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A Cancer Survivor's Resource Guide

"Gosh, you don't have any hair or eyebrows either? We're in the same club!"
Robert Hendricks, colon cancer survivor

"You have to have faith that cancer isn't the end of your life. Actually, it's a second chance at life."
Sarah Grant, breast cancer survivor

Humor and faith shine through the comments of the cancer survivors above, and illustrate just a couple of the ways that people cope with a life-changing disease. An estimated 10.1 million Americans are now living with a history of cancer; some people resume their regular activities after treatment, others reexamine and change their lives, and still others need support to get the best from each day.

To find help and get information, survivors and their loved ones can call the American Cancer Society toll-free at 1-800-ACS-2345 anytime, 7 days a week. A few resources for survivors are described on this page with links for more information.

News and Research About Survivorship

Many Breast Cancer Survivors Neglect Mammograms
Newer Chemotherapies Improve Breast Cancer Outlook
Cancer Survivors Need Better Long-Term Follow up
Program Offers Aid for Fertility After Cancer
Nonprofit group Fertile Hope helps cancer survivors with costs of infertility treatments.

Employment Issues

Should you tell your employer you have cancer?
What are a cancer survivor's rights on the job?
What is the Americans with Disabilities Act?
What is the Job Accommodation Network?
How does the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship help people?

Fatigue and Other Side Effects

What is cancer-related fatigue and how is it treated?
What is chemobrain?
Test yourself for anxiety or depression.

Sexuality and Relationships

Sexuality information for men
Sexuality information for women
ACS Guidebook: Couples Confronting Cancer: Keeping Your Relationship Strong
Finding a support group
What to look for in a counselor

More American Cancer Society Resources

The Cancer Survivors Network (CSN)
Online community by and for cancer survivors, providing discussions, chats, homepages, talk shows with on cancer issues and more.
Support Programs and Services
Nutrition, Cancer Prevention, and Early Detection for Survivors
College Scholarships for Young Survivors

Other Resources

Office of Cancer Survivorship, National Cancer Institute
Information on survivorship research, follow-up medical care, late effects of cancer treatments
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
CancerCare
Free professional support to people touched by cancer including teleconferences, educational materials, and referrals.

Advocacy

Profiles of Cancer Survivors Who Fight for a Cure
Ways to Join the Fight Against Cancer


Maintaining an active life and a fighting spirit can help to create a good life after cancer, as Texas survivor, Thelma Suson has discovered. "After attending a support group, I realized the importance of getting to know others who have experienced cancer. That meeting made me conscious of my need to help others through the cancer maze, because no one should endure cancer alone."

Suson has helped educate women about the importance of getting screening mammograms on schedule and she's a regular team leader for the Relay For Life fund-raising event.

"I thank God daily for my cancer," said Suson. "I know now why I am here on Earth, and I know why all my life I've been guided to be a leader, a speaker, and trainer."

Published 6/1/06