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Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients often
feel overwhelmed and unprepared for the many
physical and emotional challenges that lie ahead.
“Hope is the thing with feathers
that perches in the soul,
and sings the tune without the words,
and never stops at all.”
Emily Dickinson
This book is made possible by,
and is a tribute to, three amazing women
Janet FiliciaLaurie Mezzalingua
Nana Rose
We could not have printed
and published this
without the generous funding of
The Saint Agatha Foundation
Positively Pink Packages is a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt public charity that provides
vital resources to breast cancer patients free of charge. Established by a breast
cancer survivor, Positively Pink Packages puts information, coping tools and
comfort aids in one place.
Positively Pink is made possible through the generosity of volunteers.
Contact us at (315) 278-0645 or www.positivelypinkpackages.org to learn
how you can make a difference!
Contents
Our Intention for You 1
The Day I Met Hope 3
Jennifer’s Story 6
Books 10
Organizations 28
Local Resources 34
Lymphedema 36
Medical Transportation Services 38
Support Groups 42
Programs of Interest Offered 45by the American Cancer Society
“I Can Cope” Series 45
“Look Good, Feel Better” Program 46
Mentorship Support Programs 48
Prescription Assistance Programs 50
Websites 52
Wigs 53
Healing Journal 60
OurIntentionfor You
Positively Pink Hope, Healing Resources from
Breast Cancer to Breast Health’’ places power
in your hands and acts as a guide for hope. This
healing guide can be carried anywhere, put in your
purse or on your nightstand as a resource.
1
2
Each person’s path is unique
and we have learned
that knowledge and support,
whether in books, support groups,
area programs, or creative outlets,
can empower the healing journey.
It is our hope
that you find this list of resources
valuable and the process of writing
your feelings down in the back
of this book cathartic.
3
Jennifer’s brown eyes and hair color
struck an immediate chord with me.
She instantly reminded me
of my beloved grandmother,
Nana Rose,
who emerged from breast cancer
in her 30s like Jennifer.
The Day I Met Hope
4
Nana was in the first group of women to receive
radiation in Rochester, New York. She spent her
next 25 years helping other women. Growing up,
I remember Nana Rose on the phone talking
to women who had just been diagnosed
with breast cancer. After one of these
calls Nana turned to me and said,
“Without the rain, the flowers can’t grow.” Life is a lot like Nana’s advice. There
will be times in life when we feel stuck in
the mud and must push past the rain.
Yet once we emerge, newfound
understanding surfaces and the rain
provides a foundation for the flowers to grow.
5
Jennifer Tom has provided over 5,000 breast
cancer packages in Central New York
free of charge.
I know firsthand that Jennifer’s story
provides hope. After our first visit,
I sat in my car in Jennifer’s driveway
with tears streaming down my face
and my body filled with goosebumps. I knew
together we could sow seeds of hope for other
women. This healing resource guide is a dream of
Jennifer’s and I am honored to be part of it.
With gratitude,
Laura PonticelloFounder, Laura’s List: Books for Women
6
Jennifer’s StoryThe day I was diagnosed with breast cancer
seemed to last forever. My once steady world
felt as if someone had pushed me off a cliff.
I looked for ways to regain some semblance
of control in my new world. Nothing felt normal.
7
In 2003, I walked into Dr. Bays’ office for the first
time after my lumpectomy, with both a sense of relief
at having the tumor removed and trepidation. When I
looked into the sad, grief-filled eyes of the surgeon, I
knew what she was about to tell me would be harder
than the first time when she said, “The tumor is
malignant.” I was 32 years old. She gently revealed
that she had just received the pathology report and the
cancer had spread into my lymph nodes. After much
pressuring from me, she revealed that 15 of the 23
nodes were found to be positive for cancer.
8
I asked if it had been
detected in my blood
and she replied, “yes.”
She looked at me and
said words I will never forget:
“If anyone can beat this, it’s you.”
She gave me hope when I could find none.
As Vickie Gerard writes in her book,
There’s No Place Like Hope: “Hope -
what a wonderful, beautiful word it is. I had
not understood until that moment, that all my
deepest emotions had evolved around that
word. The roller coaster ride that became
my life had been driven by loss and the
renewed search for hope.
9
I would have loved a guarantee that I would
get well, but I knew that was impossible.
What I had been searching for was hope.
Without hope I could find no foothold,
nothing to stop my spiraling,
downward fall.”
It is now my passion to share this
hope with others. I urge you to try and find
the strength to feel and embrace HOPE.
With a grateful heart,
Jennifer Tom Founder, Positively Pink Packages
10
BooksFor Persons with Breast Cancer
Informational / Medical
Breast Cancer Answers: Practical Tips and Personal Advice
From a Survivor, by Judith King
This book will help you understand the ins and outs
of a wide variety of procedures and stages of the
journey, as well as where to look for help from within
and outside traditional medicine.
Breast Cancer: The Complete Guide, by Yashar Hirshaut,
MD and Peter I. Pressman, MD
Written by two renowned authorities specializing
in the treatment of breast cancer, a surgeon and
an oncologist, this step-by-step guide aims to help
women make informed decisions about the care that
is right for them.
11
Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book, by Dr. Susan Love
This has been considered the bible of breast-care
books. Love presents plentiful illustrations to make
the information even clearer.
The Breast Cancer Survival Manual: A Step-By-Step Guide
for the Woman with Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer, by
John Link, MD
This practicing internist and oncologist intends to
provide the newly diagnosed woman with all the
information she needs to make informed decisions
about her care.
The Reconstruction Guidebook, by Kathy Steligo
This book will help you understand what to expect
from mastectomy, sort through the benefits and
limitations of reconstructive procedures and decide
which, if any, reconstruction is right for you.
12
Living through Breast Cancer, by Carolyn M. Kaelin,
MD, MPH
An informational book for patients and their families
on both the medical and emotional aspects of breast
cancer. The writer is a breast cancer surgeon, as well
as a survivor.
Fitness/Nutrition
Cancer Fitness: Exercise Programs for Patients and
Survivors, by Anna L. Schwartz
This book is a guide to recovery and fitness for all
cancer patients, offering the option of tailoring a
program for specific needs.
Eating Well, Staying Well During and After Cancer, by the
American Cancer Society
Experts give their advice on what and what not to eat
to stay strong and maximize benefits of treatment.
Includes practical tips and recipes.
13
Foods that Fight Cancer, by Richard Béliveau, PhD and
Denis Gingras, PhD
This book details the key foods that have been shown to
be beneficial for both preventing and fighting cancer.
Integrative Nutritional Therapies for Cancer, by Nagi B.
Kumar, PhD, RD
An informational book on the prevalent
complementary nutritional therapies for the
prevention and treatment of cancer.
Emotional Support/Stories
Beyond Breast Cancer: Our Stories of Hope and Courage,
by Alda Ellis
This book details how breast cancer survivors deal
with their cancer. Each story is different in how each
one lived her life and how breast cancer became the
center of attention.
14
Breast Cancer? Let Me Check My Schedule!, by Peggy
McCarthy, Jo An Loren and Erma Bombeck
Ten professional women share their wisdom
and experience about what it means to live with
breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Survivors’ Club, A Nurse’s Experience,
by Lillie Schockney
The author gives us an intimate insight into her
fight against and victory over breast cancer. She
documents how a positive outlook, lots of laughter,
proper medical care, prayer and faith in God brought
her safely through treatment.
Cancer Has Its Privileges: Stories of Hope and Laughter,
by Christine Clifford
This book offers hope and inspiration by using humor
as a tool to deal with the many challenges of cancer.
The author encourages you to find and enjoy the
humor in your own life.
15
Celebrating Life: African American Women Speak
Out about Breast Cancer, by Sylvia Dunnavant and
Nancy Wilson
This book captures the personal stories and
triumphs of African American women in regard to
breast cancer.
Chemo This! Finding Your Balance & Creating a Pathway Through Cancer, by Patricia McBain-Roberts
The author takes us through her personal battle with
breast cancer and discusses what she did that helped
her get through the ordeal. She uses her skills as a
Certified Human Resources Professional to better
understand the different ways people deal with
cancer depending on their personality type.
Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living Series: Breast Cancer, by Jack Canfield
Inspiration meets the information: understanding
your diagnosis, working with your doctor, talking
with friends and family, treatment options, emotional
healing, conquering side effects, alternative therapies,
thriving with breast cancer, and more.
16
Cancer Is a Word, Not a Sentence: A Practical Guide to Help
You Through the First Few Weeks, by Robert Buckman
The authors provide a steadying hand for the newly
diagnosed, walking the reader through the options
and offering advice on everything from dealing with
medical personnel to talking about your disease with
friends and family.
Another Morning: Voices of Truth and Hope from Mothers
with Cancer, by Linda Blachman
This book is described as “powerful, inspirational, and
deeply moving, a tapestry of voices from ordinary
women coping with every mother’s nightmare: a
cancer diagnosis while raising children.” The womens’
stories describe both the hard challenges and the
surprising gifts of parenting through cancer.
Just Get Me Through This: The Practical Guide to Breast
Cancer, by Deborah A. Cohen
This breast cancer survivor uses straight talk and
practical tips to help patients deal with all the
ups and downs of the breast cancer experience,
17
from the shock of diagnosis, to getting through
treatment, to getting on with your life.
Thanks for the Mammogram, by Laura Jensen Walker
Cancer isn’t funny. But humor is healing. When Walker
was diagnosed with breast cancer the day after her
first wedding anniversary, she didn’t laugh, she cried.
But this popular humorist soon discovered that
laughter, combined with faith, family and friends, is
truly the best medicine when you’re fighting the
cancer battle.
There’s No Place like Hope: A Guide to Beating Breast
Cancer in Mind-Sized Bites, by Vickie Girard
Regardless of the type of cancer, here is an immediate,
practical, and inspiring guide that will empower any
patient to better fight and survive this disease.
18
The Middle Place, by Kelly Corrigan
Newspaper columnist Corrigan was a happily married
mother of two young daughters when she discovered
a cancerous lump in her breast.
For Younger Breast Cancer Patients Don’t Bet Against Me, by Deanne Farve
Just 35 years old, Deanna was inadvertently thrust
into the spotlight when she was diagnosed with
breast cancer. Her story shares the role her faith has
played in her life.
Fighting for our Future: How Young Women Find
Strength, Hope, and Courage While Taking Control of
Breast Cancer, by Beth Murphy
Although there are more than 250,000 women
in the U.S. under 40 who have been diagnosed
with breast cancer, they have been proportionally
underrepresented in medical studies. Murphy spent
two years studying this age group and, in consultation
19
with medical professionals, provides a valuable
resource for young women.
Nordie’s at Noon: The Personal Stories of Four Women
“Too Young” for Breast Cancer, by Patti Balwanz, Kim
Carlos, Jennifer Johnson, and Jana Peters
The true story of four friends diagnosed with breast
cancer before they were thirty, and the monthly
luncheon that lifted their spirits.
Living With the End in Mind, by Erin & Douglas Kramp
Erin was a young mother with breast cancer whose
inspiring story was profiled on the Oprah Winfrey
show. Her uplifting book is filled with numerous ideas
on leaving positive legacies and “living life to the
fullest by embracing your mortality.”
You Don’t Have to Be Your Mother, by Gayle Feldman
The courageous story of a 40-year-old woman
battling breast cancer during pregnancy. How she
comes to terms with her own mother’s death from
breast cancer is both moving and inspirational.
20
After Breast Cancer TreatmentAfter Breast Cancer: A Common-Sense Guide to Life After
Treatment, by Hester Hill Schnipper, LICSW
The author, a breast cancer survivor and an oncology
social worker, helps prepare women for life after
breast cancer by imparting information and advice in
an intimate and direct manner.
In After Cancer: A Guide to Your New Life, by Wendy
Schlessel Harpham, MD
This cancer survivor and physician addresses the
medical, psychological, and practical issues of
recovery after cancer treatment.
Loving What Is, by Byron Katie
Known simply as “The Work,” Byron Katie’s methods
are clean and straightforward. The Work is a simple
yet powerful process of inquiry that teaches you to
identify and question the thoughts that cause you
suffering and to address the cause of your problems
with clarity.
21
Living Beyond Breast Cancer: a Survivor’s Guide for When
Treatment Ends and the Rest of Your Life Begins, by
Marisa C. Weiss, M.D. and Ellen Weiss
A guide for going back to a “normal” life: handling
fears of recurrence, managing physical post-treatment
problems, including the lingering side effects of
radiation, fertility difficulties, changes in sex drive, and
feelings of unattractiveness.
Pausing Long Enough to Notice, by Theresa Huggins
This book inspires individuals to live life joyfully, to
notice the messages within the simple experiences of
life. It is filled with short stories and poems that leave
the reader with a feeling of peace and a renewal of
one’s spirit.
Thriving After Breast Cancer: Essential Healing Exercises for
Body and Mind, by Sherry Lebed Davis, Stephanie Gunning
This book is complete with warm-up routines
for different sports, mind-body exercises, and
nutritional advice that can help you get rid of
the emotional and physical challenges that breast
cancer treatment poses.
22
You Can Heal Your Life, by Louise Hay
Louise explains how limiting beliefs and ideas can
contribute to illness, and how you can change your
thinking and improve the quality of your life.
Advanced Breast Cancer
Advanced Breast Cancer: A Guide to Living With
Metastatic Disease, by Musa Mayer & Linda Lamb
Gives a voice to the side of breast cancer no one
wants to hear about, with stories of extraordinary
ordinary people, forced by circumstance to call on
resources in themselves and their families they never
knew they possessed.
Crazy Sexy Cancer Survivor, by Kris Carr
While her hip, chatty style may particularly appeal to a
youthful audience, her authenticity and sound advice
will resonate with survivors of all stages and ages. She
begins with her own story—the discovery of inoperable
Stage IV cancer in her liver and lungs—then covers four
main topics: diagnosis, mind, body and spirit.
23
For Husbands of Breast Cancer Patients
Breast Cancer Husband: How to Help Your Wife (and
Yourself ) during Diagnosis, Treatment and Beyond,
by Marc Silver
When Silver’s wife was diagnosed with breast cancer,
he searched for information that could help him help
her. When he didn’t find it, he created his own road
map for men looking for direction. Using humor, expert
interviews, his own story, and the stories of other
couples, Silver tackles such issues as talking to young
children, the male “fix-it” mentality, and an honest
discussion of sex following breast cancer surgery.
Confronting the Cow—A Young Family’s Struggle with
Breast Cancer, Loss and Rebuilding, by C.B. Donner
This book focuses on how the children and husband
rebuild their lives after the loss of their mom and
wife. The children comfort and teach the dad about
grieving. After their loss, the father continues to
incorporate their mom’s memory into heir daily lives.
For Caregivers
When Life Becomes Precious: The Essential Guide for
Patients, Loved Ones, and Friends of Those Facing Serious
Illness, by Elise Babcock
Dealing with difficult conversations is the substance
of this book, from times caregivers may not know
what to say to times that call for tough conversations.
Final Journeys: A Practical Guide for Bringing Care and
Comfort at the End of Life, by Maggie Callanan
Detailed information about difficult decisions facing
caregivers and patients at the end of life are only
part of this important book. Callanan also discusses
caregiving in a “wounded relationship,” the role of
hope, and the impact of culture on families caring for
a loved one at the end of life.
Jane Brody’s Guide to the Great Beyond, by Jane Brody
Though the subject is sobering, this practical book’s
tone is compassionate and upbeat.
24
For Children Picture Books
Because…Someone I Love Has Cancer, by the American
Cancer Society
Good Luck, Mrs. K!, by Louise Borden
The Hope Tree: Kids Talk About Breast Cancer,
by Laura Joffe Numeroff
My Mommy Has Cancer, by Carolyn Parkinson
Our Mom Has Cancer, by Abigail and
Adrienne Ackerman
Promises, by Elizabeth Winthrop
The Rainbow Feelings of Cancer, by Carrie and
Chia Martin
Sammy’s Mommy Has Cancer, by Sherry Kohlenberg
Tickles Tabitha’s Cancer-Tankerous Mommy, by Amelia Frahm
What IS Cancer, Anyway? Explaining Cancer to Children of All Ages, by K.L. Carney
25
Where’s Mom’s Hair? A Family Journey Through Cancer,
by Debbie Watters
children’s chaPter Books Breast Cancer, by Don Nardo
Ida B…and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster,
and (Possibly) Save the World, by Katherine Hannigan
Melanie Martin Goes Dutch, by Carol Weston
Our Family Has Cancer Too!, by Christine Clifford
Sky Memories, by Pat Brisson
The Year My Mother Was Bald, by Ann Speltz
You and an Illness In Your Family, by Tabitha Wainright
Young adult Books At the End of Words, by Miriam Stone
Both Sides Now, by Ruth Pennebaker
Breast Cancer: Questions and Answers for YoungWomen, by Carole Vogel
26
Cancer, by Oliver Gillie
Cancer Information for Teens, by Wilma R. Caldwell
Dancing Through the Shadows, by Theresa Tomlinson
Less Than Perfect, by Louise Albert
Loose Threads, by Lorie Ann Grover
Under the Wolf, Under the Dog, by Adam Rapp
Parent Books
Can I Still Kiss You? Answering Your Children’s Questions
About Cancer, by Neil Russell
Cancer in the Family: Helping Children Cope with a
Parent’s Illness, by Sue Heiney
Helping Your Children Cope With Your Cancer,
by Peter VanDernoot
How to Help Children Through a Parent’s Serious Illness,
by Kathleen McCue
Raising an Emotionally Healthy Child When a Parent is
Sick, by Paula K. Rauch and Anna C. Muriel
27
28
Organizationsamerican cancer societY 1-800-227-2345 | www.cancer.org
A nationwide, community-based voluntary health
organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major
health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and
diminishing suffering from cancer through research,
education, advocacy, and service.
Breastcancer.orgwww.breastcancer.org
A nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the
most reliable, complete, and up-to-date information
about breast cancer. Their mission is to help women
and their loved ones make sense of the complex
medical and personal information about breast cancer,
so they can make the best decisions for their lives.
cancer care, inc. 1-800-813-4673 | www.cancercare.org
Support groups, educational programs, workshops and
teleconferences.
29
cancer information service1-800-4-CANCER | www.cis.nci.nih.gov
Comprehensive information including the most recent
advances in cancer treatment. Staff provides materials
at no cost, referral center to mammography facilities,
and other cancer organizations.
corPorate angel network(914) 328-1313 | www.corpangelnetwork.org
Free air transportation for cancer patients traveling
to and from recognized treatment centers in the U.S.
without regard to their financial resources. Register
within three weeks of a specific appointment at a
recognized cancer treatment center.
gilda’s cluB1-888-GILDA-4-U | www.gildasclub.org
Meeting places where men, women and children
living with cancer, along with their families and friends,
can join with others to build a network of social and
emotional support.
30
imaginis Breast health resourcewww.imaginis.com
This website is intended to provide you with the most
reliable, in-depth information on breast cancer and
related women’s health issues. Thousands of pages
of physician-edited information explain complicated
medical terms in everyday language to assist you
in making informed decisions on prevention and
treatment.
mamm magazine1-877-668-1800 | www.mamm.com
A women’s magazine for anyone whose life has
been affected by breast or reproductive cancers. This
magazine is designed to help women cope, along
with their partners, family members, and friends. The
magazine’s web site also has many resources.
men against Breast cancerwww.menagainstbreastcancer.org
This national non-profit aims at providing men with
the support services they need in order for them to be
effective caregivers after the breast cancer diagnoses of
their wives/partners.
31
national lYmPhedema network (510) 208-3200 | www.lymphnet.org
Provides guidance, support, a quarterly newsletter, a
place to find pen pals/Internet pals, and educational
courses for patients.
national cancer institute1-800-422-6237 | www.cancer.gov
Sponsored by the U.S. government, this organization
leads the nation’s fight against cancer by supporting
cancer research and promoting treatment, prevention,
and quality of care for patients and families. Clinical
trials listings are at www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials.
national center for comPlementarY and alternative medicine at national institute of health1-888-644-6226 | www.nccam.nih.gov
The mission of this center is to define the usefulness
and safety of complementary and alternative medicine
interventions and their roles in improving health.
32
Patient advocate foundation1-800-532-5274 | www.patientadvocate.org
This national non-profit organization seeks to safeguard
patients through effective mediation assuring access to
care, maintenance of employment and preservation of their
financial stability.
Plastic surgerY information service1-888-4-PLASTIC | www.plasticsurgery.org
Excellent and extensive section for information and resources
on breast reconstruction.
susan g. komen Breast cancer foundation1-800-462-9273 | www.komen.org
Breast cancer research and education. The site celebrates
survivors, has a calendar of breast cancer events, and hosts a
question and answer forum “Helpline” for breast cancer patients.
inflammatorY Breast cancer research foundation
www.ibcresearch.org
Detailed descriptions of Inflammatory Breast Cancer and its
symptoms, including colored photographs, a four minute
video, and patient’s writings about this little known and
aggressive form of breast cancer.
33
sisters network, inc. (713) 781-0255
Outreach, education on the impact of breast cancer in
the African-American community.
Y-me national Breast cancer organization1-800-221-2141
www.y-me.org
Translators available in nearly 150 languages.
Support groups, early detection workshops, wigs and
prostheses for women with limited resources.
Young survival coalitionwww.youngsurvival.org
Dedicated to issues surrounding young women with breast cancer.
women stories 1-800-775-5790 | www.womenstories.org
Series of videos in which breast cancer survivors offer
emotional support and advice that woman need and value.
34
Local Resources
counseling
Center for Living with Loss (Hospice of CNY)(315) 634-1100
Jewish Family Services(315) 445-0820
Onondaga Pastoral Counseling (sliding scale)(315) 472-4471
Miyo Hirano, CSW (oncology)(315) 446-8589
financial assistance
HEAP | (315) 435-8295
Medicaid | (315) 435-2928
Medicare | 1-800-442-8430
Social Security Disability | 1-800-772-1213
Food Stamps | (315) 435-2935
Public Assistance | (315) 435-2526
35
food assistance
Meals on Wheels | (315) 478-5948
Interreligious Food Consortium | (315) 474-8855
Rescue Mission | (315) 472-6251
homecare assistance
St. Joseph’s Homecare | (315) 458-2800
Visiting Nurse Association | (315) 476-3101
medication assistance
American Cancer Society | (315) 437-7025
EPIC (New York State) | 1-800-332-3742
lodging resources
Francis House (Hospice) | (315) 475-5422
Sarah House | (315) 475-1747
Salvation Army Women’s Shelter | (315) 472-0947
Vera House | (315) 468-3260
36
LymphedemaLymphedema is a disorder of the lymphatic system.
Swelling occurs as a result of the blocking of lymphatic
vessels or lymph nodes and the build up of large
amounts of lymph fluid in a region, Lymphedema can
develop as a result of surgery, radiation or infection.
With early diagnosis and treatment, lymphedema
symptoms can be reduced. Please notify your
physician immediately if you experience any of these
signs and symptoms:
The sensation of fullness or pressure in your arm or chest wall
Swelling of part of your arm or your entire arm, including your fingers or toes
A feeling of heaviness or tightness in your arm
Restricted range of motion in your arm
Aching or discomfort in your arm
Recurring infections in your affected limb
Hardening and thickening of the skin on your arm
37
Local Lymphedema Programs
st. JosePh’s lYmPhedema Program 4401 Medical Center Dr., Fayetteville | (315) 329-7000
universitY hosPital lYmPhedema management Program750 East Adams St., Syracuse | (315) 464-2300
lYmPh drainage theraPYBarbara J. Korosec, RN, MS, LLCC | (315) 449-9017
Online Resources the national lYmPhedema networkwww.lymphnet.org
stePuP–sPeakout
www.stepup-speakout.org
38
Medical Transportation
ServicesPlease call companies for pricing and schedules.
aBle transPort(315) 472-3393
Ambulatory and wheelchair transport serving
Onondaga County and surrounding areas.
auBurn medical transPort(315) 237-2814
Ambulatory, wheelchair, and stretcher transport serving
Central New York.
caYuga medical van serviceCall (315) 253-0996 or (315) 253-3548
Persons needing medical transportation from Auburn
to Syracuse may arrange a ride by giving a week’s
notice. Payment is by donation unless the passenger
is eligible for Medicaid. Under the age of 60, there
may be a fee. Over the age of 60, a suggested
donation of $12 is encouraged.
39
caYuga countY dePtartment of heath & human services
(315) 253-1326
Transportation for Medicaid-eligible people for
Non-emergency medical appointments.
Call Tracey Van Doren 48 hours in advance.
caYuga countY scat van serviceVehicles equipped with wheelchair lifts provide
transportation to people 60 and over throughout
Cayuga County. City of Auburn residents who are
handicapped or who cannot use regular bus service
may use the SCAT system. Outside the city, passengers
over 60 may use the service for any personal business.
One week notice is requested. Payment for service is by
donation. To request service or more information, call:
Auburn (315) 253-0996
Cato-Sterling (315) 626-2732
Moravia (315) 497-2652
Weedsport/Port Byron (315) 253-0996
Union Springs (315) 889-7255
caYuga countY veterans service officeCall (315) 253-1281
Van service for veterans to the V.A. Medical Center in
Syracuse. No fee.
40
centro Bus www.centro.org
Cayuga County (315) 253-5765
Oneida County & Utica (315) 797-7803
Rome (315) 336-5310
Onondaga County (315) 442-3400
Oswego County (315) 342-4400
Fixed bus routes
fish (friends in service here) FISH is a volunteer organization providing
transportation to medical appointments for
ambulatory citizens residing in various CNY areas.
Camillus (315) 701-5949
Fayetteville/Manlius/Minoa (315) 637-8158.
LaFayette/Tully (315) 696-8659
helPing hands transPortation
Call (315) 497-3443 or (315) 730-3563
Ambulatory, wheelchair and stretcher transport serving Onondaga and Cayuga Counties and surrounding areas.
This service is available for private pay and Medicaid.
medicaid transPort management co.(315) 299-2714
41
rural metro amBulanceCall (315) 255-1146 for prices.
24-hour emergency ambulance transport
suBurBan transPortwww.suburbantransport.com
CNY area (315) 437-0058
Albany area (518) 446-1000
Taxi, ambulatory, wheelchair, oxygen and stretcher
transport serving CNY and surrounding areas.
tlc(315) 422-0211 | www.tlcems.com
Ambulatory, wheelchair and stretcher transport serving
Central New York.
42
Support Groups
Please call to verify times and locations
andrews memorial united methodist church 106 Church St., North Syracuse
(315) 458-0890
auBurn memorial hosPital17 Lansing St., Auburn
Kathleen Bennett (315) 472-7504
auBurn holidaY inn 75 North St., Auburn
Stacey (315) 255-2612
faxton regional cancer center1676 Sunset Ave., Utica
Karen Christensen (315) 624-5764
Dottie Williams (315) 624-4673
43
hematologY oncologY assoc. of cnY5008 Brittonfield Parkway, East Syracuse
Gussie Sorenson (315) 472-7504
herkimer countY office and court facilitY301 N. Washington St., Herkimer
Mary Iocovozzi at miocovoz@twcny.rr.com
(315) 866-6520
herkimer - valleY health services Carolyn Dove
(315) 866-3330, x146
ithaca Breast cancer alliance612 West State St., Ithaca
(607) 277-0960
fulton familY Ymca715 West Broadway, Fulton
Liz Schremp (315) 592-7468
lewis countY general hosPital7785 N State St., Lowville
Joanne Dicob or Mary Bellinger (315) 376-5493
44
oneida healthcare suPPort grouPOneida Public Library, Broad St., Oneida
1-800-887-5514
rome memorial hosPital1704 Lincoln Lane, Rome
Sue Aquino (315) 337-8523
sands cancer center360 Parrish Street, Canandaigua
(585) 396-6692
st. JosePh’s hosPital301 Prospect Avenue, Syracuse
(315) 448-5175
Ywca of cortland4 Clayton Ave., Cortland
MaryAnn Wilbur (607) 753-9651
45
Programs of Interest
Offered by the American
Cancer Society Please call to verify times and locations.
“i can coPe” series for cancer Patients and their familiesAuburn Memorial HospitalKathy Bennett | (315) 472-7504
Hematology Oncology AssociatesWatertown | (315) 472-7504
Samaritan Keep HomeBonnie Trodeau | (315) 786-4920
46
look good, feel Better Teaches cancer patients hands on cosmetic techniques
to help cope with appearance-related side effects from
chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
800- 887-5514 | www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org
Auburn Hospital 17 Lansing St. | (315) 437-7025
East Syracuse
SUNY Upstate Medical University Health Link (315) 464-8233
Hematology/Oncology AssociatesBrittonfield Parkway | (315) 437-7025
LiverpoolCrouse Hospital Wellness Center
305 Vine St. | (315) 437-7025
Lowville
Hair Vogue7650 N State St. | (315) 437-7025
Ogdensburg
Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center214 King St. | (315) 393-2394
Oneida
Oneida Oncology Clinic603 Seneca St. | (315) 361-1041
47
Potsdam
Canton Potsdam Hospital50 Leroy St. | (315) 437-7025
RomeMohawk Valley Radiation107 E Chestnut St. | (315) 338-0897
SyracuseHematology/Oncology of CNY Upstate University Hospital at Community General4900 Broad Rd. | (315) 437-7025
Watertown
Samaritan Health System - Samaritan Keep Home 133 Pratt St. | (315) 437-7025
48
Mentorship Support
Programscancer connects(315) 634-5004 | www.cancerconnects.org
In an effort to provide compassion, support and
guidance to ease this journey, a “mentor” or “buddy”
that has lived through this process can make the road
traveled less difficult.
reach to recoverYAmerican Cancer Society 1-800-887-5514
Kathy Brodsky 315-437-7025
Connect with a woman facing a diagnosis of breast
cancer by a breast cancer survivor. All visitors are
trained and certified by Reach to Recovery standards.
49
Your shoes 24/7 Breast cancer suPPort center1-800-221-2141 | www.y-me.org
At the heart of Y-ME National Breast Cancer
Organization is the YourShoes 24/7 Breast Cancer
Support Center, the only place in the world where
you can call – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days
a year – and talk to a breast cancer survivor.
50
Prescription Assistance Programs
the astrazeneca Patient PrescriPtion assistance Programwww.astrazeneca-us.com/help-affording-your-medicines
1-800-424-3727
If you are an individual making $30,000 or less, or a family
of four making $60,000 or less, you may qualify for an
AZ&Me Prescription Savings Program .
cancercare co-PaYment assistance foundationcancercarecopay.org
1-866-55-COPAY (1-866-552-6729)
A not-for-profit organization established in 2007 to
address the needs of individuals who cannot afford their
insurance co-payments to cover the cost of medications
for treating cancer. The Foundation is proud to be
affiliated with CancerCare, a national not-for-profit
organization that has provided free professional support
services including counseling, education, financial
assistance and practical help to people with cancer and
their loved ones since 1944.
51
needYmeds www.needymeds.org
The mission of NeedyMeds is to make information about assistance programs available to patients and their advocates at no cost.
rxassistwww.rxassist.org
RxAssist offers a comprehensive database of these patient assistance programs, as well as practical tools, news, and articles so that health care professionals and patients can find the information they need. All in one place.
the healthwell foundationwww.healthwellfoundation.org | 1-800-675-8416
Provides financial assistance to eligible individuals to cover coinsurance, copayments, healthcare premiums and
deductibles for certain treatments.
the PartnershiP for PrescriPtion assistancewww.pparx.org | 1-888-477-2669
Their mission is to increase awareness of patient assistance programs and boost enrollment of those who are eligible. They offer a single point of access to more than 475 public and private programs, including nearly 200 offered by
pharmaceutical companies.
Websitescaring Bridgewww.caringbridge.org
CaringBridge provides free websites that connect
people experiencing a significant health challenge
to family and friends, making each health journey
easier. CaringBridge is powered by generous donors.
The websites are easy to create and use. Authors add
health updates and photos to share their story while
visitors leave messages of love, hope and compassion
in the guestbook.
med giftwww.medgift.com
A unique gift registry that also combines the benefits
of social media, MedGift provides a community of
support for patients and an online listing of a patient’s
specific Needs, Wants and Wishes during treatment
and recovery, similar to any other gift registry.
52
Wigs Discuss your needs with your nurse or hairdresser
before purchase.
Obtain a prescription for the wig from your physician.
Don’t rely on the sales person to know policies in
insurance coverage. Call the insurance company yourself
and ask if they cover all or a portion of “hair prosthesis”
Ask what services are included in the cost of the wig.
Inquire about styling.
Ask about quality with respect to pricing. Can facility
provide for your privacy?
53
Resources For Wigs a & e (real hair wigs onlY)5781 Bridge St., East Syracuse
(315) 445-1177
alternative thee5554 Veneto Dr., Clay
(315) 699-0218
BestwaY BeautY & BarBer suPPlY3981 Milton Ave., Solvay
(315) 487-6033
BestwaY BeautY & BarBer suPPlY7821 Brewerton Rd., Cicero
(315) 458-2252
donnatella’s wigs
218 N. Main St., Syracuse
(315) 455-5883
elvira’s wig Boutique383 Oriskany Blvd., Whitesboro
(315) 736-7646
54
genesis ii hair rePlacement405 East Taft Rd., North Syracuse
(315) 458-1074
www.genesishair.com
hot cocoa’s hair & BeautY suPPlY4200 S. Salina St., Syracuse
(315) 469-4826
www.hotcocoahair.com
Carousel Mall, Syracuse
(315) 422-6262
Sangertown Mall, New Hartford
(315) 266-0124
mr. c’s hairstYlists6088 East Taft Rd., North Syracuse
(315) 458-9568
nationwide BeautY & BarBer suPPlY2800 Erie Blvd. East, Syracuse
(315) 446-9026
55
Profiles BY kristin2113 Brewerton Rd., Syracuse
(315) 454-3132
56
57
Wig Programs
american cancer societYProvides free wigs to patients suffering hair loss due
to cancer treatment at their East Syracuse location:
6725 Lyons St., East Syracuse
Contact Leigh Knapp at (800) 887-5514
PositivelY Pink Packages wig ProgramPositively Pink Packages is excited to be partnering
with Rose & Company Hair Design to offer free head
shavings and free wig cutting services to breast
cancer patients. We do not sell wigs, however we
offer a small selection of free wigs available for
patients who cannot afford to purchase one. We
gratefully accept wig donations. Please bring wigs to
Rose & Company or mail to Positively Pink Packages at
P.O. Box 208 Fayetteville, NY 13066
rose and comPanY hair design6900 Highbridge Road, Fayetteville
Call Rose at (315) 449-0404 for appointment
www.roseandcompanyhairdesign.com
58
Y-me organizationwww.y-me.org
Committed to offering wigs and breast prostheses
for women with limited resources. Every year the
organization provides nearly 500 wigs, prostheses
and mastectomy bras for the women who need them
most. Call the Breast Cancer Support Center at
1-800-221-2141 to speak with a peer counselor.
Online Wig ResourcesesPeciallY Yours | www.especiallyyours.com
African-American wigs & hairpieces
BeautY trends | www.beautytrends.com
Paula Young | www.paulayoung.com
59
Healing JournalSince you first found out you had cancer, many
thoughts may have spun through your mind. Right
now you might be feeling:
Angry that your body has betrayed you
Afraid of your illness and of what may happen next
Sad over the loss of your physical health
Out of control and helpless, as if you are at the mercy of cancer
Alone because others don’t fully understand what you’re going through
Confused as you decide what to do next.
Writing in a journal can be an effective way to handle
these and other emotions that being diagnosed with
cancer has triggered. Many find it difficult to express
their feelings. Some aren’t used to revealing their
emotions. Others feel a need to be strong for the
sake of the people around them. For whatever reason
we do it, when we keep our emotions bottled up,
we increase our stress and the impact it has on our
bodies. Journal writing empowers us to express our
difficult feelings in a safe and private way. It allows
60
you to come to terms with cancer at your own pace
and in your own way. Your journal is always there to
receive your thoughts and feelings.
As you work through the initial shock of your
diagnosis and the uncomfortable feelings that
and treatment can provoke, writing can help you
rediscover the positive qualities and strengths you
had forgotten as well as to uncover new ones. Journal
writing enables you to put illness in perspective. By
writing, you may realize that your illness is only a part
of you, not the whole person.
When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, a friend
gave me a beautiful leather bound blank journal. I
had a hard time knowing what to write about. It
wasn’t until I found a journal that prompted me with
questions, reflections and quotes did I start to write
my feelings down.
Because your journal is a unique reflection of who
you are, there is no right way to keep it. The journal
section is presented in groups so that you can chose
to answer any that best describe your situation. I have
also selected different reflections and quotes to help
guide you to explore and write down your feelings.
61
62
DiagnosisI/They found the lump when….
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I knew something was wrong because...
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When I first heard those words, I was…
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“I understand now that sickness makes no
appointment and is not impressed with busy
lives or concerned with interrupting them.”
Writer, Faye Moscowitz
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“Don’t defy the diagnosis, try to defer the verdict.”
Author, Norman Cousins
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“God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change
Courage to change the things I can
And wisdom to know the difference.”
Religious and social thinker, Reinhold Niebuhr
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”What seem to us bitter trials are often
blessings in disguise?”
Poet and playwright, Oscar Wilde
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“A single event can awaken within us a stranger
totally unknown to us. To live is to be slowly born.”
Novelist and aviator, Antoine de Sainte-Exupery
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“Every wall is a door.”
Poet and philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson
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“Pessimism operates in a narrowed field of vision
that fails to take into account the possibilities at the
outer edges of experiences.”
Author, Norman Cousins
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72
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
President Theodore Roosevelt
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73
Surgery and TreatmentI chose this type of surgery because…
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74
The kind of treatment I’m having is…
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75
My biggest fear about treatment is…
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My biggest hope for this treatment is…
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77
“Nothing is more essential in the treatment
of serious disease than the liberation of the
patient from panic and foreboding.”
Author, Norman Cousins
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“Compassion for myself is the most
powerful healer of them all.”
Psychiatrist and author, Theodore Isaac Rubin
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“Although the world is full of suffering,
it is full also of the overcoming of it.”
Memoirist and essayist, Helen Keller
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80
“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our
lives means the most to us, we often find it is those
who…have chosen to share our pain and touch our
wounds with a warm and tender hand.”
Author, Henri J.M. Nouwen
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“The human body experiences a powerful
gravitational pull in the direction of hope. That is why
the patient’s hopes are the physician’s secret weapon.
They are the hidden ingredients in any prescription.”
Author, Norman Cousins
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EmotionsI feel like crying every time I think of…
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I find myself in tears when…
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I feel so frustrated when…
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I feel most able to smile and feel happy when…
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“Keep your face to the sunshine and you
cannot see the shadow.”
Memoirist and essayist Helen Keller
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“I hadn’t planned to learn that one of the things that
makes life worth living is the thought that whatever it
is that happened, it could have been worse.”
Novelist, Jane Smiley
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“The longest journey is the journey inward.”
United Nations Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold
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“Trouble is part of your life, and if you don’t share it,
you don’t give the person who loves you a chance
to love you enough.”
Entertainer, Dinah Shore
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“Laughter is the tonic, the relief, the surcease for pain.”
Comedian and actor, Charlie Chaplin
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“Courage is fear holding on a minute longer.”
U.S. General George S. Patton
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HealingI show approval and love for myself by…
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I found myself able to heal more quickly when…
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“My life has changed because I am finally
facing who I am. Who I have become.”
Writer, Andrea Dominick
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“Inside myself is a place where I live all alone and that’s
where you renew your springs that never dry up.”
Novelist and humanitarian, Pearl S. Buck
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96
“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that
within me lay an invincible summer.”
Philosopher, novelist and playwright, Albert Camus
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97
“The world is sown with good; but unless I turn
my glad thoughts into practical living and till my
own field, I cannot reap a kernel of good.”
Memoirist and essayist, Helen Keller
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98
“Faith moves mountains, but you have to keep
pushing while you are praying.”
Author, Mason Cooley
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99
HopeI believe I will make it through this because…
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100
My hopes for my future are…
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101
My hopes for my loved ones’ futures are…
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102
“Fall seven times, stand up eight.”
Japanese proverb
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103
“Hope is the only good thing that disillusion respects.”
Moralist, Marquis de Vauvenargues
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104
“I am not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how
to sail my ship.”
Novelist, Louisa May Alcott
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105
“The beginning is always today.”
Novelist and short story writer, Mary Wollstonecraft
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106
“No pessimist ever discovered the secret of
the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or
opened a new discovery for the human spirit.”
Memoirist and essayist, Helen Keller
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107
“Never think that God’s delays are God’s denials.
Hold on; hold fast; hold out. Patience is genius.”
Mathematician and naturalist, Comte de Buffon
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108
Living with DyingWhat I most fear about not being alive is…
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109
When my time comes, I will be ready because…
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110
My views about death and an afterlife have changed
in these ways…
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111
“The journey is the reward.”
Taoist saying
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112
“Deep in their roots, all flowers keep the light.”
Poet, Theodore Roethke
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113
“I no longer cared about survival – I merely loved.”
Anthropologist and author, Loren Eiseley
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114
“The butterfly counts not months but moments,
and has time enough.”
Poet, novelist and essayist, Rabindranath Tagore
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115
“Surviving means being born over and over.”
Writer, Erica Jong
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116
“The secret of health for both mind and body is
not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the
future, not to anticipate troubles, but to live the
present moment wisely and earnestly.”
Buddha
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117
ListsLists are another way to keep a log of events and
feelings. As a natural list maker, I love making lists.
Just because you have cancer and are keeping a
journal or writing lists, doesn’t mean you are limited
to only writing about your illness. Be sure to keep an
account of all the good things in your life.
I found writing about the simple things I enjoy; such
as reading the morning newspaper, receiving a smile
from a stranger, spending time with my dog boosted
my mood and energy.
Write down the simple things you enjoy:
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118
Write down the strengths you possess:
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119
Write down ways to nurture yourself:
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120
Write down things you are grateful for:
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121
Final Thoughts
“Hope is important because it can make
the present moment less difficult to bear.
If we believe that tomorrow will be better,
we can bear a hardship today.”
Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese monk
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