Practical Matters

Cancer follow-up care covers much more than the physical effects of your disease and treatment. You also may face non-medical issues linked to your cancer experience. These might include challenges regarding education, employment, health insurance (see How to Get Health Insurance), and medical costs. Here are some common non-medical issues that you may face and resources that can help:

EDUCATION

	Studies show that some forms of cancer treatment may cause learning problems in survivors. CureSearch, a program of the Children’s Oncology Group, provides detailed information for childhood and adolescent cancer survivors on learning problems following treatment and what can be done about them. Go to CureSearch and click on "For friends and community" and "about school issues."
	The Beyond The Cure site outlines educational challenges faced by some young adult cancer survivors. It offers resources that screen for learning problems and prepare survivors to be their own best educational advocates
	FinAid was established in the fall of 1994 as a public service. This award-winning site offers comprehensive information about student financial aid on the Web.
	Note: Go to Benefits Just for You for information on scholarships.

JOBS

	Although most employers treat cancer survivors fairly and legally, some employers erect unnecessary, and sometimes illegal, barriers to survivors' job opportunities.
	"Working It Out: Your Employment Rights as a Cancer Survivor" is a publication and online resource offered by the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.
	Working Against Cancer is an organization where staff and volunteer mentors support children, adolescent, and young adult cancer patients and survivors through mentoring, self-evaluation tools, and career opportunity referrals.
	The Patient Advocate Foundation provides education, legal counseling, and referrals to cancer patients and survivors concerning managed care, insurance, financial issues, job discrimination, and debt crisis matters.

MEDICAL COSTS

	The LIVESTRONG™ SurvivorCare program, which is provided by CancerCare, Lance Armstrong Foundation, and the Patient Advocate Foundation, offers information on managing your recovery costs.
	The Patient Advocate Foundation provides cancer patients and survivors with education and legal counseling, as well as referrals for assistance with managed care, insurance, financial issues, job discrimination, and debt crisis.