If you missed NewsNation’s “Killing Cancer: The Power Within” special report, you can watch it here.
(NewsNation) — Cancer is a sweeping and devastating killer that has touched most people in some way living in the United States.
As of 2022, more than 18 million Americans were living with cancer, and more than 2 million new cancer cases are expected this year, excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer, according to the latest figures by the American Cancer Society.
NewsNation’s special “Killing Cancer: The Power Within” examines a new immunotherapy treatment developed by Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, Anktiva, and its potential for revolutionizing cancer treatment and making chemotherapy obsolete. However, Soon-Shiong has faced an uphill battle in getting regulatory approval for his drug, which at present is approved to treat a certain form of bladder cancer but has not been approved for expanded use.
Read this article to learn more about Anktiva from Dr. Soon-Shiong himself. You can also read more of his articles here or follow his X account @DrPatSoonShiong.
There are many resources for people who have cancer and their loved ones, ranging from financial aid, emotional and mental health support and online support groups.
Financial assistance for cancer patients
The Assistance Fund helps insured people with life-changing diseases overcome the financial barriers preventing them from accessing treatment.
The American Cancer Society offers a search engine on its website to locate local and national resources. You can type in a keyword and your zip code, and it will offer a list, categorized by the need for food, housing, goods like clothing or medical supplies, transit, health care, monetary assistance, other care needs like daytime and end-of-life care, education, work and legal.
The American Cancer Society also offers internal patient programs, such as free rides to treatment, free lodging during treatment and free smoking cessation support.
Emotional and mental health support for cancer patients
Patient support groups exist to help cancer patients navigate mental health struggles that may arise.
CancerCare, a national organization founded in 1994, provides free professional support services, including support groups categorized by cancer type. Its online support groups include blood, breast, colorectal, gynecologic, lung, melanoma, ovarian and pancreatic cancer groups for patients, as well as caregiver and bereavement support groups. Also offered are more niche groups, such as the LGBTQ+ Cancer Patient Support Group and the Young Adults with Cancer Support Group.
The American Cancer Society offers the Cancer Survivors Network, which is a peer support community for patients, survivors, caregivers, families and friends.
Online cancer communities
Numerous social media groups and pages exist for cancer patients, survivors and their families to offer support to one another. Often, the groups are geared toward specific types of cancer and geographic regions.
The Cancer Support Group for Patients and Their Families is a group for patients and their families to share experiences and “vent.” The group was created in 2014 and has over 55,200 members.
The Cancer Patient/Survivor Community Group is a “safe place for Patients, Survivors, & Loved Ones looking to overcome the Mental, Physical, & Emotional struggles of Cancer so they can take back control of their life.” The group was created in 2020 and has over 7,500 members.
The Bladder Cancer Survivors and Support Group is a “place where you can share your BLADDER CANCER journey … and give support to those who are currently traveling this road/and for caregivers.” The group was created in 2014 and has over 9,600 members.
The FORCE Hereditary Cancer Community is “a private group for adults (18 and over) facing hereditary cancers.” The group was created in 2021 and has over 4,700 members.