Program Highlight: The Cara Foundation for Cancer Comfort

Note:  Foundation currently experiencing financial difficulties, are re-evaluating at the moment and not taking any new referrals (3/09).

“Imagine someone fighting for their life burdened with medical expenses. The Cara Foundation for Cancer Comfort seeks to help meet these challenges by providing assistance grants to cancer patients.”

The Cara Foundation for Cancer Comfort offers financial assistance to young cancer patients, ages 22-45, in Massachusetts and Connecticut. By helping patients pay for expenses that are not covered by health insurance, the Cara Foundation hopes that some freedom from financial burden can aid in providing emotional comfort to patients and families.

The Cara Foundation allows for financial assistance to be used for both medical related expenses such as transportation to appointments, durable medical equipment, and prescription co-pays as well as for expenses that are secondary to the cancer treatment such as child care assistance, utility bill assistance, support group membership, and massage therapy.

Special consideration is given to lung cancer patients, and the age requirement for assistance may be negotiable under special circumstances. Typically, the Cara Foundation is only able to provide a maximum of $200 per applicant. However, patients may re-apply for additional assistance if necessary. All applications must be submitted by a licensed social worker at the hospital where the patient is being treated. Application forms can be found online at:

http://www.carafoundation.org/Documents/Cara%20Foundation%20Grant%20App(rev2)..pdf

For more information: The Cara Foundation for Cancer Comfort: 781-848-7472, www.carafoundation.org.

2/09