I received a very disturbing notice from Cancer Care about their ability to provide financial support for men with cancer, including men with prostate cancer. As of August 6, 2012 they will not be able to accept applications or provide assistance to men with cancer unless they meet the following criteria:

1- Men diagnosed with multiple myeloma (through our Door-to-Door program) in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
2- Men who reside in the five boroughs of NYC: Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens or Staten Island.
3- Men residing in San Diego and Imperial counties in California.

So, unless you meet the above criteria there is no financial assistance available.

Cancer Care will continue to offer financial assistance programs for women since they have grants restricted to that population.

So, again women do a better job than men resulting in more resources being available for women. Who is to blame? My answer is only that men are to blame.

IMPORTANT NOTICE – An Exception:

CancerCare’s Co-Payment Assistance Foundation is not affected by these changes and will continue to provide assistance to men who are financially eligible under covered diagnoses. Please call 866-55-COPAY (552-6729) or visit www.cancercarecopay.org for more information.

Joel T. Nowak, M.A., M.S.W.