Cancer Support Services
A cancer diagnosis impacts not only the person diagnosed, but also partners, family members, friends, and your brothers and sisters at the station. Below are various resources available to assist those who want information about cancer, those diagnosed with cancer, and family members or caregivers who are supporting a person diagnosed with cancer.
ACS National Cancer Information Center | IAFF Hotline
The American Cancer Society National Cancer Information Center (NCIC) is available 24/7 to provide guidance to IAFF members and answers questions through phone, video calls, and online live chat. Services are provided via the IAFF helpline in English, Spanish, and more than 200 other languages through a translation service. NCIC utilizes trained cancer information specialists to assist those who are not diagnosed with cancer, who have just been diagnosed, are in current treatment, or are caring for someone with cancer.
To connect:
- Phone: Call the 24/7 IAFF-specific helpline at (877) 901-7848
- Video Chat: You will need a computer, smartphone or tablet with a webcam and an internet connection. Video chat services are done by appointment. To schedule a video chat, visit cancer.org/videochat.
- Online Live Chat: Go to cancer.org and select the “live chat” link.
ACS’s NCIC team is trained to:
- Assist questions from cancer-free people seeking information on cancer screening and prevention.
- Provide the latest information on cancer information and research
- Help individuals navigate health insurance-related problems by identifying insurance coverage options for which they might be eligible.
- Provide information on Hope Lodge® communities, which provide free lodging for people needing to travel away from home for treatment.
- Prepare people with cancer for conversations with their healthcare team so they can feel more confident in communicating their needs and asking questions.
- Refer patients to educational and emotional support resources (oncology nurses are available for more complex situations).
- Connect callers with resources like the online Personal Health Manager.
- Connect those with shared experiences through online peer support resources like Reach To Recovery, for those facing breast cancer, and the Cancer Survivors Network, an online community created by and for people with cancer and their caregivers.
- Provide guidance around talking to loved ones about their disease and how cancer can impact their lives.
- Connect callers with caregiver resources like our video support series and the Caregiver Resource Guide.
ACS Hope Lodges
American Cancer Society Hope Lodge® communities offer a home away from home for people facing cancer and their caregivers when cancer treatment is far away. Hope Lodge provides a nurturing, home-like environment where guests can retreat to private rooms or connect with others. Every Hope Lodge also offers a variety of resources and information about cancer and how best to fight the disease. Currently, there are more than 30 Hope Lodge locations throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. Accommodations and eligibility requirements may vary by location. Please call the American Cancer Society at 1 (800) 227-2345 for more information or visit the webpage.
- Atlanta, GA
- Baltimore, MD
- Birmingham, AL
- Boston, MA
- Burlington, VT
- Charleston, SC
- Cleveland, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Greenville, NC
- Honolulu, HI
- Houston, TX
- Iowa City, IA
- Jackson, MS
- Jacksonville, FL
- Kansas City, MO
- Lexington, KY
- Lubbock, TX
- Memphis, TN
- Minneapolis, MN
- Nashville, TN
- New Orleans, LA
- New York City, NY
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Omaha, NE
- Philadelphia, PA
- Rochester, MN
- Rochester, NY
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Juan, PR
- St. Louis, MO
- Tampa, FL
ACS CARES
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer, deciding what’s next can be overwhelming. ACS CARES™ (Community Access to Resources, Education, and Support) is the only app that equips those facing cancer with curated content, programs, and services to fit their specific cancer journey. Download the app here.
The ACS CARES mobile app provides people with cancer, their families, and caregivers an easy, free way to:
- Access personalized, quality cancer-related information that updates as you age, as your situation changes, or as new information becomes available.
- Speak directly with American Cancer Society cancer information specialists when you have questions day or night, 365 days a year.
- Find reliable information on addressing important topics such as emotional health, finances, transportation, and dependent support.
- Connect virtually with trained community volunteers who share the same cancer experience and background including diagnosis, location, military status, race and ethnicity.
- Receive in-person support from clinic volunteers at pilot locations.
Road to recovery
The American Cancer Society Road To Recovery® program eases your burden by giving free rides to cancer-related medical appointments. Our trained volunteer drivers are happy to pick you up, take you to your appointment, and drop you off at home. All for free and all to make your days a little easier. Not having a ride shouldn’t stand between you and lifesaving treatment. Learn more here.
Reach to Recovery
Through the American Cancer Society Reach To Recovery program, you can connect online with a trained volunteer who has survived breast cancer and understands what you are going through. Volunteers provide one-on-one support to help those facing breast cancer to cope with diagnosis, treatment, side effects, talking with friends and family, and more. On the Reach To Recovery website (reach.cancer.org) and mobile app (ACS Reach To Recovery), you can create an online profile and match with a volunteer who has experienced a similar type of breast cancer, stage, and treatment. As an additional resource, to be connected to a fire fighter who has survived the same or a similar cancer, please reach out to our friends at the Firefighter Cancer Support Network at www.firefightercancersupport.org or (866) 994-FCSN (3276) or in Canada (438) 600-FCSN (3276).
Cancer Survivors Network
Cancer Survivors NetworkSM (CSN) is a safe, online community where survivors and caregivers share their stories, ask questions and get support from each other. With a chatroom and over 40 discussion boards, CSN allows you to connect with others who have a similar cancer experience. CSN members can also send private messages to other members, build their own support network, post blogs, and more. To register for a free CSN account, visit csn.cancer.org.
Tender Loving Care
The American Cancer Society’s “tlc” Tender Loving Care® program helps women with appearance-related side effects by offering a variety of affordable wigs, hats, and scarves as well as a full range of mastectomy products. You can purchase hair-loss and mastectomy products from the privacy of your own home by visiting tlcdirect.org or items can also be purchased by calling 1 (800) 850-9445.