Breast Cancer Resources
Breast Cancer Resources & Support
This document includes a growing list of resources for breast cancer communities, research and information. Please comment if there are resources missing or desired!
Table of Contents
- Chicago
- Chicago Breast Cancer Communities
- Chicago Breast Cancer Research & Activism
- Chicago Breast Cancer Resources & Support
- National
- National Breast Cancer Communities
- National Breast Cancer Resources & Support
- National Breast Cancer Research & Activism
Chicago
Chicago Breast Cancer Communities
Chicago Breasties (Instagram + Facebook)
The breasties is the first all-inclusive nonprofit organization that creates community for survivors, previvors, thrivers, and carevivors, impacted by breast and gynecological cancers. we’re on a mission to empower through connection, free events, and trusted resources, and to fund research for metastatic breast cancer.
Latina Association for Breast Cancer
ALAS-WINGS mission is to enhance the quality of life for the Latino community by providing breast health awareness, education, and emotional support programs for Hispanic/Latina women and their families throughout the Chicagoland area.
My Sister My Friend (Breast Cancer Support)
My Sister My Friend Breast Cancer Support is committed to increasing local and national attention to the devastating impact breast cancer has on the African American community.
Recovery on Water (ROW) (Rowing club)
ROW programs offer patients and survivors a safe place in which to find their new normal and reclaim their bodies.
Imerman Angels’ mission is to provide comfort and understanding for all cancer fighters, survivors, previvors and caregivers through a personalized, one-on-one connection with someone who has been there. Through our unique matching process, Imerman Angels partners individuals seeking cancer support with a “Mentor Angel,” so that no one has to face cancer alone.
Naturally Yours Shop (Illinois, Michigan, Indiana)
We are an intimate, personal boutique with friendly, knowledgeable consultants. We are committed to improving the quality of life for women by providing premium products for both hair replacement and after breast surgery needs.
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Mastectomy bras
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Breast prosthesis
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Wigs
A bright, bold reminder to #prioritizeyourhealth. Created by a breast cancer thriver.
Chicago Breast Cancer Resources & Support
Our mission is to save lives by meeting the most critical needs of our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer.
Need Help?
Call our breast care helpline to assist with finding local screening and diagnostic facilities or clinical research trials, requesting financial assistance, or other questions or care needs.
- (1-877-465-6636)
Gilda's Club is a place where men, women and children whose lives have been impacted by cancer, as well as their families and friends, can feel they are part of a welcoming community of support.
- Offers services in:
- Yoga, meditation
- Young women with breast cancer
- Men with breast cancer
- Improve
- Bereavement
- SO much more!
The Tutu Project helps people with breast cancer get through their day with support for all those things that cancer doesn’t care about. All the everyday stuff that suddenly becomes unaffordable – even for people with insurance.
The Licorice Project® is nonprofit 501(c)(3) community for everyone affected by breast cancer: newly diagnosed patients, survivors, thrivers, and their families and friends.
- Great resource for finding other resources in Chicago area
Through supportive care and education, the Cancer Wellness Center seeks to improve the emotional and physical well-being of people affected by cancer. All of our programs are offered free of charge.
- Offers services in:
- Nutrition
- Wellness programs
- Counseling services
Lemons of Love is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers care packages to hospitals and oncology centers and provides personalized care packages for individuals with a donation. We offer free programs for anyone impacted by cancer at our Mount Prospect, Illinois location and provide one-on-one family support at our building in Plymouth, Wisconsin.
LivingWell’s focus is to help cancer patients and their caregivers learn vital skills that enable them to regain control, reduce isolation and enhance their quality of life.
- Virtual classes on:
- Wig Boutique (wig consultations)
- Fitness & Yoga
- Nutrition
- Art
- Support Groups
- Survivor Programs
Chicago Breast Cancer Research & Activism
Equal Hope is a not-for-profit organization originally set up in 2008 as the Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force after the publication of disturbing research that showed that Chicago had large and growing racial disparities in breast cancer mortality.
From 2005 to 2007, Black women in Chicago died of breast cancer at a rate 62% higher than White women even though they were diagnosed less often. At the same time, there were only very low breast cancer mortality disparities in New York and San Francisco. This suggested to the founders of Equal Hope that instead of biological differences, this health inequity was driven by structural racism. In other words, Chicago’s inequitable healthcare system was to blame.
Ellas (Resurrection Project)
ELLAS mission is to create a safe space for Latina women who have been affected by breast cancer. ELLAS is an initiative of The Resurrection Project.
A national organization focused on meeting young women where they are—online, at their doctor’s office, at school, in their workplace, and in their communities—with the actionable information they need to understand their breast and ovarian cancer risk and take appropriate action to reduce their risk.
The Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation’s mission is to raise funds for research and education to prevent breast cancer and improve outcomes for individuals with breast cancer. Investments are directed locally within the Chicago area, but drive impact globally.
American Cancer Society (Illinois)
The American Cancer Society has programs and services to help you manage cancer treatment and recovery and find the emotional support you need. And best of all, our help is free. Find programs and services in Illinois.
- Making Strides Against Breast Cancer - 5k walk to fight Breast Cancer
National
National Breast Cancer Communities
The Breasties (community)
The breasties is the first all-inclusive nonprofit organization that creates community for survivors, previvors, thrivers, and carevivors, impacted by breast and gynecological cancers. we’re on a mission to empower through connection, free events, and trusted resources, and to fund research for metastatic breast cancer.
Keep a Breast (app + blog + art exhibits)
Our mission is to reduce breast cancer risk and its impact globally through art, education, prevention, and action.
Young Survivor Coalition (community + meet ups + conference + blog)
Young Survival Coalition (YSC) strengthens the community, addresses the unique needs, amplifies the voice and improves the quality of life of young adults affected by breast cancer, locally, nationally and internationally.
Brewbies (festival/events)
The Brewbies® Festival was founded in 2010. Showcasing the positive impact that the craft brewing community makes while raising funds to help the Keep A Breast Foundation fulfill its mission to reduce breast cancer risk and its impact globally through art, education, prevention, and action.
My Sister My Friend Breast Cancer Support is committed to increasing local and national attention to the devastating impact breast cancer has on the African American community.
National Breast Cancer Resources & Support
The Peak (blog)
The peak is an all encompassing media platform for those affected by cancer to feel empowered when making decisions surrounding their health and wellness.
Whether you’re looking for information following a diagnosis or the best foods to eat when recovering from surgery — it's time to stop the late-night google search that inevitably ends with you feeling lost and confused.
National Breast Cancer Research & Activism
BCAction was founded 30+ years ago in San Francisco during two public health crises-the AIDS outbreak and the breast cancer epidemic-and that helped shape its mission and fuel its activism. Early members apprenticed themselves to the AIDS group, ACT UP, and shared many of that group’s tactics, turning their anger into action to push for better treatments, true prevention, and investment in public health.
Our founders saw their disease not as a personal tragedy, but as a larger social justice and public health crisis. They knew that individual changes in behavior weren’t the answer, and pushed for sweeping systemic change instead.
METAvivor is dedicated to the specific fight of women and men living with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. At the time of METAvivor’s founding, no organization was dedicated to funding research for the disease and no patient groups were speaking out about the dearth of stage 4 cancer research. While more and more people have taken up the cry for more stage 4 research, METAvivor remains the sole US organization dedicated to awarding annual stage 4 breast cancer research.
The Basser Center for BRCA is the first comprehensive center for the research, treatment, and prevention of BRCA-related cancers. These hereditary mutations affect both men and women and can be passed down from either parent. BRCA mutations can increase lifetime risk for cancers including breast, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate and melanoma. The Basser Center can help you learn more about hereditary cancer risk.