Support services

A cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery can easily become the focus of your life while you are going through it. All of the hard decisions you make, the planning you do, and the effort you put into the fight with cancer are designed to get you back to your life as soon as possible. Once you and your family have lived through cancer; however, “normal” might never be exactly the same.

It’s hard to go through something like cancer and not experience profound physical and emotional changes. It can be a transformative time for everyone, and cancer survivors have often found that life after cancer doesn’t always look exactly the same as life before. Listed below are some resources for moving beyond cancer.

Support groups

Many people find it helpful to connect with others who have shared a similar experience. Asante offers support groups for specific cancers. For more information, call (541) 789-2863.

Online resources

• The National Cancer Institute has extensive information about living with and beyond cancer.
• American Cancer Society offers valuable information on surviving cancer.
• The National Cancer Survivorship Resource Center is a collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the George Washington Cancer Institute funded by a five-year cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Triage Cancer provides free education on the legal and practical issues that arise after a cancer diagnosis.

Emotional support

• Crisis Support -call or text 988.
  • Jackson County Crisis Hotline (541) 774-8201.
  • Josephine County Crisis Hotline (541) 474-5360.
  • Klamath County Crisis Hotline (541) 884-0390.
  • Siskiyou County Behavioral Health Services (800) 842-8979.
  • Curry County Community Health Crisis Hotline (877) 519-9322.

• Support Services Team at Heimann and Spears Cancer Centers.
  (Social Workers, Dietitians, Nurse Navigators, Chaplain)
• Asante Support Groups.
• Psychology Today.

Search for a therapist covered by your insurance, geographical area, area of focus, etc.

Disability

• Social Security Disability Insurance or “Disability” provides monthly payments to people who have a disability that stops or limits their ability to work.
• Disability Starter Kit for info you will need to apply.
• Applying for Disability Insurance.

Financial

• Asante Financial Assistance - (541) 789-7279 or (888) 608-7632.
• Oregon Health Plan Assistance:
  • Jackson County - (541) 789-7279 or (541) 789-725.
  • Josephine County - (541) 472-7436 or (541) 472-7163.
• Triage Cancer for assistance from charitable organizations.

Insurance

• Oregon Health Plan Application.
• SHIBA Representative (Senior Health Insurance Benefit Assistance) - helps navigate Medicare decisions call (800) 722-4134 (toll-free), or email shiba.oregon@odhsoha.oregon.gov.
• Oregon Insurance Market Place.

Transportation resources

• Ready Ride - Non-Emergency Transportation Services for AllCare members in the Rogue Valley and Southern Oregon to and from mental health facilities, treatment centers, residential facilities, and hospitals.
• Valley Lift - Shared-ride, origin-to-destination, wheelchair-accessible transportation services by Rogue Valley Transportation District.
• Josephine County ADA Paratransit and Dial-a-Ride - For people who are unable to use the fixed route because of a disability. These services are primarily door-to-door service that is scheduled in advance.

Work related concerns

• Paid Leave Oregon.
• Cancer & Careers.
• Triage Cancer FMLA.