Understand your diagnosis
Childhood Cancers - NCI
U.S.; online education worldwide
Open official resource ↗PATIENT & CAREGIVER LIBRARY
Childhood cancer resources
Find information, people to talk to and practical help for childhood cancer.
Start here
Connect with support
Alex’s Lemonade Stand — family resources
U.S.; some programs include Canada
Open official resource ↗Make a practical plan
Explore financial help, prepare questions, and keep your care-team contacts together.
Download planning sheets →Also included: services that help people with any cancer.Browse all cancer types →
Childhood cancer support & information
18 resources · Showing 1–12
Financial assistance
Childhood cancer resource National Children’s Cancer Society — family assistance
Transportation and lodging assistance for eligible families; a separate emergency program has additional inpatient or relocation requirements.
CALL314-241-1600
Application or program questions
- Where
- U.S. nationwide
- Who / cost
- Childhood cancer, age, household resources and U.S. residency/citizenship requirements apply.
How to start & what to confirm
- First step
- Review the eligibility checklist and submit the family application with requested financial and medical verification. English and Spanish application resources are available.
- Hours & languages
- Confirm current contact hours. Ask about your preferred language or interpreter access.
- Before applying or booking
- Confirm the service area, diagnosis and age requirements, costs, current availability, and any required documents. For hospital programs, ask whether you must receive treatment there.
- Program note
- Emergency assistance requires a qualifying extended hospital stay or relocation; a cancer diagnosis alone is not sufficient.
- Official sources
- Source 1 ↗
Funding and eligibility vary; confirm directly.
Financial assistanceARIZONA
Support for any cancer Arizona DES — Nutrition Assistance
Food assistance for eligible Arizona households through the state Nutrition Assistance program.
CALL855-432-7587
Application or program questions
- Where
- Arizona
- Who / cost
- Arizona household income and other program eligibility requirements apply.
How to start & what to confirm
- First step
- Apply through the DES website and its Health-e-Arizona Plus route; provide requested household and income verification.
- Hours & languages
- Confirm current contact hours. Ask about your preferred language or interpreter access.
- Before applying or booking
- Confirm the service area, diagnosis and age requirements, costs, current availability, and any required documents. For hospital programs, ask whether you must receive treatment there.
- Program note
- This is a food benefit, not a medical-bill grant. The phone line assists with nutrition, cash and medical-assistance cases.
- Official sources
- Source 1 ↗
Funding and eligibility vary; confirm directly.
Financial
Support for any cancer CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation
Disease-specific help with eligible insured patients’ cancer medication cost sharing.
- Where
- U.S. nationwide
- Who / cost
- Insurance, diagnosis, income and residence requirements vary by fund. Physician verification is required.
How to start & what to confirm
- First step
- Check the current fund chart, then enroll online or call. Closed funds offer reopening email notifications, not a waitlist.
- Hours & languages
- Confirm current contact hours. Ask about your preferred language or interpreter access.
- Before applying or booking
- Confirm the service area, diagnosis and age requirements, costs, current availability, and any required documents. For hospital programs, ask whether you must receive treatment there.
- Official sources
- Source 1 ↗
Travel
Support for any cancer Corporate Angel Network — patient flights
Donated business-aircraft seats for eligible cancer patients; financial need is not required.
- Where
- U.S. nationwide
- Who / cost
- Continental U.S. travel; medical stability and independent boarding requirements apply. Not an air ambulance.
How to start & what to confirm
- First step
- Request at least 10 business days before the appointment or discharge. A companion depends on seat availability; keep a backup travel plan.
- Hours & languages
- Confirm current contact hours. Ask about your preferred language or interpreter access.
- Before applying or booking
- Confirm the service area, diagnosis and age requirements, costs, current availability, and any required documents. For hospital programs, ask whether you must receive treatment there.
- Official sources
- Source 1 ↗
Financial assistance
Support for any cancer Genentech Patient Foundation — medicine assistance
Free participating Genentech medicines for qualifying patients who are uninsured or face financial barriers.
CALL888-941-3331
Application or program questions
- Where
- U.S. nationwide
- Who / cost
- Eligibility depends on the prescribed medicine, insurance and financial circumstances.
How to start & what to confirm
- First step
- Check the foundation’s qualification and application instructions with your prescriber.
- Hours & languages
- Confirm current contact hours. Ask about your preferred language or interpreter access.
- Before applying or booking
- Confirm the service area, diagnosis and age requirements, costs, current availability, and any required documents. For hospital programs, ask whether you must receive treatment there.
- Program note
- Phone: Monday–Friday, 6 a.m.–5 p.m. Pacific. Assistance applies to participating medicines, not all treatment or clinic charges.
- Official sources
- Source 1 ↗
Funding and eligibility vary; confirm directly.
NavigationINTERNATIONAL
Support for any cancer Ireland — Irish Cancer Society Support Line
Cancer nurses provide information, local-service guidance and practical support.
- Where
- International — Ireland
- Who / cost
- Irish service; domestic freephone numbers may not connect from abroad.
How to start & what to confirm
- First step
- Call Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. local time, email, or request a callback through the official service page.
- Hours & languages
- Confirm current contact hours. Ask about your preferred language or interpreter access.
- Before applying or booking
- Confirm the service area, diagnosis and age requirements, costs, current availability, and any required documents. For hospital programs, ask whether you must receive treatment there.
- Official sources
- Source 1 ↗
Financial assistance
Support for any cancer LIHEAP — heating and cooling assistance
State and local programs may help eligible households with energy bills or an energy crisis.
Online resource · Visit the official website for contact options.
- Where
- U.S. nationwide
- Who / cost
- Income, household and local program requirements apply; this is not a cancer-specific grant.
How to start & what to confirm
- First step
- Use the official state-office finder and ask about the energy-crisis process if a shutoff is pending.
- Hours & languages
- Confirm current contact hours. Ask about your preferred language or interpreter access.
- Before applying or booking
- Confirm the service area, diagnosis and age requirements, costs, current availability, and any required documents. For hospital programs, ask whether you must receive treatment there.
- Program note
- Apply through the local administering agency. Availability and covered costs vary by location.
- Official sources
- Source 1 ↗
Funding and eligibility vary; confirm directly.
Financial assistance
Support for any cancer Merck Helps — prescription assistance
Assistance with certain Merck medicines for eligible patients who cannot afford them.
Online resource · Visit the official website for contact options.
- Where
- U.S. nationwide
- Who / cost
- Each product has its own eligibility and insurance requirements.
How to start & what to confirm
- First step
- Select the exact prescribed medicine on Merck Helps for its application and product-specific contact number; involve the prescribing office.
- Hours & languages
- Confirm current contact hours. Ask about your preferred language or interpreter access.
- Before applying or booking
- Confirm the service area, diagnosis and age requirements, costs, current availability, and any required documents. For hospital programs, ask whether you must receive treatment there.
- Program note
- Coverage is medicine-specific. Do not assume infusion, office or other treatment costs are included.
- Official sources
- Source 1 ↗
Funding and eligibility vary; confirm directly.
Clinical trials
Support for any cancer NCI — paying for clinical trials
Explains the distinction between research costs and routine patient-care costs.
MESSAGEContact form on official website
Program information and access
- Where
- U.S. nationwide
- Who / cost
- Confirm program eligibility and availability directly.
How to start & what to confirm
- First step
- Ask the study coordinator for a written breakdown of sponsor payments, insurance billing, travel and other out-of-pocket expenses before consenting.
- Hours & languages
- Confirm current contact hours. Ask about your preferred language or interpreter access.
- Before applying or booking
- Confirm the service area, diagnosis and age requirements, costs, current availability, and any required documents. For hospital programs, ask whether you must receive treatment there.
- Official sources
- Source 1 ↗
Financial assistance
Support for any cancer NeedyMeds — prescription assistance finder
Search for manufacturer assistance, lower-cost medicines and clinics. This is a directory, not a cash grant.
CALL800-503-6897
Application or program questions
- Where
- U.S. nationwide
- Who / cost
- Each listed program has its own medicine, income and insurance rules.
How to start & what to confirm
- First step
- Search by the exact medicine name, then follow the individual program application.
- Hours & languages
- Confirm current contact hours. Ask about your preferred language or interpreter access.
- Before applying or booking
- Confirm the service area, diagnosis and age requirements, costs, current availability, and any required documents. For hospital programs, ask whether you must receive treatment there.
- Official sources
- Source 1 ↗
Funding and eligibility vary; confirm directly.
Financial
Support for any cancer Patient Advocate Foundation — case management
Individual help resolving barriers to healthcare access, including coverage and related practical problems.
- Where
- U.S. nationwide
- Who / cost
- Confirm program eligibility and availability directly.
How to start & what to confirm
- First step
- Call to discuss your situation and current service eligibility. Have the relevant denial, bill or access problem available.
- Hours & languages
- Confirm current contact hours. Ask about your preferred language or interpreter access.
- Before applying or booking
- Confirm the service area, diagnosis and age requirements, costs, current availability, and any required documents. For hospital programs, ask whether you must receive treatment there.
- Official sources
- Source 1 ↗
Insurance
Support for any cancer SHIP — local Medicare counselling
Connect with local one-to-one Medicare insurance counselling and assistance.
- Where
- U.S. nationwide
- Who / cost
- Medicare-related counselling; not a grant or insurance sales service.
How to start & what to confirm
- First step
- Use the state locator or call for help finding your SHIP. Ask about coverage, enrollment or appeal questions.
- Hours & languages
- Confirm current contact hours. Ask about your preferred language or interpreter access.
- Before applying or booking
- Confirm the service area, diagnosis and age requirements, costs, current availability, and any required documents. For hospital programs, ask whether you must receive treatment there.
- Official sources
- Source 1 ↗
SUNRIDGE MEDICAL
Printable patient planning tools
Free, one-page worksheets on Sunridge letterhead. Download, print, and bring them to your next conversation. No sign-up required.
Download all five tools (PDF, 5 pages)
Questions for my next appointment
Choose your priorities and record the next steps.
Download PDF · 1 pageMy care-team contact sheet
Keep clinician, after-hours, and support contacts together.
Download PDF · 1 pageFinancial-assistance preparation
Prepare documents and track your application.
Download PDF · 1 pageMy treatment-travel checklist
Organize appointments, lodging, transportation, and backup plans.
Download PDF · 1 pageMy caregiver planning sheet
Share responsibilities and make room for caregiver rest.
Download PDF · 1 page