As our country and the world face unprecedented circumstances, the American Cancer Society has had to make difficult decisions in response. Locally, the SCV Relay For Life has been postponed and will be rescheduled when this emergency has subsided. Nationally, the organization has had to make the painful decision to place its Hope Lodge program and Road To Recovery program on hold to keep guests, volunteers and staff safe. Although more than 30 facilities across the country were forced to close, the Hope Lodges will not remain empty through the pandemic. Currently 1,174 rooms in Hope Lodges nationwide are available, at no cost, to local health care providers who take care of their communities. “We are grateful for the opportunity to help the health care community as we try to keep pace with the escalating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Gary M. Reedy, Chief Executive Officer at the American Cancer Society.
Amid the uncertainty that surrounds the nation, the American Cancer Society’s mission has not changed. ACS remains committed to the needs of cancer patients who are more vulnerable than ever. The American Cancer Society remains available to provide information, support and guidance to patients and families 24 hours a day, seven days a week via the free helpline, 1-800-227-2345, and website, cancer.org. An estimated 65,000 calls were made this past March that directly related to COVID-19 questions. ACS has posted a link for up-to-date information at www.cancer.org/coronavirus.
ACS continues to assist patients even during these challenging times with the following services:
24/7 Cancer Helpline – Trained Cancer Information Specialists are available 24/7 to provide accurate, up-to-date information and find valuable services and resources. Call 1-800-227-2345 or Live Chat.
Reach To Recovery – This service connects breast cancer patients with trained volunteers to receive peer-to-peer support.
Cancer Survivors Network – Join a safe online connection to find others with similar experiences and interests on discussion boards, in chat rooms, and build your own support network.
Personal Health Manager – This tool helps you track and organize information about a cancer diagnosis and treatment.
CEO Gary Reedy said, “This is undoubtedly a challenging time, but the fact is, cancer does not stop and neither do we.”
For more information on ACS please visit the website: www.cancer.org or all the cancer helpline if you or someone you know might need the services we provide: (661) 298-0886