Prevention. Early detection. Treatment.

The cancer care offered through the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center at Christiana Care is comprehensive.

But sometimes insurance isn't enough to help with the financial challenges some patients face as they work their way toward wellness.

As part of its mission to provide a full range of cancer services, Christiana Care Health System has a Cancer Special Needs Fund.

This fund helps Helen F. Graham Cancer Center patients who need financial assistance to pay for medically necessary services, particularly after they use all the insurance money available to them.

Since the fund was started in 1999, more than 2,100 patients have received help through the generous support of corporations, foundations and individuals in the community.

What does the fund cover?

The fund covers medically necessary services, including, but not limited to:

• co-payments for medication
• transportation to and from support group meetings and chemotherapy and radiation therapy appointments
• genetic counseling/testing services
• fitting, styling and purchase of wigs
• purchase of hats and scarves
• fitting and purchase of mastectomy-wear, including prostheses
• temporary in-home child or elder care during chemotherapy and radiation therapy appointments
• lymphedema therapy, including sessions, equipment, pumps and compression wraps
• tube feeding supplies (tubing and supplements)
• incontinence products
• urinary catheter kits and supplies
• ostomy supplies
• dressing supplies (bandages)
• overnight housing (up to 2 nights) at one of Christiana Care Health System's Lodging Program hotels for pre-testing services
• nutrition counseling services
• acupuncture services
• massage therapy

Who do I call to learn more?

Contact Christiana Care Cancer Care Management at 302-623-4700 to learn more about the fund or to determine eligibility to receive financial assistance.

How can I support the fund?

Contact Natalie Dyke in the Christiana Care Development Office at 302-327-3306 for information about making a gift  to the Cancer Special Needs Fund.

What patients say about the fund

Herb Bryant received help from the Cancer Special Needs Fund after a scheduling conflict prevented his family from driving him to chemotherapy appointments to treat his stomach cancer.

The fund covered the cost of van service to get the 58-year-old to the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center at Christiana Care and home again.

 'It was very convenient and very helpful because I imagine if I couldn't make my treatments that would be a problem for me,' he said.