Resources for Treatment & Beyond
Cancer Blogs
Here you will find a collection of blogs and other resources to help support you and your loved ones during your cancer treatment and beyond.
As part of my Hopeful Warrior Project, I am hoping to connect other cancer fighters and survivors with the information, resources and treatment options that helped me the most during my journey.
Here are some links to blogs I have written about my cancer journey since starting treatment for Stage 3 Hodgkin Lymphoma back in late 2017.
Featured Blogs
It’s Not Just Another Birthday Anymore
How Are the Holidays in Heaven?
I’ve Been There, Embattled Mama—Hang On
The Shame That Comes With Surviving Cancer and Suicide
Newly Diagnosed
To My Fellow Warrior Who Was Just Diagnosed with Cancer
10 Tips for the Newly Diagnosed
Simple Ways to Support Someone During Their Cancer Fight
Knowledge is Power: Be Your Own Health Advocate
Immunotherapy Nearly Cleared My Stage 3 Cancer Before Chemo
How Do I Tell My Children Difficult News?
Natural Ways to Boost Your Immune System During Treatment & Beyond
Letter to My Children: When Mommy Is Sick
Loving Through Sickness and Health
Radical Remission: Healing Our Biology With Our Beliefs
Coping
Looking Back: 7 Lessons I Learned Fighting Cancer
Finding Healing with a Warrior Mindset
5 Ways to Turn Your Pain Into Purpose
Coping During the Holidays: 10 Truths About Battling Cancer
Hair Loss & Side Effects
Ponying Up: Copying with Hair Loss & Regrowth
Laughing Through The Pain: Funny Cancer Memes
Ringing the Bell: Celebrating Milestones During Treatment
Still Cancer Free* Coping with Long-Term Effects from Treatment
Battling Chemo Brain After Treatment
Port Side & Leaving My Comfort Zone
Mind Matters: Caught Between Fighting and Surviving
Mental Health
The Shame That Comes With Surviving Cancer and Suicide
Overcoming the Trauma of Having Cancer
Unpacking Grief: The Ball & The Box Analogy
Guide to Coronavirus for Cancer Patients
Older adults with cancer and chronic illness are at an increased risk for developing severe complications from COVID-19. Knowing how to prepare and protect yourself against the virus could make all the difference for you and your family.
This comprehensive coronavirus guide was developed by several of the nation’s top mesothelioma specialists from Asbestos.com.
Research & Clinical Trials
A big part of the reason I started the Hopeful Warrior Project was to help encourage other cancer patients to take part in clinical trials after my own personal success with an immunotherapy clinical trial at Lurie Cancer Center.
Visit About Clinical Trials to learn more and talk with your doctor to decide if a clinical trial is right for you.
Click here to search clinical trials offered at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center in Chicago.
NIH Clinical Trials
ClinicalTrials.gov is a database of privately and publicly funded clinical studies conducted around the world. Clinical Trials and research studies evaluate new drugs, treatments and interventions. They increase understanding and knowledge about the best ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. Almost every cancer treatment that is saving lives today is the result of a clinical trial.
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society has more than 3400 local community chapters who provide support, financial assistance and counseling for anyone affected by cancer.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education, patient services and survivorship programs for those affected.
Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF)
Lymphoma Research Foundation is the nation's largest non-profit organization devoted exclusively to funding innovative lymphoma research and providing people with lymphoma and healthcare professionals up-to-date information, education and support.
Simmons Cancer Institute
The Simmons Cancer Institute at Southern Illinois University (SIU) is a community-based patient care, research, education and outreach program established to improve cancer care. Since 2010, The Simmons Cancer Institute has worked endlessly to support cancer research and help find a cure.
Asbestos.com
As an extension of the Mesothelioma Center, Asbestos.com provides hope and quality resources and information for patients and loved ones coping with mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma.net
Mesothelioma.net provides free comprehensive information and resources for mesothelioma patients and their families who need help.
Support
Adolescent & Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Program
The AYA Cancer Program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago brings together experts from a wide range of disciplines, offering access to the world-class resources of the Lurie Cancer Center, including supportive care, clinical services and cutting-edge clinical trials for patients with all types of cancer.
Imerman Angels
Imerman Angels provides FREE personalized one-on-one cancer support for cancer fighters, survivors and caregivers.
Stupid Cancer
Stupid Cancer offers a lifeline to the adolescent and young adult cancer community by connecting them to age-appropriate resources and peers who get it. Stupid Cancer's mission is to empower young adults affected by cancer by ending isolation and building community.
CancerCare for Young Adults
CancerCare provides professional counseling, facilitated peer support groups, creative workshops and financial assistance for young adults with cancer.
Cancer Support Community
The Cancer Support Community provides professional support services for anyone affected by cancer with an emphasis on quality-of-life survivorship issues.
Life with Cancer
Life with Cancer offers free educational classes and consultations, support groups, counseling, and mind-body/wellness programs designed to help those affected by cancer understand and live with its impact.
National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service
The NCI, a part of the National Institutes of Health, is the Nation's principal agency for cancer research. Information specialists are available to help answer your cancer-related questions whether you are a patient, family member or friend, health care provider, or researcher. Services are available in English and Spanish over the phone, by email, or through LiveHelp online chat
Give InKind
Give InKind’s support pages offer many convenient ways to help someone battling chronic illness, undergoing cancer treatment, grieving or who has recently had surgery. Click here to learn how to set up a FREE support page to help organize meal trains, schedule child or pet care, fundraise, create wishlists and more.
Managing Side Effects
ChemoCare
ChemoCare provides online resources about chemotherapy treatments and managing side effects including survivor forums, message boards, nutritional counseling and long-term concerns.
Cancer 101
Cancer 101 provides resources that empower patients, survivors, caregivers through individualized organizational tools and resources.
NeedyMeds
NeedyMeds is an online information resource of programs that provide assistance to people who are unable to afford their medications and health care costs. All the information is free, easy to access and updated regularly. No registration is required.
TLC: Hair Loss and Mastectomy Products
TLC (Tender Loving Care) from the American Cancer Society offers products for women coping with breast cancer or any cancer treatment that causes hair loss as well as advice on how to use these products. To order products or catalogs call 1-800-850-9445, or visit tlc online at www.tlcdirect.org.
Financial Assistance
Patient Advocate Foundation
The Patient Advocate Foundation is a national 501 (c)(3) non-profit charity that provides direct services to patients with chronic, life threatening and debilitating diseases to help access care and treatment recommended by their doctor.
PhRMA’s Medicine Assistance Tool
PhRMA’s Medicine Assistance Tool (MAT) is a search engine designed to help patients, caregivers and health care providers learn more about the resources available through the various biopharmaceutical industry programs. MAT is not its own patient assistance program, but rather a search engine for many of the patient assistance resources that the biopharmaceutical industry offers.
Mental Health
The NAMI HelpLine is a free, nationwide peer-support service providing information, resource referrals and support to people living with a mental health conditions, their family members and caregivers, mental health providers and the public. HelpLine staff and volunteers are experienced, well-trained and able to provide guidance.
The NAMI HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 am–6 pm, ET.
1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or info@nami.org
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – Call 800-273-TALK (8255)
If you or someone you know is in crisis—whether they are considering suicide or not—please call the toll-free Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) to speak with a trained crisis counselor 24/7.
Crisis Text Line – Text NAMI to 741-741
Connect with a trained crisis counselor to receive free, 24/7 crisis support via text message.
BetterHelp
BetterHelp helps make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone who struggles with life’s challenges can get help, anytime, anywhere. BetterHelp offers access to licensed, trained, experienced, and accredited psychologists (PhD / PsyD), marriage and family therapists (LMFT), clinical social workers (LCSW / LMSW), and board licensed professional counselors (LPC).
Survivorship
Hope Warrior Project
The Hope Warrior Project believes when people come together, so much more is possible. Whether it is at an event, one-on-one connections, or even virtually through the Hope Warrior social media platforms and Academy, at Hope Warrior Project, we bring people together to promote connection and community.
Camp Kesem
Camp Kesem is a national non-profit organization that supports kids 6-18 who have been impacted by a parent’s cancer, whether that parent/primary caregiver currently has cancer, is in remission, or passed away from cancer. Kesem is the largest national organization dedicated to supporting children impacted by a parent’s cancer, at no cost to families. Our innovative and fun-filled programs provide children with peers who understand their unique needs, and create long-lasting impact.
These are the support resources I have found to be the most helpful in my cancer journey.
For a more comprehensive list, visit Stupid Cancer’s Resources.