RESOURCES FOR TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS

Amiee's Place
www.amieesplace.com
A nonprofit that provides resources and advocacy for families of young adults 18-30 with cancer when resources are not available.

Beyond the Cure
www.beyondthecure.org
314 241-1600
800 5-FAMILY 
Mission to help childhood cancer survivors integrate their experiences into their new lives as survivors and successfully handle the challenges ahead.  Resources, peer stories and advocacy raising awareness for long-term effects. Today, there are 270,000 adult survivors of childhood cancer, many of whom will develop 'late effects' as a result of diagnosis and treatments.  Curing the disease is simply not enough ... the focus must shift to a continuum of lifetime care.  A program of The National Children's Cancer Society.

Boarding for Breast Cancer
Raises awareness about breast cancer, the importance of early detection, and the value of an active lifestyle through hip, youth-focused educational programs. 
323 467-2663
www.b4bc.org

Brenda Mehling Cancer Fund
661 310-7940
Financial assistance for medical bills, legal services, temporary housing, supplementary disability, home health care, travel-related expenses, phone bills, transportation, education, co-payments required by many health care plans, and counseling. Patient must be currently undergoing treatment and between the ages of 18 to 40.

CancerCare – Young Adult Program
www.cancercare.org/get_help/special_progs/young_adults.php
CancerCare offers specialized services for young adults, caregivers and those who have lost a loved one.

Cancer Climber
A unique organization in Boulder, Colorado dedicated to encouraging those living with cancer to inspire each other.  Created through Sean Swarmer’s vision of climbing Everest and inspiring people across all boundaries, CancerClimber challenges and facilitates cancer survivors to climb their own Everest, thus overcoming their own limitations and mental boundaries.
www.cancerclimber.org

Coalition Against Breast Cancer Survivorship Program
800 430-7761 
www.cabcli.com
Provides emotional and financial support to children or teens who have lost a parent to breast cancer, or whose parent is currently experiencing breast cancer, or are children of breast cancer survivors.

Colon Club
Educates young adults about colorectal cancer, the risk factors, symptoms, and detection in out-of-the-box ways.
www.colonclub.com

Community Breast Health Project
390 Cambridge Avenue
Palo Alto, California
650 326-6686
www.cbhp.org
Clearinghouse for support and information for people living with breast cancer.  Special workshops and services include information on mothering and breast cancer, a young women’s breast cancer support community, a metastatic breast cancer support group, and DCIS support group.  Offers Stories of the Journey: A Creative Writing Workshop for Breast Cancer Survivors.  Other services include a helpline, library, newsletter, an open house every Thursday evening with physicians to answer questions, assistance preparing for medical appointments, short-term counseling, and a “buddy system” which matches an individual with someone who has gone through a similar situation.  See “What Do I Tell My Child?” on the website.  Free

Coping with Chemo
310 479-1212
www.chemo.starlightprograms.org
Helps teens navigate their chemotherapy treatments by fostering connections with others through online blogging and chat rooms and education.

Cyclists Combating Cancer
listserv@listserv.acor.org
A group of survivors, their families and friends provide support through sharing experiences about treatment, life, and other passions in life, high among them cycling.  A free support group designed for people who have beaten or are still fighting cancer … and also love cycling.  In a purely social and supportive setting, members are encouraged to discuss any and all issues related to cancer and/or cycling.

First Descents
www.firstdescents.org
First Descents provides whitewater kayaking and other outdoor adventure experiences to promote emotional, psychological and physical healing for young adults with cancer.

Group Loop
888 793-WELL 
www.grouploop.org
Provides interactive online support and valuable survivorship resources for teens with cancer and their parents.

Kara Grief Support
457 Kingsley Avenue
Palo Alto, California 94301
650 321-5272
www.kara-grief.org
A center offering compassionate peer support and education to individuals, families, and organizations coping with death and dying.  Mission is to empower children, teens, and adults to find their way through grief so that they can rebuild their lives with renewed hope and meaning.

Keep a Breast Foundation
www.keep-a-breast-org
Produces art events that increase breast cancer awareness among young people and benefit breast cancer education, prevention, and treatment programs in communities around the world.

KidsCope
404 892-1437
www.kidscope.org
Helps families and children and teens better understand and cope with the effects from cancer and chemotherapy in a parent.  Develops innovative programs and materials that communicate a message of hope to families dealing with this crisis.  Offers free videotape My Mom Has Breast Cancer and comic book Kemo Shark to patients and medical professionals.

Kids Konnected
800 582-5443
800 899-2866 hotline
949 582-5443
www.kidskonnected.org
Provides friendship, understanding, education, and support for children and teens who have a parent with cancer or have lost a parent to cancer.  Program was developed by Jon Wagner-Holtz, whose mom was diagnosed with breast cancer when he was 9 years old.  He quickly realized he needed to talk with others kids whose moms had cancer. His personal method of coping with this experience was to organize this group.  Kids helping kids so they don’t have to be alone anymore.  Several summer camps are available. Database of books about coping with cancer.

Lance Armstrong Foundation
866 235-7205 
512 236-8820
www.laf.org
The Foundation focuses its activities on survivor resources, support, survivorship programs, national advocacy initiatives, scientific and clinical research grants.  LAF helps survivors face the challenges and changes that come with cancer, by helping them understand what to expect from the cancer experience while providing support along the way and guides them in asking the right questions. Through the online education resources, survivors can learn the practical information and tools that cancer survivors need to live strong.  Survivors can download worksheets to organize and guide their cancer experiences and hear stories by other survivors. LAF provides education, information about treatment options, clinical trials, new treatments in development, counseling services and referrals to local resources, and assistance with financial, employment or insurance issues.

LaRue Foundation
310 248-6165
www.laruefoundation.com
Advocacy for young women affected by breast cancer through the education of both the medical and insurance communities about the possibility of breast cancer misdiagnoses among women under 40.

LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare Program
866 235-7205 
www.livestrong.org/survivorcare
Offers assistance to all cancer survivors, including the person diagnosed, caregivers, family and friends.  The program provides education, information about treatment options and new treatments in development, counseling services and assistance with financial, employment or insurance issues.  To provide these services, LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare has partnered with several organizations including CancerCare, Patient Advocate Foundation, and EmergingMed. The LIVESTRONG Survivorship Notebook is a tool that can help you organize and guide your cancer experience.  The portable 3-ring binder contains a variety of information covering a full range of physical, emotional, and practical survivorship topics.  You can order a free notebook at www.livestrong.org/notebook. Shipping and handling costs will apply.

LIVESTRONG Young Adult Alliance
www.livestrong.org
The LIVESTRONG Young Adult Alliance is a coalition of organizations with the goal of improving survival rates and quality of life for young adults (ages 15 to 40) with cancer.

Locks of Love
561 963-1677
www.locksoflove.org
Provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children and teens under age 18 from medical hair loss.  They use donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics.

Look Good …. Feel Better
800 395-5665  
www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org
A free national program of the American Cancer Society dedicated to teaching women cancer patients about beauty techniques to help restore their appearance and self-image during cancer treatment.

Make-a-Wish Foundation of America
800 722-9474 
602 279-9474
www.wish.org
Grants the wishes of children and teens, ages 2 to 18, who have life-threatening illnesses.

Making Headway Foundation Inc.
914 238-8384
www.makingheadway.org
Strives to improve treatment, quality of life, and survivorship of children and adolescents with brain and spinal cord tumors through research, support, education, and advocacy.

MaleCare
212 844-8369
www.malecare.com
Comprehensive online support resource for young men living with, through, or beyond prostate and/or testicular cancer.

Matt's Promise Foundation
973 467-1211
www.mattspromise.org
Provides funding for treatment, research, education, and support programs for young adults affected by cancer.

Naomi’s Hope for a Cure
800 366-CCCF
www.hope4acure.net
Mission to develop new ‘smart drugs’ to give children and adolescents hope for a future and a complete cure.

National Cancer Institute: Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/aya
http://www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin/072611
Continually updated portal on adolescents and young adults with cancer.

Navigating the New Normal
215 955-8370
www.kimmelcancercenter.org
A new program of The Kimmel Cancer Center to help young adults navigate the ‘new normal’ that a cancer diagnosis brings.

Next Step
www.nexstepnet.org
This organization is for teens and young adults with cancer and life-threatening blood diseases offers retreats and workshops around the United States.

Nicki Leach Foundation
904 304.8531
www.nickileach.org
Offers high school and college students (ages 16 - 25) with cancer the opportunity to enjoy normal or unusual activities they might not otherwise be able to attend. Funding for car expenses, clothing, hair or make-up. as well as special funding that might include a special trip, a camera, a computer, or cell phone. The goal is to give the things they would not normally ask for but would love to receive.

Peer to Peer through the Sarcoma Alliance
http://www.sarcomaalliance.org/P2P.shtml
“Peer to Peer Network facilitates positive relationships between individuals affected by sarcoma so that they may find emotional support, encouragement and information.”

Planet Cancer
512 452-9010 
www.planetcancer.org
Award-winning young adult community offering survivor retreat programs, social networking, and online forums with real world advice and inspiring stories.
Young adults with cancer slip into a lonely no-man's land. Too old for the instant community of a children's hospital, they are still too young to be a part of the over-50 community that overwhelmingly populates adult cancer wards. Because young adults with cancer are a relatively small group, the difficulty of finding peer support is increased exponentially, forcing many to deal in isolation with issues specific to this age and stage of life: dating with cancer, disclosure to a potential employer, long-term insurance issues, moving back home, loss of fertility, or having to quit school or a newly-launched career. Planet Cancer exists so that no young adult will have to endure such isolation We work to raise awareness in the medical community about young adults as a distinct group with distinct needs. A greater focus on young adults, their cancers, their issues (including lack of insurance and low participation in clinical trials) and the medical needs will hopefully lead to improvement in survival rates, which have not increased one iota for this age group in 30 years.

Pop Smear
978 744-5300
www.theyellowumbrella.org
Educates and raises awareness about cervical cancer through advocacy and international benefit concerts featuring survivor musicians.

Prepare to Live
www.preparetolive.org
Uses the web and documentary-style film-making to provide hope, help, information, and inspiration specifically to young adults worldwide coping with cancer.

Rise Above It (RAI)
www.raibenefit.org
RAI provides meaningful support to adolescents and young adults affected by cancer. RAI also provides financial assistance to patients ages 15 to 39 who are either undergoing or actively pursuing Phase I, II or III clinical trial treatment options.

Rx Help for Californians
877 777-7815
Provides medications for children less than 18 years of age in low-income, uninsured families through the United Way.

Sharsheret
866 474-2774 
www.sharsheret.org
Survivor-led national organization addresses the concerns of young Jewish women facing breast cancer.  Offers education, outreach, and a peer support network connecting young women newly diagnosed or at high risk of developing breast cancer with others who share similar diagnoses and experiences.

Siblinks
www.siblinks.org
Provides network for young people (13 to 25 years) who are siblings or children of people affected by cancer.

Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation
800 315-2580 
www.starlight.org
Provides programs that address the social, emotional, and medical aspects for children and teenagers living with a serious illness. Programs empower children and families to take charge of their illness, play a more active role in their treatment, and better cope with the challenges that accompany prolonged illness. Online community provides information and support to help parents care for their seriously ill child. There is a new edition each month featuring information for caregivers and health-care professionals. Topics include managing finances, knowing your rights in school and insurance systems, and communicating with doctors.  Offers message boards for parents to share their experiences and gain support from each other.

SuperSibs!
866 444-7427 
847 705-7427
www.supersibs.org
Honors, supports, and recognizes brothers and sisters of children and adolescents with cancer through scholarship programs, educational materials, support, parenting resources, and more.

Survivor Alert
937 767-1924
www.survivoralert.org
A nationwide campaign to spread the word about what young adult childhood cancer survivors can do to stay healthy as they rebuild their lives after treatment.

Teen Impact
323 361-4660
www.teenimpactprogram.com
Gives teens and young adults with cancer or a blood disease a chance to make new friends, share life experiences, and participate in fun activities. Support services for parents and siblings.

Teens Living with Cancer
585 334-0858
www.teenslivingwithcancer.org
Online information, social networking, and resources to help teens and their families meet their unique life challenges.

The Ashley Foundation
http://www.theashleyfoundation.org
The Ashley Founding provides assistance to teens affected by cancer through educational and supportive programs ,such as scholarship money for college and teen resources for hospitals.

The Children’s Cause
http://childrenscause.org/about
The Children’s Cause is a patient advocacy group that is dedicated to empowering and supporting young adults who had or still are living with cancer.

 

The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults
www.ulmanfund.org
The Ulman Cancer Fund provides support programs, education and resources for young adults with cancer, as well as their families and friends.

Young Cancer Spouses
www.youngcancerspouses.com
The emotional and logistical issues a young spouse of a cancer patient faces are vastly different from spouses of older cancer patients that dominated oncology units and support groups. Young Cancer Spouses strives to bring together other spouses to share ideas, lend support, and validate their wide range of feelings and emotions so they can find comfort in an understanding community.

Young Survival Coalition
645 257-3000
www.youngsurvival.org
An international network of breast cancer survivors and supporters dedicated to the concerns and issues that are unique to young women and breast cancer. Through action, advocacy, and awareness, YSC seeks to educate the medical, research, breast cancer, and legislative communities and to persuade them to address breast cancer in women 40 years and under.

CAMPS AND VACATIONS

Camp Discovery
847 240-1737
jmueller@aad.org
Camp for young people ages 10-16 who have a serious skin condition. Under the expert care of dermatologists and nurses, campers enjoy a week among young people and counselors who have skin conditions.  Sponsored by the American Academy of Dermatology and free to qualified campers.

Camp Mak-a-Dream
406 549-5987 
www.campdream.org
A camp in Montana provides a medically-supervised, cost-free experience for children, young adults, and families affected by cancer.

Camp Okizu
16 Digital Drive, Novato 94949
415 382-9083
www.okizu.org
suzie@okizu.org
This is a FREE camp in Redding in northern California that supports the needs of all members of the families affected by childhood cancer ... Family Camp, Oncology Camp. Siblings Camp, Teens-n-Twenties Program, Bereavement Program.

Camp Tawonga
415 543-2267
www.tawonga.org/weekendfamily.html
“Grief and Growing” is a healing weekend for bereaved individuals and families, once a year, usually in May.  Through creative play, discussions, ritual, and the healing power of nature, the program is designed to create a safe place to exp lore feelings and concerns with a sympathetic and supportive community.  Open to all although the program includes some Jewish practices.

Crossing the Finish Line
484 674-4778
www.crossingthefinishline.org
Provides young adults and their families a retreat from the physical and emotional demands of cancer by providing a one-week, expense-paid vacation excursion in a comfortable, secure environment.

First Descents
970 845-8400
www.firstdescents.org
An innovative camp experience in Vail, Colorado, for young adults with cancer.  Offers kayaking, extreme sports, and professional athletics.

Next Step Fund
617 864-2921
www.nextstepnet.org
Provides retreats, camp excursions, creative workshops, and social networking for young adults facing cancer.

SCHOLARSHIPS

American Cancer Society Young Cancer Survivor Scholarship Program in California
800 877-1710 
800 227-2345 
www.cancer.org/scholar
Provides $5,000 scholarships for cancer survivors diagnosed before the age of 18 who are 25 years old or younger.  Applicants need to demonstrate financial need, plan to attend a 2 or 4-year accredited undergraduate institution of higher education in California, and have a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.  Recipients are required to serve a minimum of 25 volunteer hours with the American Cancer Society.

Beyond the Cure Scholarship
www.beyondthecure.org
The National Children's Cancer Society offers college and vocational scholarships to childhood cancer survivors. They award up to $5,000 per academic year to survivors who have demonstrated the ability to overcome challenges of childhood cancer with determination and motivation.

Brian Morden Foundation
800 997-7278 
www.brianmordenfoundation.org
Provides funding for “Brian Morden Memorial” higher education scholarships.  Funds Ewing’s Sarcoma and childhood cancer research.  Supports patients, family, and staff of pediatric oncology units.  Brian was a courageous 19 year old who battled Ewing’s Sarcoma for more than two years.

Cancer for College
760 510-9571
www.cancerforcollege.org
Scholarships for current and former cancer patients who are currently attending either a 4-year accredited university, junior college and/or graduate school. One-time $500 scholarships as well as 4-year perpetual scholarships in the amount of $4,000 per year.  Founded in 1993 by Craig Pollard, a two-time cancer survivor.

Cancer Survivors Fund
281 437-7142
www.cancersurvivorsfund.org
Awards college scholarships for young cancer survivors based on the applicant’s personal hardships, financial and emotional needs, and academic qualifications.

National Collegiate Cancer Foundation
717 215-0943
www.collegiatecancer.org
Sponsors an annual non-renewable $1,000 scholarship for college students whose lives have been impacted by cancer and who are seeking to continue their higher education while still undergoing treatment. Applicants must be college students between the ages of 17 and 27. Recipients are selected on the basis of financial need, an essay, recommendations, cancer story of survivorship, and demonstrating a “Will Win” attitude.

Patient Advocate Foundation’s Scholarships for Survivors
800 532-5274  
www.patientadvocate.org
Scholarships for cancer survivors to initiate or complete a course of study that has been interrupted or delayed by a diagnosis of cancer. Recipients must maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and complete 20 hours of community service during the school year.

Pearls of Hope
The Lorraine Jackson Foundation
www.pearlsofhope.com
310 753-6556
The primary mission is to provide scholarships for secondary education for children who have lost a parent to breast cancer.

Ryan Mullaly Second Chance Fund – A Scholarship Fund for Cancer Warriors
609 737-1800
www.ryans2dchancefund.org
Offers a $1,000 scholarship for cancer survivors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, who have been diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 13 and graduation from high school, who were under active treatment for cancer while in high school (resulting in a substantial impact on their ability to attend class, take the SATs, etc.), who have a treatment history which includes chemotherapy and/or radiation, and currently are 22 years or younger and enrolled in a degree program at an accredited 2-year or 4-year college or an accredited post-secondary vocational or trade program which will culminate in certification.  Graduate school programs are not eligible.

SAMFund: Surviving and Moving Forward
617 780-9606
www.thesamfund.org
Offers financial support through grants and scholarships to young adults as they transition into their post-treatment lives. Applicants must be between the ages of 17 and 35, finished with active treatment, and residents of the United States. Application procss begins in June each year with a Letter of Intent.

Stephen T. Marchello Scholarship Foundation
303 886-5018 
www.stmfoundation.org
Post-secondary scholarships for survivors of childhood cancer, specifically current high school graduates.

SuperSibs
866 444-7427 
847 705-7427
www.supersibs.org
Honors, supports, and recognizes brothers and sisters of children and adolescents with cancer through scholarship programs, educational materials, support, parenting resources, and more.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure College Scholarship Award Program
877 465-6636 
www.komen.org
Offers college scholarships of up to $10,000 a year over a 4-year period. Applicants must have lost a parent to breast cancer, be a high school graduate or a high school student who will graduate by June 2008 or have received the equivalent of a high school diploma (current college students are eligible), plan to attend a state-supported college or university in the state where they permanently reside, have a college GPA of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale (if already attending college), be no older than 25 years by June 2008, and be a U.S. citizen or documented permanent resident of the U.S.

Tim and Tom Gullikson Foundation
888-Gullikson 
www.gulliksonfoundation.org
Awards college scholarships to individuals affected by a brain tumor diagnosis.

Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults
888 393-3863 
410 964-0202
www.ulmanfund.org
Supports, educates, and connects young adults affected by cancer through on-line resources, college scholarships, and advocacy.

Working Against Cancer Scholarship Program
626 914-2914
www.workingagainstcancer.org
Assists young cancer survivors (30 years and younger) by providing awards toward academic and vocational education. A candidate must be a cancer survivor or recently diagnosed with cancer but does not need to be currently receiving treatment to qualify.