Community Resources and
National Cancer Organizations
African American Breast Cancer Alliance
Educating and helping African American/Black women, men, people of color, families, and communities in the struggle with breast cancer.Offers support groups, advocacy, and education.
www.geocities.com/aabcainc or 612-825-3675
American Cancer Society
Provides navigators who assist patients and families with emotional support, information about cancer, andreferrals to support groups in the community. Offers a wig room at the local ACS office located at
2520 Pilot Knob Road #150, Mendota Heights, MN 55120.
www.cancer.org or 952-925-2772 or 1-800-ACS-2345
Cancercare
A national nonprofit that provides free, professional support services to anyone affected by cancer. Located in New York City, they offer free online and telephone support groups as well as educational workshops.
www.cancercare.org or 1-800-813-4673
CaringBridge
A non-profit organization connecting family and friends when health matters most. Each CaringBridge website is unique--authors select their website design and add health updates and photos to share their story while visitors leave messages of love and support in the guestbook.
www.CaringBridge.org
Healthy Survivorship - Wendy Harpham
Wendy Harpham is a doctor of internal medicine, cancer survivor, and award-winning and best-selling author. She is also a public speaker, patient advocate, and mother of three. Her books and lectures discuss
Healthy Survivorship, healing doctor-patient relationships, recovery and late effects after cancer, raising children when a parent has cancer and finding happiness in hard times.
www.wendyharpham.com
It's Still Me
A private, upscale wig studio where women battling cancer can come for a one-on-one, nurturing consultation and find an attractive wig.
www.itsstillme.com or 952-405-8671
Kids Konnected
A national resource offering friendship, education, and support for kids
who have a parent with cancer. Services include a hotline for kids,
educational resources, web site, and summer camps.
www.kidskonnected.org or 1 800-899-2866
KidsCope
Information to help children understand the effects of cancer treatment.
Offers the Kemo Shark booklet in English and Spanish.
www.kidscope.org or 404-892-1437
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Recognizes the needs of people with leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s
lymphoma and myeloma. Provides patient services including: First
connection peer support program, a family support group, patient education
programs, and patient financial aid.
www.leukemia-lymphoma.org or 763-545-3309
Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance
Offers education, support and advocacy for women who have ovarian
cancer and their families.
www.mnovarian.org or 952-890-8775
National Cancer Institute
Provides information about cancer, clinical trials, and research.
www.cancer.gov or 1 800-4-Cancer
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
Educational resources and advocacy for persons with any type of cancer.
www.canceradvocacy.org or 1 877-nccs-yes
Open Arms
A nonprofit service organization that prepares and delivers free meals
specifically tailored to meet the nutrition needs of individuals living with
breast cancer and other serious illness.
meals@openarmsmn.org or 612-872-1152
Pathways
Health crisis resource center that offers educational programs, support
groups, and complementary therapies. Pathways provides programs
designed to support a creative healing response to life threatening illness.
www.pathwayminneapolis.org or 612-822-9061
University of Minnesota Cancer Center
Cancer information and related services.
www.cancer.umn.edu or 612-624-2620 or 1 888-CANCER MN
Well Spouse Foundation
Support and resources for spouses of persons with chronic illness.
www.wellspouse.org or 1 888-838-0879
Well Spouse Support Group
Support and resources for spouses of persons with chronic illness.
952-938-0617
Well Within
A nonprofit holistic wellness resource center that offers classes, creative
art exploration, one-on-one sessions, and other integrative wellness
experiences.
www.wellwithin.org or 651-451-3133
Note: The listing of these resources does not imply endorsement by Angel Foundation. Please check with your insurance provider for specific information about benefits and referrals for counseling services.
Recommended Books for Children Who Have a Parent With Cancer
Very Young Children
Someone I Love is Sick: Helping Very Young Children Cope With Cancer in the Family by Kathleen McCue
For toddlers and young children
A customizable book that tenderly addresses all stages of the cancer diagnosis including diagnosis, treatment, hospitalization, recurrence and end of life.
Available in parent and grandparent version. Within each version is the ability to customize for mother/father or grandmother/grandfather with cancer.
Elementary Age Children
Let My Colors Out by Courtney Filigenzi
For preschoolers and younger elementary aged children. Colors are incorporated into the story to express a young boy’s emotions as his mother goes through treatment for cancer.
Mom Has Cancer! by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos
For younger elementary aged children
A story about a little boy’s mother who is diagnosed with cancer and the questions and conversations that come with the diagnosis.
The Rainbow Feelings of Cancer: A Book for Children Who Have a Loved One with Cancer Carrie Martin and Chia Martin
For elementary aged children. Through illustrations and text, children share feelings, thoughts, and questions about their parent who has cancer.
The Hope Tree: Kids Talk About Breast Cancer by Laura Numeroff and Wendy S. Harpham
Kids ages 5-12 years old, share their feelings, questions and experiences about having a parent who has cancer. This story can be used to address all types of cancer.
Butterfly Kisses and Wishes On Wings: When someone you love has cancer…a hopeful, helpful book for kids by Ellen McVicker
For elementary aged children. A gentle story with beautiful illustrations about a child and whose mother has cancer. The story line lends itself to a simple and clear understanding of cancer.
Teenagers
Love Sick: Teens Reflect on Growing Up with a Parent Who Has Cancer by Lynnette Wilhardt
This book, created by teens, is a collection of verse and images that depict the life of living with a parent who has cancer.
Brushing Mom’s Hair by Andrea Cheng
A 15-year old girl expresses her reactions and feelings to her mother’s diagnosis of breast cancer in connected poems. The majority of the text is applicable to all types of cancers.