The Financial Impact of Cancer

Cancer can cause financial distress for many already struggling to afford their basic needs. In 2022, 79% of our clients who reported their annual income made $42,000 or less, and 6% reported having ZERO income. Cancer Care Services exists, so no one has to choose between paying for their basic needs and cancer-related bills.

What does the financial impact of cancer look like?

Where can I find resources to reduce financial distress?

Cancer Care Services offers financial assistance for transportation, emergency needs, medication co-pays, and more for those who qualify. We also have a financial navigator who can look over medical bills, insurance, and budgets to reduce financial toxicity and distress for those impacted by cancer. Our online resources page contains many organizations and programs that provide financial assistance to cancer patients and their families

How can I support those impacted by cancer?

There are three things you can do to support cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors.

Volunteer your time! Cancer Care needs volunteers for Connect and supporting events, general office duties, and the infusion rooms at Texas Oncology. Start by filling out our online volunteer application.
Spread awareness! Attend a community #CancerCareAWARE Tour or host your own (we will help you every step of the way) to learn more about our services and how you can help with our greatest needs. This is one of the best ways to spread the word about our free, wrap-around services for individuals and families impacted by cancer. Sign up for a #CancerCareAWARE Tour.
Give a gift! Your donation ensures financial, emotional, and practical services to those impacted by cancer in our community. Your donation brings help and hope.

How the Cancer Care Team Brings Help & Hope

How the Cancer Care Team Brings Help & Hope Transcript:

The Cancer Care team was asked how they have provided help and hope to our clients. Here is what they said…

Carlene:

I was able to assist by making sure that our client was able to reach all of his treatment and doctor’s appointments through transportation assistance. And after six weeks he was able to ring that bell for the last time.

Christi:

I had a cancer patient who canceled all his appointments after finding out what his total cost was going to be. And so I was able to help find a lot of resources to cover those medical expenses so that he was comfortable rescheduling his cancer treatment and without accumulating as much debt as he would have had.

Megan H:

Last week when I got to sit with a father who had just lost his wife and he got to honor her memory by really conveying to the team how important she was.

Shawn:

This week I helped a caregiver who lives out of state get their elderly father to Multiple Myeloma treatments at a dialysis center here in Fort Worth.

Kelly:

It’s a pleasure to help Hispanic families affected with cancer with our services.

Megan C:

Getting to be the Camp Director and share these special memories with these kids and help them reduce their fear and anxiety of cancer is very impactful and very special.

James:

I was in a grocery store recently and overheard a conversation with someone that was recently impacted by cancer and I was able to provide the referral form and get them signed up and get them connected with Cancer Care.

Tamika:

A client reached out to me because he was having a hard time navigating his insurance. I stood in as a Financial Navigator and made sure that he was able to maintain his insurance so he could continue his cancer treatments.

Caryn:

I strive to calm our patients’ fears about eating and nutrition which empowers that patient to look at food as a way to deal with symptoms from cancer treatment or even as a way to reduce the risk of future disease.

Joy:

I’m grateful to offer a different perspective to clients who may otherwise not see a different alternative to their situation such as offering car payment assistance resources or rent assistance resources when they may not know where else to turn to.

Transcribed by: Marilyn Kepner

Darion’s Story

Darion’s Story of Hope Transcript:

My diagnosis with cancer was a big shock cause actually I was preparing to go on a cruise. So, I went on and went to this health club and they did a lab work on me. And they took three samples, and the first two came out really good. Then that third one, my doctor just said, “Your white blood cells are going off the chart here. We need to go and look at this further.” And that was pretty much when that happened with the cancer.

The young lady that I took to my 1978 prom, we were at Texas Oncology and we kept staring at each other, but not staring at each other cause we kinda knew who we were, but we didn’t know. And come find out, that was my friend, Ms. Eunice Baker. She introduced me to the Cancer Care, and it was so many other areas of that–that– that really just reached out with me.

Cancer Care has a Perry Mason, it’s in the body of Ms. Tamika. And she would sit back there and just dissect everything. She’d say, “Mr. Fields let me see your bills and this right here.” And it comes up that she navigated this whole system to where they actually found faults, the insurance. And I was actually almost like paying three policies.

She said, “Well this needs to be taken care of immediately. He’s not being able to get his insurance. He’s not being able to get prescriptions. And he has a daughter that is not covered because of the, you know, the neglect of what’s going on here.” But she was really great and looking at what I was going through personally with finances, something that I could get and have that would be affordable.

Everybody is friendly, and the first thing they say is, “How are you doing Mr. Fields? How was that weekend, or how was the holiday?” There was a couple of times I had to say I was pretty much homeless, and they went to bat. I mean, they came up and got me shelter and lots of things like that. I mean, things that you don’t even think about asking, they seemed like well, we need to check because if he–does he have food? Is he okay? What’s going on with his doctors? Are you staying in contact?

I really think it’s more than medicine when you’re on the road to recovering from cancer, and Cancer Care is a big part of that.

Hope, in my opinion, is when you have a great family, and I call Cancer Care my family.

Transcribed by: Christina R.

Introducing our 2023 Volunteer of the Month!

It’s National Volunteer Month, and we’re celebrating with a special recognition of Jackie Gibbons – volunteer extraordinaire and Cancer Care board member! You may have seen Jackie welcoming clients with a smile, heard her bring hope to a cancer patient on a phone call, or even eaten one of her delicious cookies at our events.

Jackie has shared her insight about volunteering at Cancer Care Services:

Tell us about yourself:

I’m a mom of 2 high schoolers, a boy and a girl. I have been married for almost 19 years. I have 2 dogs, and I love to take them for walks/hikes. I love to bake.

What brought you to Cancer Care Services as a volunteer?

I wanted to do more than just donate money to the organization. I wanted to donate my time. I believe in the mission and don’t think that anyone should go through cancer alone.

What is your favorite thing about volunteering with Cancer Care Services?

Interacting with clients and seeing the changes in their lives that the services are providing.

What has been one of your most memorable moments volunteering with Cancer Care Services?

During one of the luncheons, a speaker had the guests stand up based on their experience with cancer (personally going through it, a caregiver, a family member, a friend, etc.). There was not a single person left sitting when he was done. Cancer affects everyone.

How has your experience with cancer impacted your volunteering?

Every client that walks through the door, or calls on the phone, would probably prefer to be doing anything else. Nobody wants to deal with cancer, so when I am volunteering, I want to make sure the client feels special.

What would you say to someone who is thinking about volunteering with Cancer Care Services?

Donating time can be as much or minimal as you want. But seeing what Cancer Care Services can do for our community makes it so rewarding.

And to all our wonderful volunteers – the Cancer Care staff have some words of gratitude for all that you do year-round!

“Volunteers are the lifeblood that keep non-profits running and moving forward. All the things you do make it easier for us to spend time with the clients, and we couldn’t do it without you! Thank you!”

– Amy Laude, LBSW | Clinic Social Worker

“Thank you for your commitment to Cancer Care Services and our clients. You are often helping behind the scenes but your help does not go unnoticed. It is both seen and felt whether that’s covering the reception desk, assisting/donating to our Connect events, assisting in the infusion room at Texas Oncology, decorating our building for the Christmas season, or a number of other ways you fill in the gaps where we can’t. This week, we celebrate you but hope that you’ve felt our appreciation all year because we understand your service comes from the heart and not a paycheck. Thank you from the bottom of our heart.”

– Christi Jackson, LMSW | Clinic Social Work Manager

“I appreciate that the volunteers provide a needed refreshment for the front office staff, while also supporting the program team in directing calls and checking in on how we are doing. Their care for the clients is an encouragement to me also!”

– Joy Rong, LMSW | Community Social Worker

Visit our Facebook and Instagram to see our National Volunteer Month posts happening all month long. You can thank Cancer Care’s volunteers in the comments!

Cancer Care could not serve the community without the hard work of our volunteers! If you would like to become a Cancer Care volunteer, fill out our Online Volunteer Application to start bringing help and hope to those impacted by cancer.

2022 Highlights and Impact

2022 was a big year for Cancer Care! Thanks to supporters, volunteers, and advocates like you – over 3,500 individuals impacted by cancer received financial, emotional, and practical support at no cost to them.

Service highlights of 2022:

186,121 miles in transportation assistance to get to and from treatment
$371,000 in emergency funds and financial assistance
47,649 action to help our clients lessen their financial burden

“I had a cancer patient who canceled all his appointments after finding out what his total cost was going to be. I was able to help find a lot of resources to cover those medical expenses so that he was comfortable rescheduling his cancer treatment without accumulating as much debt as he would have had.”

– Cancer Care’s Clinic Social Work Manager

Read Cancer Care’s 2022 Impact Report

Click here to discover how cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors received HELP & HOPE in 2022. Also, don’t forget to scan the QR Code on the second page to learn about the financial distress cancer often causes (or click to view the English version or the Spanish version)!

Reducing Cancer Disparities in Tarrant County

Cancer Care Services is unique, relevant, innovative, responsive, equitable, and inclusive. We are undertaking a significant DEI project in 2023, expertly facilitated by Dr. Emily Spence. Dr. Spence and Cancer Care’s staff have recruited a Design Team of researchers, community health experts, and individuals with lived experience. The aim is to identify and implement long-term solutions to reducing cancer disparities in Tarrant County.

“Cancer Care Services has a long history of providing wrap-around support for individuals and families who are impacted by cancer. They are deeply invested in addressing the multi-level factors that sustain inequities in cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. As a local non-profit organization, they’ve committed sizable resources toward co-creating a health equity outreach plan in partnership with community members. Their leadership and authentic interest in reducing cancer disparities is reflected in their intentional methods of eliciting guidance from best practice research, community residents, and experienced practitioners to design, develop and implement effective health equity strategies.”

– Dr. Emily Spence, Associate Dean for Community Engagement & Health Equity, University of North Texas Health Science Center.

Our Community Outreach page also shows how and why our Outreach team is helping reduce cancer disparities in Tarrant County.

Raising Awareness & Support for Colorectal Cancer

March is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month!

National Colon Cancer Awareness Month promotes the importance of colorectal cancer screenings and lifestyle habits to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.

The American Cancer Society found that “when excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States.” While colorectal cancer is a common cancer diagnosis in the United States, the death rate for colon and rectal cancer has dropped over the past few decades.

Screenings often find colorectal polyps or growths before they develop into cancer, which is why consistent preventative screenings are so important! Colon and rectal cancer treatments have also seen improvement over the past decades.

Cancer Care Services Partners with Get Your Rear in Gear-Fort Worth/ Colon Cancer Coalition

Our partnership with Get Your Rear in Gear-Fort Worth/ Colon Cancer Coalition helps bring awareness of colorectal cancer to the community and meet the needs of those diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer.

The Colon Cancer Coalition raises awareness, education, and funding for local nonprofits through their yearly “Get Your Rear in Gear” runs. Over the past six years, Get Your Rear in Gear-Fort Worth and the Colon Cancer Coalition have raised over $78,000 to support Cancer Care’s programs for those impacted by cancer!

When is Fort Worth’s next Get Your Rear in Gear run?

Get Your Rear in Gear-Fort Worth’s next run is March 19th, 2023! Online registration for participants closes on March 15th. If you want to volunteer, you can sign up online for race day volunteer shifts.

Cancer Care Services will be cheering on the racers and spreading awareness about our free cancer support services! We hope to see you there!

Welcome Our New 2023 Board Members!

Meet our new 2023 Board Members – Cindy Coffin and Bill Fairley!

Cindy is the Coordinator of Office Services of the Donor Relations department at Texas Christian University.

Why did you say “yes” to being on the Board of Directors for Cancer Care?
Because it matters!

Which area of the Cancer Care mission impacts you the most?
CampCARE

What do you hope to accomplish through your Board service with Cancer Care?
I’d like to participate fully in making sure the incredible services provided continue and to share what is being done with others, especially as I learn more and more.

Bill is the owner of Fairley Wealth Management.

Why did you say “yes” to being on the Board of Directors for Cancer Care?
My wife and I love this organization, and we have been supporters for years and know folks that have benefited from Cancer Care’s services. Being asked was, and is, an honor in my mind, and I am flattered to be invited. I want to help this organization however I can.

Which area of the Cancer Care mission impacts you the most?
While I haven’t been impacted directly, I know many who have and believe the care and support of caregivers is an area that I am most interested in.

What do you hope to accomplish through your Board service with Cancer Care?
Support the mission of the organization, provide advice and/or direction on initiatives, encourage others to get involved and hopefully donate, and help raise the profile of Cancer Care Services.

We are so excited to have Cindy and Bill join Cancer Care Services’ Board of Directors! Thank you for volunteering your time and expertise with us!

View our Board of Directors here.

Mariel and Joey’s Story

Mariel and Joey’s Story of Hope Transcript:

Mariel (00:02:31)

So, on October the 12th, we went into the ER with Lucy, had a high fever for three days. She had been in– we had seen her pediatrician the day before and actually got a blood test. She was complaining about not being able to stand very long or walk very far. And within an hour of being at the Cook ER, they had the results from the blood test the day before.

Joey (03:03)

The attending physician comes in and tells us that the oncologist is coming to see us because our three-year-old daughter has cancer, has leukemia. And he wanted to let us know before the oncologist came, to give us a little heads up. That was very nice of him to do. When cancer came into our lives, everything shifted. I had just started a brand-new job, but Mariel’s role was to be caretaker, and it was very difficult, and she had to completely stop her business. That was very hard too, just saying the words that we couldn’t take new business because our daughter had cancer. It was scary.

So, while we’re in the hospital, a few days after diagnosis and treatment has already started, we get a packet. Probably about halfway through that packet was a service through Cancer Care for prescription medicine reimbursement program. And from there, it started our relationship with Cancer Care.

Mariel (04:21)

We were met with just so much warmth. We knew it was a great fit for us and for our family. We just immediately felt connected with everybody there at Cancer Care.

Joey (04:32)

And also, they were very interested in Leo, Lucy’s at the time five-year-old brother, to help him in the process as well. And that was very important to us because we were spending so much time with Lucy in the hospital that we were starting– we were very worried about our five-year-old and how he was processing the events. So, that was a big, big plus for us.

Mariel (04:58)

I don’t know that there’s anything out there that is as inclusive from both a standpoint of the range of offerings that they have. Those one-hour windows where the kids were at play therapy were definitely the only hour that I had away, literally, from Lucy. I would try to cram as much as I could, or I would chat with Rhea about life and just have an outlet and just a little bit of a boost. So, as much as those play therapy times were great for the kids, it was a good little breath of fresh air for me as well.

Joey (05:41)

So, hope to us is belief that tomorrow is gonna be better. And that’s easier said than done most days. We’ve had some really hard days, and finding hope was hard.

Transcribed by: Christina R.

Where to donate your wig or hair to help people with cancer

Donating a wig or your hair can help a cancer patient facing hair loss gain confidence and comfort. We have put together a list of organizations to help you choose where to donate your wig or hair.

Choosing where to donate your wig or hair can be overwhelming with all the different options. We suggest to carefully review each organization’s requirements to determine the best fit for you!

What causes hair loss during cancer?

Certain chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and hormonal therapy treatments may cause hair loss, which you can read more about in our Resource Post.

Where can I donate wigs?

EBeauty has an online wig exchange program. Simply fill out their wig donation form and ship the wig to their office. Please keep in mind that EBeauty does not accept shampoo and other hair cleaning products, hair wraps, partial wigs, and wig heads.

Where can I donate hair?

While Wigs and Wishes does not accept donated wigs, they do accept donated hair.

Hair Requirements:

12″ or longer
braided
free of hair products

The Survivor Gals Cancer Boutique in the Joan Katz Cancer Resource Center at Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center – Fort Worth also accepts donated hair. They also have a location in Plano, TX.

Hair Requirements:

Hair must be at least 10″ long
Bleached hair cannot be used
Dyed or permed hair is acceptable
Must be bundled in a ponytail or braid

Please call to schedule an appointment at 817-924-8800.

Hair We Share accepts donated hair that meets their requirements. You can ship your hair and join their Ponytail Tracking program, which allows you to see a photo of your hair in a wig!

Hair Requirements:

Minimum length of 12″ (We can accept 8″ when joining our ponytail tracking program)
Hair that has been dyed (natural colors only) without the use of bleach
Hair that is permed or straightened (after damaged ends are trimmed off)
Gray hair
NO hair that has been treated with bleach – or lightened.
No hair that is not a natural color.
No hair that is sent to us wet.
No hair that is not packaged in a sealed plastic bag

Where can I receive wigs?

In addition to the above organizations, check out our resource posts for organizations that provide wigs, head coverings, and cooling caps to cancer patients. Many of the organizations offer these items at free or reduced costs.

Why should I donate a wig or my hair?

Hair loss can be another challenge a patient has to face during cancer treatment. Your wig or hair donation can help a patient cope with the emotional and physical impact of cancer!