Welcome to the Cancer Resource Center! We are here to provide support and resources whether you are newly diagnosed, in treatment, or a long-term survivor. We won’t tell you what to do because every situation is different. However, we promise to listen, answer your questions, and guide you to the resources that are most likely to be useful.

It is common for people to reach out and say, “I don’t really know what I need.” That’s normal. Going through cancer is a process. How you feel – and what you need – will change over time. Know that we are here for you today, and we will be here for you next month and next year. 

Many resources are available on this site and we encourage you to explore the services we offer – including free wigs and head coverings through our boutique, support groups, 1:1 and peer to peer support, and wellness classes to name a few.

Also, be sure to check out our Cancer By Type section for more information related to specific cancers. 

Resource Links:

• Jasper:  A Smart Platform for Your Cancer Care
  On a good day, dealing with cancer is complicated. On a bad day, it can feel impossible. For every day, Jasper is here to help. Organize your schedule, lists, and needs—all in one place.
• Smart Patients:  Patients Share Stories; Research Clinical Trials; Find Information.
• PALS SkyHope provides free air transportation when medical care is more than two hours from home. Free flights are to and from medical treatment, diagnosis, surgery, second opinions, clinical trials, and more. Visit www.PALSSkyHope.org and click “request a free flight.”
• Medicine Assistance Tool: Provides a search engine for many of the patient assistance resources that the biopharmaceutical industry offers.
• Cancer Care :  Various online support groups (including a Spanish Speaking group), financial assistance and more.
• Inspire:  An online community where members can share their experiences.
• Stupid Cancer:  Stupid Cancer offers a lifeline to the adolescent and young adult cancer community by connecting them to age-appropriate resources and peers who get it.

Downloadable Resources:

• CRC Services Brochure
• Practical Advice When the Diagnosis is Cancer
• Finding the Right Counselor
• Chemo Brain

CancerSimpleWisdomfromOurPets

Hospicare & Palliative Care Services and the Cancer Resource Center  both share a common goal to be accessible to diverse populations throughout our community. CRC supports people living with and affected by cancer and Hospicare provides end-of-life care and grief support. Both are nonprofits serving several counties in central New York. 

Throughout the year, we’ve connected faith leaders with our resources through programming such as webinars, and promotional outreach via digital and print materials. Perhaps most valuable, are the two Community Conversations that we hosted with faith leaders. Our goals were to listen to the needs of the faith leaders and to help bridge the gap between faith and healthcare.

“Hospicare is proud to be a part of the ecosystem of organizations committed to a better, more just world, from health care to human services to the arts to the environment and so many more.  That ecosystem – so vital to our survival as a people and as a planet — is strengthened when organizations collaborate” said Joe Sammons, Executive Director of Hospicare.

Our organizations were fortunate to have Aleah Thomas, Diversity and Inclusion Programming Assistant at CRCFL leading the project. Aleah provided the glue that we needed to keep momentum through the year. 

“I am so grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with Hospicare’ said Aleah. “It has been so rewarding to work together to achieve the same goal of reaching underserved communities.”

Together through this partnership, we have reached out to dozens of faith communities throughout Tompkins and Cortland Counties and we look forward to these relationships deepening. 

Kim Pugliese, Executive Director of CRC said “We are so grateful to both Aleah and Hopsicare for the opportunity to collaborate on this outreach project. The opportunity to be more inclusive and reach populations who wouldn’t traditionally think to connect with us for support is invaluable. I know from personal experience how hearing “you have cancer” can make the floor drop out from under you.  We want to make sure that NO ONE faces cancer alone….and that everyone can have access to resources to make that journey less overwhelming or isolating.”

It is our hope that these initiatives are only the beginning of a long lasting relationship between our organizations and communities of faith.

We would love to share more information with you and your congregants! We are happy to speak briefly during your in-person or virtual services during your announcements period. If live engagement is not feasible at this time, we are happy to send brochures for your bulletin or send digital materials to include in your e-newsletter. If you would like us to connect with your organization, please contact us. 

For more information on our organizations you may visit crcfl.net and hospicare.org. Our teams are ready to serve you!

All Counties Cancer Support Services Guide Rev 10.14.21

Cayuga County Cancer Services Guide

Chemung County Cancer Services Guide

Cortland County Cancer Services Guide

Schuyler County Cancer Services Guide

Seneca County Cancer Services Guide

Tioga County Cancer Services Guide

Tompkins County Cancer Services Guide

If you need Boost or Ensure:

• The best resource for nutritional supplies is The Oley Foundation. Through their website, you can request various nutritional supplements and supplies.

While Oley does get some Ensure/Boost products, they mostly receive tube feeding formula and supplies. You do have to pay for shipping.

• After joining the website and creating a username and password, sign in.
• Click ‘STORE’ all the way to the right on the blue banner, then
• from the drop down menu that says ‘All Categories’ select ‘Supplies – Oral Supplements’. From there you can specify which brand you prefer.

If you can use Ensure, the company that makes it (Abbott) has a patient assistance program. You have to qualify financially, and be 100% dependent on the product, and there is an application process. However, if you do qualify, they usually send you a 3 month supply: Abbott Patient Assistance

• Call  Nestle (800) 422-2752 and request coupons.

• There is a closed Facebook group called G-PACT: Supply Depot that is for people to donate and request medical supplies.

We do not accept medical supplies. If you have medical supplies to donate, below are some possible options:

• Oley Foundation
• ​Beechtree Center For Rehabilitation and Nursing
  318 South Albany St, Ithaca
  [email protected] or (607) 273-4166
• There is a closed Facebook group called G-PACT: Supply Depot that is for people to donate and request medical supplies
• The nursing school at TST BOCES uses them for practice (not nutritional supplements):

• If all else fails, you can check with emergency vets or pig farmers to see if they can use them (nutritional supplements only)

We have reference books you can use here at the center, an extensive lending library, and a limited number of cd’s. Categories of books and cd’s for lending include: cancer in general, breast and other cancers, complementary/alternative medicines, side effects, nutrition, care giving, mind and body, biographical, social/environmental/political, exercise and relaxation, end of life, humor and inspirational, as well as issues impacting family/children/friends.

The library is available during all hours we are open (as long as it’s not being used for a support group or meeting.) If you would like to confirm its availability prior to coming in, just give us a call. Otherwise walk-ins are always welcome.  You can browse our collection of more than 600 titles online, as well. And as always, all services we provide are free of charge.

Navigating Health Insurance & Finances – Resources