Patient & Caregiver Support
Find the Help You Need
Sometimes, receiving cancer treatment can be complicated by practical issues. At Missouri Cancer Associates we are committed to supporting you every step of the way.
We have partnered with findhelp, America’s leading social care network, to connect you with resources, including financial assistance, transportation to your appointments, food pantries, childcare, counseling services and more.
Search on your own at usoncology.findhelp.com to find help in your community.
American Cancer Society
Missouri Cancer Associates has partnered with the American Cancer Society to provide a unique service for patients and caregivers to receiving ongoing support while undergoing treatment. Please talk to your Patient Benefit Representative about scheduling.
American Cancer Society offers wig fittings and free wigs for patients at their resource room located within Missouri Cancer Associates. Please talk to your Patient Benefit Representative about days and times. Additionally, ACS provides transportation through their Road to Recovery program, lodging during cancer treatment, resources for other needs and one-on-one breast cancer support through their Reach to Recovery program. To learn more about these services and for cancer information, the American Cancer Society can be reached anytime at 800-227-2345 or by visiting www.cancer.org.
Look Good Feel Better Live! Virtual Workshops
Look Good Feel Better Live! Virtual Workshops provide you with live instruction, tips, and tricks for dealing with appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment during a free one-hour, online workshop from the comfort and privacy of your home, office, or other self-selected setting.
With the help of live, interactive chat made possible with advanced video conference technology, a licensed beauty professional guides a small group of participants – using their own supply of skin care and makeup items or wigs and head coverings – through two different sessions:
• Skin care and cosmetic application;
• Alternatives for managing hair loss, including the use of wigs, hats and instruction in scarf tying.
Visit lookgoodfeelbetter.org/virtual-workshops to register.
*Participants will need a computer or tablet with a camera or webcam, internet connection, and audio connection via computer speaker/mic or speakerphone.*
988 America’s Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Crisis Lifeline
Providing 24/7, free and confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress works! The Lifeline helps thousands of people overcome crisis situations every day. The Lifeline accepts calls from anyone who needs support for a suicidal, mental health, and/or substance use crisis. To reach trained crisis counselors who can help or learn more about this valuable resource, please visit https://www.nami.org/Advocacy/Crisis-Intervention/988-Reimagining-Crisis-Response.
Caring Hearts and Hands of Columbia
Caring Hearts and Hands of Columbia (CHHC) is an inclusive, non-denominational, end-of-life home dedicated to providing round-the-clock comfort and support to dying individuals and their loved ones. End-of-life homes (also known as comfort care homes, homes for the dying, and social model hospice homes) are staffed by trained, paid staff members and community volunteers that provide 24-hour care to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients and their guests.
Love Your Locks Program
Sometimes, chemotherapies used to treat certain cancers can cause alopecia or hair loss. Cold caps are medical devices promoted to prevent this. Also known as scalp hypothermia, cold caps rely on cold temperatures to help offset damage to the hair follicles (learn how cold caps work). Cold caps may help minimize hair loss during chemo treatments for cancer.
The Love your Locks Program grew from Wilson’s Fitness annual Fitness For A Cure event in 2022. The program assists cancer patients going through chemotherapy and interested in utilizing cold cap therapy available at no cost.
Although cold caps may be effective at preventing hair loss, they’re not suited for everyone. Talk with your doctor about your options, potential side effects, alternatives, and more before getting started.
Dream Foundation
Dream Foundation has given life to more than 32,000 dreams over the past 25 years. Serving terminally-ill adults and their families by providing end-of-life dreams that offer inspiration, comfort, and closure.
Cleaning for a Reason
Cleaning for a Reason provides free home cleaning to patients battling cancer. With the help of cleaning partners, cleaning for a reason provides free home cleaning services to patients with any type of cancer.
Who qualifies for the service?
Cleaning for a Reason serves all individuals and families with any type of cancer. Patients are eligible if they are recovering from cancer surgery, in cancer treatment or in hospice care.
What does the service entail?
Once matched, a patient receives 2 general house cleanings, i.e., 1 cleaning per month for up to 2 months.
How do cancer patients apply?
Cleaning for a Reason accepts applications online. Patients may apply for services at cleaningforareason.org, Patients tab. Ask the patient to complete the application form OR you, a family member, or a friend may apply on behalf of the patient if the patient authorizes it. A working email address for a patient or the person applying on behalf of the patient is required to facilitate communications.
Note: This is not a guaranteed service. We are zip code and capacity-driven.
Support Groups
Missouri Cancer Associates offers several support groups throughout Columbia and the surrounding area.
Boone County
American Cancer Society
Contact:
800-227-2345
www.cancer.org
Available 24 hours, 7 days to help answer question.
Grief Support Group Sessions
Contact: Joanna McDowell
(573) 443-8360
Group meets every second Thursday of the month
Compassus-Columbia: 3050 I-70 Drive SE, Suite 100
from 4-5:00 p.m.
Mid-Missouri Breast Cancer & Gynecological Group
Contact: Kathy Windmoeller
(573) 999-4195 or (573) 443-0622
Group meets every second Wednesday of the month
Head and Neck Cancer Support Group
Contact: Dana Kee
(573) 884-1509 or (573) 884-2543
Meets every second Wednesday of each month from 5:30-6:30 pm at Wyatt Guest House: 317 Business Loop 70 West.
Leukemia, Lymphoma, Myeloma Support Group
Online support available 9 a.m.- 9 p.m.
Call (800) 955-4572
http://www.lls.org/support/information-specialists
Mid-Missouri Lung Cancer Support Group
Contact: Blanche Lasta
(573) 882-2100
Meets every third Tuesday of each month from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at Boone Electric Cooperative Community Room: 1413 Rangeline St.
Breast Cancer Support Group
Contact: Jen Stober and Darcie Putnam
Email: darcieputt@yahoo.com
Meets once monthly at Plume: 5751 S Rte K, Columbia, MO 65203
Central Missouri Ostomy Support Group
Contact: Steve Drake
Talk to a nurse: (573) 815-3817
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/597437274119594/
Cole County
Breast Cancer-ETC (Encouragement Through Caring)
Contact: Rosie Verslues
(573) 635-3283
Group meets second Thursday of every month
Goldschmidt Cancer Center-1432 Southwest Blvd. Jefferson City
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
Contact: Rita Chorenziak
(573) 694-9878
Reety61@earthlink.net
Grief Support Group Sessions
Contact: Joanna McDowell
(573) 443-8360
Group meets every third Monday of the month
Compassus-Jefferson City-600 Monroe St,
from 11:30-12:30 p.m.
Adair County
Kirksville Cancer Support Group
Contact: Linda Frazee
(660) 665-3221
Group meets monthly
300 E. Washington St. (South door entrance)
Missouri Cancer Locations
Columbia Location
1705 E. Broadway, Suite 100
Columbia, Mo. 65201
(573) 817-8527
Columbia@usoncology.com
Kirksville Location
George Rae Cancer Center
603 W. Pierce
Kirksville, Mo. 65201
(660) 785-1050
Kirksville@usoncology.com