Can Cope is a patient education course which teaches cancer patients and their families how best to cope with the disease. The basic idea of I can Cope is communication. The course is conducted by professionals involved with the care and treatment of cancer patients. Eligibility: Cancer patients. LARYNGECTOMY CLUB Club members reach out to new laryngectomy patients to offer them aid and support in their adjustment. MASTECTOMY PROGRAM - REACH TO RECOVERY Reach to Recovery is designed to assist the woman who has had a mastectomy. Volunteers who have been specially trained, visit the patient upon request to assist in the physical, functional, psychological, emotional and social rehabilitation of the patient. Reach to Recovery is one woman reaching out to share and support another in time of need. Eligibility: Cancer patients referred by their doctor. MEDICATIONS Patients or families facing financial hardship caused by cancer may be eligible for free medications. OSTOMY PROGRAM The Ostomy Program is designed to assist the patient with an ostomy. Emphasis on the quality of living. The program attempts to adjust lives so painfully disrupted. Carefully trained volunteers, who have successfully adjusted to ostomy surgery will visit the patient upon request. TRANSPORTATION Financial assistance reimbursement may be arranged for trips to and from cancer treatment. Eligibility: Cancer patients WIG BANK Wigs are available for cancer patients. Eligibility: Cancer patients. MAN TO MAN The Man to Man program helps men cope with prostate cancer by providing community-based education and support to patients and their family members. In addition, Man to Man plays an important role in community education about prostate cancer; it encourages men and health care professionals to actively consider screening for prostate cancer appropriate to each man's age and risk for the disease. A major part of the program is the self-help and/or support group. Volunteers organize free monthly meetings where speakers and participants learn about and discuss information about prostate cancer, treatment, side effects, and how to cope with the disease and its treatment. LOOK GOOD...FEEL BETTER The Look Good...Feel Better program is a community-based, free national service that teaches female cancer patients beauty techniques to help restore their appearance and self-image during chemotherapy and radiation treatments. GROUP PROGRAM Volunteer beauty professionals lead small groups, usually consisting of 6 to 10 women, through practical, hands-on experience. Women learn about makeup techniques, skincare, nail care, and options related to hair loss such as wigs, turbans, and scarves. Each group program participant receives a free kit of cosmetics for use during and after the workshop. ONE - ON - ONE SALON CONSULTATIONS For patients who are unable to attend a group workshop, a free, one-time, individual salon consultation with a volunteer cosmetologist may be available in their area. These trained beauty experts help each patient address her skin, hair, and related appearance needs. SELF HELP MATERIALS Self-Help materials can be obtained free of charge by request through the Look Good...Feel Better toll-free number: 1-800-395-LOOK. CAMP CAN-DO Why do we run a camp? The American Cancer Society's Camp Can-Do was first organized in 1983 to give children with cancer a break from treatments and hospitals, while providing a place for these young survivors to act like children. Who are the campers? Children, ages 8 to 17, who are currently undergoing cancer treatment or are within five years of their last treatment, attend the week-long program. Where is the Pennsylvania location? Gretna Glen Camp in Mt. Gretna, PA, is the site for Camp Can-Do. Features include a lake, a pool, soccer field, and campgrounds, and this beautiful site provides a comfortable environment for the young campers. What types of activities are held at the camp? Activities at Camp Can-Do include: hiking, arts and crafts, rocketry, camp sing-alongs, swimming, canoeing, archery, and games of all sorts. In addition, children are treated to a day at Hershey Park and theme dance. When is the camp? To accommodate the number of children who would like to attend camp, there are two sessions of Camp Can-Do. Call for dates. Camp Can-Do II is a camp for siblings of child cancer patients. This sibling camp is also held at Mt. Gretna. Call for dates. What does it cost? Camp Can-Do is provided free of charge to cancer patients by the American Cancer Society's Pennsylvania Division. HOPE LODGE A Home Away from Home Getting the right care sometimes means cancer patients must travel away from home, often to a cancer treatment facility in another city. The American Cancer Society is trying to make this difficult situation easier with several Hope Lodges - free, temporary housing facilities for cancer patients who are undergoing treatment and their families. Hope Lodges provide guests with private rooms, kitchen facilities, and, in some locations, transportation to treatments. Many lodges have room for a family member to stay with the patient. Perhaps the most important thing that a Hope Lodge provides is a supportive and home-like atmosphere. Accomodations and eligibility requirements may vary by location. To find a Hope Lodge and learn more about a specific facility, please call the American Cancer Society toll-free at 1-800-ACS-2345.
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