Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients often

feel overwhelmed and unprepared for the many

physical and emotional challenges that lie ahead.

“Hope is the thing with feathers

that perches in the soul,

and sings the tune without the words,

and never stops at all.”

Emily Dickinson

This book is made possible by,

and is a tribute to, three amazing women

Janet FiliciaLaurie Mezzalingua

Nana Rose

We could not have printed

and published this

without the generous funding of

The Saint Agatha Foundation

Positively Pink Packages is a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt public charity that provides

vital resources to breast cancer patients free of charge. Established by a breast

cancer survivor, Positively Pink Packages puts information, coping tools and

comfort aids in one place.

Positively Pink is made possible through the generosity of volunteers.

Contact us at (315) 278-0645 or www.positivelypinkpackages.org to learn

how you can make a difference!

Contents

Our Intention for You 1

The Day I Met Hope 3

Jennifer’s Story 6

Books 10

Organizations 28

Local Resources 34

Lymphedema 36

Medical Transportation Services 38

Support Groups 42

Programs of Interest Offered 45by the American Cancer Society

“I Can Cope” Series 45

“Look Good, Feel Better” Program 46

Mentorship Support Programs 48

Prescription Assistance Programs 50

Websites 52

Wigs 53

Healing Journal 60

OurIntentionfor You

Positively Pink Hope, Healing Resources from

Breast Cancer to Breast Health’’ places power

in your hands and acts as a guide for hope. This

healing guide can be carried anywhere, put in your

purse or on your nightstand as a resource.

1

2

Each person’s path is unique

and we have learned

that knowledge and support,

whether in books, support groups,

area programs, or creative outlets,

can empower the healing journey.

It is our hope

that you find this list of resources

valuable and the process of writing

your feelings down in the back

of this book cathartic.

3

Jennifer’s brown eyes and hair color

struck an immediate chord with me.

She instantly reminded me

of my beloved grandmother,

Nana Rose,

who emerged from breast cancer

in her 30s like Jennifer.

The Day I Met Hope

4

Nana was in the first group of women to receive

radiation in Rochester, New York. She spent her

next 25 years helping other women. Growing up,

I remember Nana Rose on the phone talking

to women who had just been diagnosed

with breast cancer. After one of these

calls Nana turned to me and said,

“Without the rain, the flowers can’t grow.” Life is a lot like Nana’s advice. There

will be times in life when we feel stuck in

the mud and must push past the rain.

Yet once we emerge, newfound

understanding surfaces and the rain

provides a foundation for the flowers to grow.

5

Jennifer Tom has provided over 5,000 breast

cancer packages in Central New York

free of charge.

I know firsthand that Jennifer’s story

provides hope. After our first visit,

I sat in my car in Jennifer’s driveway

with tears streaming down my face

and my body filled with goosebumps. I knew

together we could sow seeds of hope for other

women. This healing resource guide is a dream of

Jennifer’s and I am honored to be part of it.

With gratitude,

Laura PonticelloFounder, Laura’s List: Books for Women

6

Jennifer’s StoryThe day I was diagnosed with breast cancer

seemed to last forever. My once steady world

felt as if someone had pushed me off a cliff.

I looked for ways to regain some semblance

of control in my new world. Nothing felt normal.

7

In 2003, I walked into Dr. Bays’ office for the first

time after my lumpectomy, with both a sense of relief

at having the tumor removed and trepidation. When I

looked into the sad, grief-filled eyes of the surgeon, I

knew what she was about to tell me would be harder

than the first time when she said, “The tumor is

malignant.” I was 32 years old. She gently revealed

that she had just received the pathology report and the

cancer had spread into my lymph nodes. After much

pressuring from me, she revealed that 15 of the 23

nodes were found to be positive for cancer.

8

I asked if it had been

detected in my blood

and she replied, “yes.”

She looked at me and

said words I will never forget:

“If anyone can beat this, it’s you.”

She gave me hope when I could find none.

As Vickie Gerard writes in her book,

There’s No Place Like Hope: “Hope -

what a wonderful, beautiful word it is. I had

not understood until that moment, that all my

deepest emotions had evolved around that

word. The roller coaster ride that became

my life had been driven by loss and the

renewed search for hope.

9

I would have loved a guarantee that I would

get well, but I knew that was impossible.

What I had been searching for was hope.

Without hope I could find no foothold,

nothing to stop my spiraling,

downward fall.”

It is now my passion to share this

hope with others. I urge you to try and find

the strength to feel and embrace HOPE.

With a grateful heart,

Jennifer Tom Founder, Positively Pink Packages

10

BooksFor Persons with Breast Cancer

Informational / Medical

Breast Cancer Answers: Practical Tips and Personal Advice

From a Survivor, by Judith King

This book will help you understand the ins and outs

of a wide variety of procedures and stages of the

journey, as well as where to look for help from within

and outside traditional medicine.

Breast Cancer: The Complete Guide, by Yashar Hirshaut,

MD and Peter I. Pressman, MD

Written by two renowned authorities specializing

in the treatment of breast cancer, a surgeon and

an oncologist, this step-by-step guide aims to help

women make informed decisions about the care that

is right for them.

11

Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book, by Dr. Susan Love

This has been considered the bible of breast-care

books. Love presents plentiful illustrations to make

the information even clearer.

The Breast Cancer Survival Manual: A Step-By-Step Guide

for the Woman with Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer, by

John Link, MD

This practicing internist and oncologist intends to

provide the newly diagnosed woman with all the

information she needs to make informed decisions

about her care.

The Reconstruction Guidebook, by Kathy Steligo

This book will help you understand what to expect

from mastectomy, sort through the benefits and

limitations of reconstructive procedures and decide

which, if any, reconstruction is right for you.

12

Living through Breast Cancer, by Carolyn M. Kaelin,

MD, MPH

An informational book for patients and their families

on both the medical and emotional aspects of breast

cancer. The writer is a breast cancer surgeon, as well

as a survivor.

Fitness/Nutrition

Cancer Fitness: Exercise Programs for Patients and

Survivors, by Anna L. Schwartz

This book is a guide to recovery and fitness for all

cancer patients, offering the option of tailoring a

program for specific needs.

Eating Well, Staying Well During and After Cancer, by the

American Cancer Society

Experts give their advice on what and what not to eat

to stay strong and maximize benefits of treatment.

Includes practical tips and recipes.

13

Foods that Fight Cancer, by Richard Béliveau, PhD and

Denis Gingras, PhD

This book details the key foods that have been shown to

be beneficial for both preventing and fighting cancer.

Integrative Nutritional Therapies for Cancer, by Nagi B.

Kumar, PhD, RD

An informational book on the prevalent

complementary nutritional therapies for the

prevention and treatment of cancer.

Emotional Support/Stories

Beyond Breast Cancer: Our Stories of Hope and Courage,

by Alda Ellis

This book details how breast cancer survivors deal

with their cancer. Each story is different in how each

one lived her life and how breast cancer became the

center of attention.

14

Breast Cancer? Let Me Check My Schedule!, by Peggy

McCarthy, Jo An Loren and Erma Bombeck

Ten professional women share their wisdom

and experience about what it means to live with

breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Survivors’ Club, A Nurse’s Experience,

by Lillie Schockney

The author gives us an intimate insight into her

fight against and victory over breast cancer. She

documents how a positive outlook, lots of laughter,

proper medical care, prayer and faith in God brought

her safely through treatment.

Cancer Has Its Privileges: Stories of Hope and Laughter,

by Christine Clifford

This book offers hope and inspiration by using humor

as a tool to deal with the many challenges of cancer.

The author encourages you to find and enjoy the

humor in your own life.

15

Celebrating Life: African American Women Speak

Out about Breast Cancer, by Sylvia Dunnavant and

Nancy Wilson

This book captures the personal stories and

triumphs of African American women in regard to

breast cancer.

Chemo This! Finding Your Balance & Creating a Pathway Through Cancer, by Patricia McBain-Roberts

The author takes us through her personal battle with

breast cancer and discusses what she did that helped

her get through the ordeal. She uses her skills as a

Certified Human Resources Professional to better

understand the different ways people deal with

cancer depending on their personality type.

Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living Series: Breast Cancer, by Jack Canfield

Inspiration meets the information: understanding

your diagnosis, working with your doctor, talking

with friends and family, treatment options, emotional

healing, conquering side effects, alternative therapies,

thriving with breast cancer, and more.

16

Cancer Is a Word, Not a Sentence: A Practical Guide to Help

You Through the First Few Weeks, by Robert Buckman

The authors provide a steadying hand for the newly

diagnosed, walking the reader through the options

and offering advice on everything from dealing with

medical personnel to talking about your disease with

friends and family.

Another Morning: Voices of Truth and Hope from Mothers

with Cancer, by Linda Blachman

This book is described as “powerful, inspirational, and

deeply moving, a tapestry of voices from ordinary

women coping with every mother’s nightmare: a

cancer diagnosis while raising children.” The womens’

stories describe both the hard challenges and the

surprising gifts of parenting through cancer.

Just Get Me Through This: The Practical Guide to Breast

Cancer, by Deborah A. Cohen

This breast cancer survivor uses straight talk and

practical tips to help patients deal with all the

ups and downs of the breast cancer experience,

17

from the shock of diagnosis, to getting through

treatment, to getting on with your life.

Thanks for the Mammogram, by Laura Jensen Walker

Cancer isn’t funny. But humor is healing. When Walker

was diagnosed with breast cancer the day after her

first wedding anniversary, she didn’t laugh, she cried.

But this popular humorist soon discovered that

laughter, combined with faith, family and friends, is

truly the best medicine when you’re fighting the

cancer battle.

There’s No Place like Hope: A Guide to Beating Breast

Cancer in Mind-Sized Bites, by Vickie Girard

Regardless of the type of cancer, here is an immediate,

practical, and inspiring guide that will empower any

patient to better fight and survive this disease.

18

The Middle Place, by Kelly Corrigan

Newspaper columnist Corrigan was a happily married

mother of two young daughters when she discovered

a cancerous lump in her breast.

For Younger Breast Cancer Patients Don’t Bet Against Me, by Deanne Farve

Just 35 years old, Deanna was inadvertently thrust

into the spotlight when she was diagnosed with

breast cancer. Her story shares the role her faith has

played in her life.

Fighting for our Future: How Young Women Find

Strength, Hope, and Courage While Taking Control of

Breast Cancer, by Beth Murphy

Although there are more than 250,000 women

in the U.S. under 40 who have been diagnosed

with breast cancer, they have been proportionally

underrepresented in medical studies. Murphy spent

two years studying this age group and, in consultation

19

with medical professionals, provides a valuable

resource for young women.

Nordie’s at Noon: The Personal Stories of Four Women

“Too Young” for Breast Cancer, by Patti Balwanz, Kim

Carlos, Jennifer Johnson, and Jana Peters

The true story of four friends diagnosed with breast

cancer before they were thirty, and the monthly

luncheon that lifted their spirits.

Living With the End in Mind, by Erin & Douglas Kramp

Erin was a young mother with breast cancer whose

inspiring story was profiled on the Oprah Winfrey

show. Her uplifting book is filled with numerous ideas

on leaving positive legacies and “living life to the

fullest by embracing your mortality.”

You Don’t Have to Be Your Mother, by Gayle Feldman

The courageous story of a 40-year-old woman

battling breast cancer during pregnancy. How she

comes to terms with her own mother’s death from

breast cancer is both moving and inspirational.

20

After Breast Cancer TreatmentAfter Breast Cancer: A Common-Sense Guide to Life After

Treatment, by Hester Hill Schnipper, LICSW

The author, a breast cancer survivor and an oncology

social worker, helps prepare women for life after

breast cancer by imparting information and advice in

an intimate and direct manner.

In After Cancer: A Guide to Your New Life, by Wendy

Schlessel Harpham, MD

This cancer survivor and physician addresses the

medical, psychological, and practical issues of

recovery after cancer treatment.

Loving What Is, by Byron Katie

Known simply as “The Work,” Byron Katie’s methods

are clean and straightforward. The Work is a simple

yet powerful process of inquiry that teaches you to

identify and question the thoughts that cause you

suffering and to address the cause of your problems

with clarity.

21

Living Beyond Breast Cancer: a Survivor’s Guide for When

Treatment Ends and the Rest of Your Life Begins, by

Marisa C. Weiss, M.D. and Ellen Weiss

A guide for going back to a “normal” life: handling

fears of recurrence, managing physical post-treatment

problems, including the lingering side effects of

radiation, fertility difficulties, changes in sex drive, and

feelings of unattractiveness.

Pausing Long Enough to Notice, by Theresa Huggins

This book inspires individuals to live life joyfully, to

notice the messages within the simple experiences of

life. It is filled with short stories and poems that leave

the reader with a feeling of peace and a renewal of

one’s spirit.

Thriving After Breast Cancer: Essential Healing Exercises for

Body and Mind, by Sherry Lebed Davis, Stephanie Gunning

This book is complete with warm-up routines

for different sports, mind-body exercises, and

nutritional advice that can help you get rid of

the emotional and physical challenges that breast

cancer treatment poses.

22

You Can Heal Your Life, by Louise Hay

Louise explains how limiting beliefs and ideas can

contribute to illness, and how you can change your

thinking and improve the quality of your life.

Advanced Breast Cancer

Advanced Breast Cancer: A Guide to Living With

Metastatic Disease, by Musa Mayer & Linda Lamb

Gives a voice to the side of breast cancer no one

wants to hear about, with stories of extraordinary

ordinary people, forced by circumstance to call on

resources in themselves and their families they never

knew they possessed.

Crazy Sexy Cancer Survivor, by Kris Carr

While her hip, chatty style may particularly appeal to a

youthful audience, her authenticity and sound advice

will resonate with survivors of all stages and ages. She

begins with her own story—the discovery of inoperable

Stage IV cancer in her liver and lungs—then covers four

main topics: diagnosis, mind, body and spirit.

23

For Husbands of Breast Cancer Patients

Breast Cancer Husband: How to Help Your Wife (and

Yourself ) during Diagnosis, Treatment and Beyond,

by Marc Silver

When Silver’s wife was diagnosed with breast cancer,

he searched for information that could help him help

her. When he didn’t find it, he created his own road

map for men looking for direction. Using humor, expert

interviews, his own story, and the stories of other

couples, Silver tackles such issues as talking to young

children, the male “fix-it” mentality, and an honest

discussion of sex following breast cancer surgery.

Confronting the Cow—A Young Family’s Struggle with

Breast Cancer, Loss and Rebuilding, by C.B. Donner

This book focuses on how the children and husband

rebuild their lives after the loss of their mom and

wife. The children comfort and teach the dad about

grieving. After their loss, the father continues to

incorporate their mom’s memory into heir daily lives.

For Caregivers

When Life Becomes Precious: The Essential Guide for

Patients, Loved Ones, and Friends of Those Facing Serious

Illness, by Elise Babcock

Dealing with difficult conversations is the substance

of this book, from times caregivers may not know

what to say to times that call for tough conversations.

Final Journeys: A Practical Guide for Bringing Care and

Comfort at the End of Life, by Maggie Callanan

Detailed information about difficult decisions facing

caregivers and patients at the end of life are only

part of this important book. Callanan also discusses

caregiving in a “wounded relationship,” the role of

hope, and the impact of culture on families caring for

a loved one at the end of life.

Jane Brody’s Guide to the Great Beyond, by Jane Brody

Though the subject is sobering, this practical book’s

tone is compassionate and upbeat.

24

For Children Picture Books

Because…Someone I Love Has Cancer, by the American

Cancer Society

Good Luck, Mrs. K!, by Louise Borden

The Hope Tree: Kids Talk About Breast Cancer,

by Laura Joffe Numeroff

My Mommy Has Cancer, by Carolyn Parkinson

Our Mom Has Cancer, by Abigail and

Adrienne Ackerman

Promises, by Elizabeth Winthrop

The Rainbow Feelings of Cancer, by Carrie and

Chia Martin

Sammy’s Mommy Has Cancer, by Sherry Kohlenberg

Tickles Tabitha’s Cancer-Tankerous Mommy, by Amelia Frahm

What IS Cancer, Anyway? Explaining Cancer to Children of All Ages, by K.L. Carney

25

Where’s Mom’s Hair? A Family Journey Through Cancer,

by Debbie Watters

children’s chaPter Books Breast Cancer, by Don Nardo

Ida B…and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster,

and (Possibly) Save the World, by Katherine Hannigan

Melanie Martin Goes Dutch, by Carol Weston

Our Family Has Cancer Too!, by Christine Clifford

Sky Memories, by Pat Brisson

The Year My Mother Was Bald, by Ann Speltz

You and an Illness In Your Family, by Tabitha Wainright

Young adult Books At the End of Words, by Miriam Stone

Both Sides Now, by Ruth Pennebaker

Breast Cancer: Questions and Answers for YoungWomen, by Carole Vogel

26

Cancer, by Oliver Gillie

Cancer Information for Teens, by Wilma R. Caldwell

Dancing Through the Shadows, by Theresa Tomlinson

Less Than Perfect, by Louise Albert

Loose Threads, by Lorie Ann Grover

Under the Wolf, Under the Dog, by Adam Rapp

Parent Books

Can I Still Kiss You? Answering Your Children’s Questions

About Cancer, by Neil Russell

Cancer in the Family: Helping Children Cope with a

Parent’s Illness, by Sue Heiney

Helping Your Children Cope With Your Cancer,

by Peter VanDernoot

How to Help Children Through a Parent’s Serious Illness,

by Kathleen McCue

Raising an Emotionally Healthy Child When a Parent is

Sick, by Paula K. Rauch and Anna C. Muriel

27

28

Organizationsamerican cancer societY 1-800-227-2345 | www.cancer.org

A nationwide, community-based voluntary health

organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major

health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and

diminishing suffering from cancer through research,

education, advocacy, and service.

Breastcancer.orgwww.breastcancer.org

A nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the

most reliable, complete, and up-to-date information

about breast cancer. Their mission is to help women

and their loved ones make sense of the complex

medical and personal information about breast cancer,

so they can make the best decisions for their lives.

cancer care, inc. 1-800-813-4673 | www.cancercare.org

Support groups, educational programs, workshops and

teleconferences.

29

cancer information service1-800-4-CANCER | www.cis.nci.nih.gov

Comprehensive information including the most recent

advances in cancer treatment. Staff provides materials

at no cost, referral center to mammography facilities,

and other cancer organizations.

corPorate angel network(914) 328-1313 | www.corpangelnetwork.org

Free air transportation for cancer patients traveling

to and from recognized treatment centers in the U.S.

without regard to their financial resources. Register

within three weeks of a specific appointment at a

recognized cancer treatment center.

gilda’s cluB1-888-GILDA-4-U | www.gildasclub.org

Meeting places where men, women and children

living with cancer, along with their families and friends,

can join with others to build a network of social and

emotional support.

30

imaginis Breast health resourcewww.imaginis.com

This website is intended to provide you with the most

reliable, in-depth information on breast cancer and

related women’s health issues. Thousands of pages

of physician-edited information explain complicated

medical terms in everyday language to assist you

in making informed decisions on prevention and

treatment.

mamm magazine1-877-668-1800 | www.mamm.com

A women’s magazine for anyone whose life has

been affected by breast or reproductive cancers. This

magazine is designed to help women cope, along

with their partners, family members, and friends. The

magazine’s web site also has many resources.

men against Breast cancerwww.menagainstbreastcancer.org

This national non-profit aims at providing men with

the support services they need in order for them to be

effective caregivers after the breast cancer diagnoses of

their wives/partners.

31

national lYmPhedema network (510) 208-3200 | www.lymphnet.org

Provides guidance, support, a quarterly newsletter, a

place to find pen pals/Internet pals, and educational

courses for patients.

national cancer institute1-800-422-6237 | www.cancer.gov

Sponsored by the U.S. government, this organization

leads the nation’s fight against cancer by supporting

cancer research and promoting treatment, prevention,

and quality of care for patients and families. Clinical

trials listings are at www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials.

national center for comPlementarY and alternative medicine at national institute of health1-888-644-6226 | www.nccam.nih.gov

The mission of this center is to define the usefulness

and safety of complementary and alternative medicine

interventions and their roles in improving health.

32

Patient advocate foundation1-800-532-5274 | www.patientadvocate.org

This national non-profit organization seeks to safeguard

patients through effective mediation assuring access to

care, maintenance of employment and preservation of their

financial stability.

Plastic surgerY information service1-888-4-PLASTIC | www.plasticsurgery.org

Excellent and extensive section for information and resources

on breast reconstruction.

susan g. komen Breast cancer foundation1-800-462-9273 | www.komen.org

Breast cancer research and education. The site celebrates

survivors, has a calendar of breast cancer events, and hosts a

question and answer forum “Helpline” for breast cancer patients.

inflammatorY Breast cancer research foundation

www.ibcresearch.org

Detailed descriptions of Inflammatory Breast Cancer and its

symptoms, including colored photographs, a four minute

video, and patient’s writings about this little known and

aggressive form of breast cancer.

33

sisters network, inc. (713) 781-0255

Outreach, education on the impact of breast cancer in

the African-American community.

Y-me national Breast cancer organization1-800-221-2141

www.y-me.org

Translators available in nearly 150 languages.

Support groups, early detection workshops, wigs and

prostheses for women with limited resources.

Young survival coalitionwww.youngsurvival.org

Dedicated to issues surrounding young women with breast cancer.

women stories 1-800-775-5790 | www.womenstories.org

Series of videos in which breast cancer survivors offer

emotional support and advice that woman need and value.

34

Local Resources

counseling

Center for Living with Loss (Hospice of CNY)(315) 634-1100

Jewish Family Services(315) 445-0820

Onondaga Pastoral Counseling (sliding scale)(315) 472-4471

Miyo Hirano, CSW (oncology)(315) 446-8589

financial assistance

HEAP | (315) 435-8295

Medicaid | (315) 435-2928

Medicare | 1-800-442-8430

Social Security Disability | 1-800-772-1213

Food Stamps | (315) 435-2935

Public Assistance | (315) 435-2526

35

food assistance

Meals on Wheels | (315) 478-5948

Interreligious Food Consortium | (315) 474-8855

Rescue Mission | (315) 472-6251

homecare assistance

St. Joseph’s Homecare | (315) 458-2800

Visiting Nurse Association | (315) 476-3101

medication assistance

American Cancer Society | (315) 437-7025

EPIC (New York State) | 1-800-332-3742

lodging resources

Francis House (Hospice) | (315) 475-5422

Sarah House | (315) 475-1747

Salvation Army Women’s Shelter | (315) 472-0947

Vera House | (315) 468-3260

36

LymphedemaLymphedema is a disorder of the lymphatic system.

Swelling occurs as a result of the blocking of lymphatic

vessels or lymph nodes and the build up of large

amounts of lymph fluid in a region, Lymphedema can

develop as a result of surgery, radiation or infection.

With early diagnosis and treatment, lymphedema

symptoms can be reduced. Please notify your

physician immediately if you experience any of these

signs and symptoms:

The sensation of fullness or pressure in your arm or chest wall

Swelling of part of your arm or your entire arm, including your fingers or toes

A feeling of heaviness or tightness in your arm

Restricted range of motion in your arm

Aching or discomfort in your arm

Recurring infections in your affected limb

Hardening and thickening of the skin on your arm

37

Local Lymphedema Programs

st. JosePh’s lYmPhedema Program 4401 Medical Center Dr., Fayetteville | (315) 329-7000

universitY hosPital lYmPhedema management Program750 East Adams St., Syracuse | (315) 464-2300

lYmPh drainage theraPYBarbara J. Korosec, RN, MS, LLCC | (315) 449-9017

Online Resources the national lYmPhedema networkwww.lymphnet.org

stePuP–sPeakout

www.stepup-speakout.org

38

Medical Transportation

ServicesPlease call companies for pricing and schedules.

aBle transPort(315) 472-3393

Ambulatory and wheelchair transport serving

Onondaga County and surrounding areas.

auBurn medical transPort(315) 237-2814

Ambulatory, wheelchair, and stretcher transport serving

Central New York.

caYuga medical van serviceCall (315) 253-0996 or (315) 253-3548

Persons needing medical transportation from Auburn

to Syracuse may arrange a ride by giving a week’s

notice. Payment is by donation unless the passenger

is eligible for Medicaid. Under the age of 60, there

may be a fee. Over the age of 60, a suggested

donation of $12 is encouraged.

39

caYuga countY dePtartment of heath & human services

(315) 253-1326

Transportation for Medicaid-eligible people for

Non-emergency medical appointments.

Call Tracey Van Doren 48 hours in advance.

caYuga countY scat van serviceVehicles equipped with wheelchair lifts provide

transportation to people 60 and over throughout

Cayuga County. City of Auburn residents who are

handicapped or who cannot use regular bus service

may use the SCAT system. Outside the city, passengers

over 60 may use the service for any personal business.

One week notice is requested. Payment for service is by

donation. To request service or more information, call:

Auburn (315) 253-0996

Cato-Sterling (315) 626-2732

Moravia (315) 497-2652

Weedsport/Port Byron (315) 253-0996

Union Springs (315) 889-7255

caYuga countY veterans service officeCall (315) 253-1281

Van service for veterans to the V.A. Medical Center in

Syracuse. No fee.

40

centro Bus www.centro.org

Cayuga County (315) 253-5765

Oneida County & Utica (315) 797-7803

Rome (315) 336-5310

Onondaga County (315) 442-3400

Oswego County (315) 342-4400

Fixed bus routes

fish (friends in service here) FISH is a volunteer organization providing

transportation to medical appointments for

ambulatory citizens residing in various CNY areas.

Camillus (315) 701-5949

Fayetteville/Manlius/Minoa (315) 637-8158.

LaFayette/Tully (315) 696-8659

helPing hands transPortation

Call (315) 497-3443 or (315) 730-3563

Ambulatory, wheelchair and stretcher transport serving Onondaga and Cayuga Counties and surrounding areas.

This service is available for private pay and Medicaid.

medicaid transPort management co.(315) 299-2714

41

rural metro amBulanceCall (315) 255-1146 for prices.

24-hour emergency ambulance transport

suBurBan transPortwww.suburbantransport.com

CNY area (315) 437-0058

Albany area (518) 446-1000

Taxi, ambulatory, wheelchair, oxygen and stretcher

transport serving CNY and surrounding areas.

tlc(315) 422-0211 | www.tlcems.com

Ambulatory, wheelchair and stretcher transport serving

Central New York.

42

Support Groups

Please call to verify times and locations

andrews memorial united methodist church 106 Church St., North Syracuse

(315) 458-0890

auBurn memorial hosPital17 Lansing St., Auburn

Kathleen Bennett (315) 472-7504

auBurn holidaY inn 75 North St., Auburn

Stacey (315) 255-2612

faxton regional cancer center1676 Sunset Ave., Utica

Karen Christensen (315) 624-5764

Dottie Williams (315) 624-4673

43

hematologY oncologY assoc. of cnY5008 Brittonfield Parkway, East Syracuse

Gussie Sorenson (315) 472-7504

herkimer countY office and court facilitY301 N. Washington St., Herkimer

Mary Iocovozzi at miocovoz@twcny.rr.com

(315) 866-6520

herkimer - valleY health services Carolyn Dove

(315) 866-3330, x146

ithaca Breast cancer alliance612 West State St., Ithaca

(607) 277-0960

fulton familY Ymca715 West Broadway, Fulton

Liz Schremp (315) 592-7468

lewis countY general hosPital7785 N State St., Lowville

Joanne Dicob or Mary Bellinger (315) 376-5493

44

oneida healthcare suPPort grouPOneida Public Library, Broad St., Oneida

1-800-887-5514

rome memorial hosPital1704 Lincoln Lane, Rome

Sue Aquino (315) 337-8523

sands cancer center360 Parrish Street, Canandaigua

(585) 396-6692

st. JosePh’s hosPital301 Prospect Avenue, Syracuse

(315) 448-5175

Ywca of cortland4 Clayton Ave., Cortland

MaryAnn Wilbur (607) 753-9651

45

Programs of Interest

Offered by the American

Cancer Society Please call to verify times and locations.

“i can coPe” series for cancer Patients and their familiesAuburn Memorial HospitalKathy Bennett | (315) 472-7504

Hematology Oncology AssociatesWatertown | (315) 472-7504

Samaritan Keep HomeBonnie Trodeau | (315) 786-4920

46

look good, feel Better Teaches cancer patients hands on cosmetic techniques

to help cope with appearance-related side effects from

chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

800- 887-5514 | www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org

Auburn Hospital 17 Lansing St. | (315) 437-7025

East Syracuse

SUNY Upstate Medical University Health Link (315) 464-8233

Hematology/Oncology AssociatesBrittonfield Parkway | (315) 437-7025

LiverpoolCrouse Hospital Wellness Center

305 Vine St. | (315) 437-7025

Lowville

Hair Vogue7650 N State St. | (315) 437-7025

Ogdensburg

Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center214 King St. | (315) 393-2394

Oneida

Oneida Oncology Clinic603 Seneca St. | (315) 361-1041

47

Potsdam

Canton Potsdam Hospital50 Leroy St. | (315) 437-7025

RomeMohawk Valley Radiation107 E Chestnut St. | (315) 338-0897

SyracuseHematology/Oncology of CNY Upstate University Hospital at Community General4900 Broad Rd. | (315) 437-7025

Watertown

Samaritan Health System - Samaritan Keep Home 133 Pratt St. | (315) 437-7025

48

Mentorship Support

Programscancer connects(315) 634-5004 | www.cancerconnects.org

In an effort to provide compassion, support and

guidance to ease this journey, a “mentor” or “buddy”

that has lived through this process can make the road

traveled less difficult.

reach to recoverYAmerican Cancer Society 1-800-887-5514

Kathy Brodsky 315-437-7025

Connect with a woman facing a diagnosis of breast

cancer by a breast cancer survivor. All visitors are

trained and certified by Reach to Recovery standards.

49

Your shoes 24/7 Breast cancer suPPort center1-800-221-2141 | www.y-me.org

At the heart of Y-ME National Breast Cancer

Organization is the YourShoes 24/7 Breast Cancer

Support Center, the only place in the world where

you can call – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days

a year – and talk to a breast cancer survivor.

50

Prescription Assistance Programs

the astrazeneca Patient PrescriPtion assistance Programwww.astrazeneca-us.com/help-affording-your-medicines

1-800-424-3727

If you are an individual making $30,000 or less, or a family

of four making $60,000 or less, you may qualify for an

AZ&Me Prescription Savings Program .

cancercare co-PaYment assistance foundationcancercarecopay.org

1-866-55-COPAY (1-866-552-6729)

A not-for-profit organization established in 2007 to

address the needs of individuals who cannot afford their

insurance co-payments to cover the cost of medications

for treating cancer. The Foundation is proud to be

affiliated with CancerCare, a national not-for-profit

organization that has provided free professional support

services including counseling, education, financial

assistance and practical help to people with cancer and

their loved ones since 1944.

51

needYmeds www.needymeds.org

The mission of NeedyMeds is to make information about assistance programs available to patients and their advocates at no cost.

rxassistwww.rxassist.org

RxAssist offers a comprehensive database of these patient assistance programs, as well as practical tools, news, and articles so that health care professionals and patients can find the information they need. All in one place.

the healthwell foundationwww.healthwellfoundation.org | 1-800-675-8416

Provides financial assistance to eligible individuals to cover coinsurance, copayments, healthcare premiums and

deductibles for certain treatments.

the PartnershiP for PrescriPtion assistancewww.pparx.org | 1-888-477-2669

Their mission is to increase awareness of patient assistance programs and boost enrollment of those who are eligible. They offer a single point of access to more than 475 public and private programs, including nearly 200 offered by

pharmaceutical companies.

Websitescaring Bridgewww.caringbridge.org

CaringBridge provides free websites that connect

people experiencing a significant health challenge

to family and friends, making each health journey

easier. CaringBridge is powered by generous donors.

The websites are easy to create and use. Authors add

health updates and photos to share their story while

visitors leave messages of love, hope and compassion

in the guestbook.

med giftwww.medgift.com

A unique gift registry that also combines the benefits

of social media, MedGift provides a community of

support for patients and an online listing of a patient’s

specific Needs, Wants and Wishes during treatment

and recovery, similar to any other gift registry.

52

Wigs Discuss your needs with your nurse or hairdresser

before purchase.

Obtain a prescription for the wig from your physician.

Don’t rely on the sales person to know policies in

insurance coverage. Call the insurance company yourself

and ask if they cover all or a portion of “hair prosthesis”

Ask what services are included in the cost of the wig.

Inquire about styling.

Ask about quality with respect to pricing. Can facility

provide for your privacy?

53

Resources For Wigs a & e (real hair wigs onlY)5781 Bridge St., East Syracuse

(315) 445-1177

alternative thee5554 Veneto Dr., Clay

(315) 699-0218

BestwaY BeautY & BarBer suPPlY3981 Milton Ave., Solvay

(315) 487-6033

BestwaY BeautY & BarBer suPPlY7821 Brewerton Rd., Cicero

(315) 458-2252

donnatella’s wigs

218 N. Main St., Syracuse

(315) 455-5883

elvira’s wig Boutique383 Oriskany Blvd., Whitesboro

(315) 736-7646

54

genesis ii hair rePlacement405 East Taft Rd., North Syracuse

(315) 458-1074

www.genesishair.com

hot cocoa’s hair & BeautY suPPlY4200 S. Salina St., Syracuse

(315) 469-4826

www.hotcocoahair.com

Carousel Mall, Syracuse

(315) 422-6262

Sangertown Mall, New Hartford

(315) 266-0124

mr. c’s hairstYlists6088 East Taft Rd., North Syracuse

(315) 458-9568

nationwide BeautY & BarBer suPPlY2800 Erie Blvd. East, Syracuse

(315) 446-9026

55

Profiles BY kristin2113 Brewerton Rd., Syracuse

(315) 454-3132

56

57

Wig Programs

american cancer societYProvides free wigs to patients suffering hair loss due

to cancer treatment at their East Syracuse location:

6725 Lyons St., East Syracuse

Contact Leigh Knapp at (800) 887-5514

PositivelY Pink Packages wig ProgramPositively Pink Packages is excited to be partnering

with Rose & Company Hair Design to offer free head

shavings and free wig cutting services to breast

cancer patients. We do not sell wigs, however we

offer a small selection of free wigs available for

patients who cannot afford to purchase one. We

gratefully accept wig donations. Please bring wigs to

Rose & Company or mail to Positively Pink Packages at

P.O. Box 208 Fayetteville, NY 13066

rose and comPanY hair design6900 Highbridge Road, Fayetteville

Call Rose at (315) 449-0404 for appointment

www.roseandcompanyhairdesign.com

58

Y-me organizationwww.y-me.org

Committed to offering wigs and breast prostheses

for women with limited resources. Every year the

organization provides nearly 500 wigs, prostheses

and mastectomy bras for the women who need them

most. Call the Breast Cancer Support Center at

1-800-221-2141 to speak with a peer counselor.

Online Wig ResourcesesPeciallY Yours | www.especiallyyours.com

African-American wigs & hairpieces

BeautY trends | www.beautytrends.com

Paula Young | www.paulayoung.com

59

Healing JournalSince you first found out you had cancer, many

thoughts may have spun through your mind. Right

now you might be feeling:

Angry that your body has betrayed you

Afraid of your illness and of what may happen next

Sad over the loss of your physical health

Out of control and helpless, as if you are at the mercy of cancer

Alone because others don’t fully understand what you’re going through

Confused as you decide what to do next.

Writing in a journal can be an effective way to handle

these and other emotions that being diagnosed with

cancer has triggered. Many find it difficult to express

their feelings. Some aren’t used to revealing their

emotions. Others feel a need to be strong for the

sake of the people around them. For whatever reason

we do it, when we keep our emotions bottled up,

we increase our stress and the impact it has on our

bodies. Journal writing empowers us to express our

difficult feelings in a safe and private way. It allows

60

you to come to terms with cancer at your own pace

and in your own way. Your journal is always there to

receive your thoughts and feelings.

As you work through the initial shock of your

diagnosis and the uncomfortable feelings that

and treatment can provoke, writing can help you

rediscover the positive qualities and strengths you

had forgotten as well as to uncover new ones. Journal

writing enables you to put illness in perspective. By

writing, you may realize that your illness is only a part

of you, not the whole person.

When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, a friend

gave me a beautiful leather bound blank journal. I

had a hard time knowing what to write about. It

wasn’t until I found a journal that prompted me with

questions, reflections and quotes did I start to write

my feelings down.

Because your journal is a unique reflection of who

you are, there is no right way to keep it. The journal

section is presented in groups so that you can chose

to answer any that best describe your situation. I have

also selected different reflections and quotes to help

guide you to explore and write down your feelings.

61

62

DiagnosisI/They found the lump when….

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I knew something was wrong because...

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When I first heard those words, I was…

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65

“I understand now that sickness makes no

appointment and is not impressed with busy

lives or concerned with interrupting them.”

Writer, Faye Moscowitz

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“Don’t defy the diagnosis, try to defer the verdict.”

Author, Norman Cousins

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67

“God grant me the serenity

To accept the things I cannot change

Courage to change the things I can

And wisdom to know the difference.”

Religious and social thinker, Reinhold Niebuhr

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68

”What seem to us bitter trials are often

blessings in disguise?”

Poet and playwright, Oscar Wilde

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69

“A single event can awaken within us a stranger

totally unknown to us. To live is to be slowly born.”

Novelist and aviator, Antoine de Sainte-Exupery

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“Every wall is a door.”

Poet and philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson

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71

“Pessimism operates in a narrowed field of vision

that fails to take into account the possibilities at the

outer edges of experiences.”

Author, Norman Cousins

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“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

President Theodore Roosevelt

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73

Surgery and TreatmentI chose this type of surgery because…

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74

The kind of treatment I’m having is…

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75

My biggest fear about treatment is…

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My biggest hope for this treatment is…

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77

“Nothing is more essential in the treatment

of serious disease than the liberation of the

patient from panic and foreboding.”

Author, Norman Cousins

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“Compassion for myself is the most

powerful healer of them all.”

Psychiatrist and author, Theodore Isaac Rubin

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79

“Although the world is full of suffering,

it is full also of the overcoming of it.”

Memoirist and essayist, Helen Keller

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“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our

lives means the most to us, we often find it is those

who…have chosen to share our pain and touch our

wounds with a warm and tender hand.”

Author, Henri J.M. Nouwen

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“The human body experiences a powerful

gravitational pull in the direction of hope. That is why

the patient’s hopes are the physician’s secret weapon.

They are the hidden ingredients in any prescription.”

Author, Norman Cousins

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EmotionsI feel like crying every time I think of…

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I find myself in tears when…

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I feel so frustrated when…

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I feel most able to smile and feel happy when…

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86

“Keep your face to the sunshine and you

cannot see the shadow.”

Memoirist and essayist Helen Keller

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87

“I hadn’t planned to learn that one of the things that

makes life worth living is the thought that whatever it

is that happened, it could have been worse.”

Novelist, Jane Smiley

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“The longest journey is the journey inward.”

United Nations Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold

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“Trouble is part of your life, and if you don’t share it,

you don’t give the person who loves you a chance

to love you enough.”

Entertainer, Dinah Shore

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“Laughter is the tonic, the relief, the surcease for pain.”

Comedian and actor, Charlie Chaplin

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“Courage is fear holding on a minute longer.”

U.S. General George S. Patton

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HealingI show approval and love for myself by…

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I am kind to myself and take care of myself by…

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I found myself able to heal more quickly when…

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94

“My life has changed because I am finally

facing who I am. Who I have become.”

Writer, Andrea Dominick

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95

“Inside myself is a place where I live all alone and that’s

where you renew your springs that never dry up.”

Novelist and humanitarian, Pearl S. Buck

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96

“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that

within me lay an invincible summer.”

Philosopher, novelist and playwright, Albert Camus

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97

“The world is sown with good; but unless I turn

my glad thoughts into practical living and till my

own field, I cannot reap a kernel of good.”

Memoirist and essayist, Helen Keller

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98

“Faith moves mountains, but you have to keep

pushing while you are praying.”

Author, Mason Cooley

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99

HopeI believe I will make it through this because…

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100

My hopes for my future are…

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101

My hopes for my loved ones’ futures are…

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102

“Fall seven times, stand up eight.”

Japanese proverb

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103

“Hope is the only good thing that disillusion respects.”

Moralist, Marquis de Vauvenargues

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104

“I am not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how

to sail my ship.”

Novelist, Louisa May Alcott

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105

“The beginning is always today.”

Novelist and short story writer, Mary Wollstonecraft

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106

“No pessimist ever discovered the secret of

the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or

opened a new discovery for the human spirit.”

Memoirist and essayist, Helen Keller

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107

“Never think that God’s delays are God’s denials.

Hold on; hold fast; hold out. Patience is genius.”

Mathematician and naturalist, Comte de Buffon

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108

Living with DyingWhat I most fear about not being alive is…

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109

When my time comes, I will be ready because…

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110

My views about death and an afterlife have changed

in these ways…

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111

“The journey is the reward.”

Taoist saying

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112

“Deep in their roots, all flowers keep the light.”

Poet, Theodore Roethke

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113

“I no longer cared about survival – I merely loved.”

Anthropologist and author, Loren Eiseley

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114

“The butterfly counts not months but moments,

and has time enough.”

Poet, novelist and essayist, Rabindranath Tagore

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115

“Surviving means being born over and over.”

Writer, Erica Jong

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116

“The secret of health for both mind and body is

not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the

future, not to anticipate troubles, but to live the

present moment wisely and earnestly.”

Buddha

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117

ListsLists are another way to keep a log of events and

feelings. As a natural list maker, I love making lists.

Just because you have cancer and are keeping a

journal or writing lists, doesn’t mean you are limited

to only writing about your illness. Be sure to keep an

account of all the good things in your life.

I found writing about the simple things I enjoy; such

as reading the morning newspaper, receiving a smile

from a stranger, spending time with my dog boosted

my mood and energy.

Write down the simple things you enjoy:

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118

Write down the strengths you possess:

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119

Write down ways to nurture yourself:

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120

Write down things you are grateful for:

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121

Final Thoughts

“Hope is important because it can make

the present moment less difficult to bear.

If we believe that tomorrow will be better,

we can bear a hardship today.”

Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese monk