Community Resources

The Research Advocacy Network (RAN) focuses on education, support, and connecting patient advocates with the research community to improve patient care. It develops materials to advance patient-focused research and works to equip advocates for more effective advocacy. The organization hopes to collapse the amount of time it takes for research results to reach community practice.

The Romanian Cancer League works to educate the people of Romania about ways to prevent, detect and treat cancer. The organization also provides cancer patients with support services, financial assistance and medical equipment, such as wheelchairs.

The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation is a United Kingdom-based organization dedicated to the elimination of lung cancer. Its principal activity is the Liverpool Lung Project, a program designed to identify and eradicate the risk factors associated with lung cancer and to develop screening programs for high-risk individuals. The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Patient Network offers a support, information and advocacy service to people throughout the United Kingdom who are diagnosed with lung cancer. It also offers a smoking-cessation program and the Kids Against Tobacco Smoke (KATS) educational program, which encourages young people to never start smoking.

The Sarcoma Alliance aims to improve and extend patients’ lives through accurate diagnosis, improved access to care, guidance, education, and support. Its services and programs include survivor and caregiver support groups, online information and individualized information packets. It has developed an assistance fund to help sarcoma patients obtain second opinions from sarcoma specialists across the country.

The Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA) works to raise funds for sarcoma research. The foundation’s website has information for patients about sarcoma and sarcoma subtypes as well as information about treatment and clinical trials. The SFA has several state chapters.

SHARE offers support to women with breast or ovarian cancer in the New York metropolitan area. Cancer survivors lead SHARE’s support groups and staff its hotlines. There are separate hotlines for breast, ovarian and Latina patients; programs for families and friends affected by breast and ovarian cancer; and a variety of support groups and other programs. SHARE offers educational programs on topics such as lymphedema, clinical trials, bone health, hormonal treatments, access to medical care, and advocacy.

Sharsheret is a national organization of cancer survivors that provides culturally sensitive support and information to Jewish women facing breast cancer. Sharsheret also offers specialized information for the friends and families of breast cancer patients and for women who have a high risk of developing the disease.

The Singapore Cancer Society works to educate the people of Singapore about cancer. It provides free screening for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers. The organization also provides financial assistance, rehabilitation care for patients receiving treatment, and hospice home-care services. The Singapore Cancer Society conducts educational talks and organizes symposia on cancer prevention for the public.

Sisters Network increases awareness about the impact of breast cancer on the African-American community. The organization provides African-American women with educational materials about breast cancer risk, symptoms, and treatment. Sisters Network maintains support-group chapters in about three dozen states.

The Skin Cancer Foundation is a national organization dedicated to educating the public about skin cancer prevention and detection. The foundation’s webpage provides information about different types of skin cancer. The website also features a physician database.