# Cancer Support Community A first conversation when cancer feels overwhelming: emotional support and help finding groups, counseling and practical resources. Its Cancer Support Helpline serves patients and loved ones, primarily in the U.S. and Canada. Author: Kevin Wimer Canonical URL: https://kevinwimer.com/cancer/organizations/cancer-support-community/ Stable ID: 2187f58e-5b40-4611-83f3-eb21b9ab2cad Revision: 6cb098f5-78f7-4a00-b573-de27b211cec5 Published: 2026-10-25T03:24:34.854Z Updated: 2026-10-26T00:34:29.729Z Reviewed: 2026-10-25 ## Who this is for For patients and caregivers dealing with any type of cancer who want support, information or practical help. Inclusion is not a recommendation or a finding that this service is right for your situation. Cancer Support Community is a nonprofit that helps people with any cancer, and their loved ones, find support, information and resources so no one faces cancer alone. Its network, which includes Gilda's Club centers, has over 200 locations. ## What they offer - A free Cancer Support Helpline staffed by community navigators and resource specialists, by phone or live web chat. - Specialized navigators by appointment for finances and treatment costs, clinical trials, genetics and genomics, pediatric and young adult cancer, and CAR T cell therapy. - Referrals to counseling, support groups, lodging, transportation and financial resources. - Treatment decision-making education and an online distress screening tool, CancerSupportSource. - Live Spanish navigation and phone translation in over 200 languages. - MyLifeLine, an online community, and local centers. ## How to start and what it costs Call the Helpline or use the chat window on its site. Navigation is free (checked October 24, 2026). The Helpline does not give medical advice or individual counseling by phone, but it can offer emotional support during the call and refer you. ## Emotional support for you or a loved one The Helpline can listen, help you identify what support you want, and connect you with counseling, peer matching or groups. Its phone service is navigation and emotional support, rather than individual therapy. Ask which local or online program serves your location and whether it has separate support for caregivers. As of October 2026, Helpline navigation is free. ## How it fits with other groups here This is a broad first stop for any cancer. For insurance and copay problems, see [Patient Advocate Foundation](/cancer/organizations/patient-advocate-foundation/). For trial searching, see my [clinical trials guide](/cancer/resources/clinical-trials/), and for more support options, my [find support guide](/cancer/resources/find-support/). ## Questions I would ask - Is there a local center or online group near me? - Can I book the financial navigator about my treatment costs? - Can the clinical trials navigator help me prepare to talk about trials with my doctor? - What support do you offer my caregiver? ## Contacts - Website: [cancersupportcommunity.org](https://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/) - Helpline: 272-867-5309 (CSC-867-5309) - Toll-free: 888-793-9355 - Helpline page: [Cancer Support Helpline](https://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/cancer-support-helpline) ## Limits and context Program details are reported by the organization unless noted, as of October 2026. This service does not replace your oncologist or give medical advice. Confirm current programs, eligibility and any costs directly. Services are mainly for people in the U.S. and Canada. ## Relationships and disclosures I have no financial or business relationship with Cancer Support Community. ## Sources - [Cancer Support Helpline](https://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/cancer-support-helpline) — Cancer Support Community; official; checked 2026-10-24; Free personalized navigation by phone and online; community navigators and resource specialists; live web chat; specialized navigation for finances, clinical trials, pediatric oncology, CAR T, genetics/genomics; CancerSupportSource distress screening; Spanish navigation; translation in over 200 languages; no medical advice or individual counseling by phone; mainly U.S. and Canada; CSC-867-5309, toll-free 888-793-9355; Monday to Thursday 9 am to 7 pm ET, Friday 9 am to 6 pm ET. - [Cancer Support Community home page](https://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/) — Cancer Support Community; official; checked 2026-10-24; Local CSC/Gilda's Club support centers; MyLifeLine online community; network with over 200 locations worldwide. - [Emotional support and counseling referrals](https://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/cancer-support-helpline) — Cancer Support Community; official; checked 2026-10-25; Patients and loved ones; emotional support on calls; referrals to individual counseling, peer matching and support programs; not individual therapy by phone; primarily U.S./Canada; no charge for navigation as of October 2026. Organization website: https://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/ Organization type: Nonprofit Services: Peer support, Education & information, Clinical trial navigation, Family & caregivers Community focus: People with any type of cancer, Caregivers Information/access: [Cancer Support Helpline](https://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/cancer-support-helpline) Supported regions: United States, Canada Service status: available ## Company facts - **Cost:** Helpline navigation is free (checked October 24, 2026). (Sources: helpline) - **Hours:** Monday to Thursday 9 am to 7 pm ET; Friday 9 am to 6 pm ET. (Sources: helpline) - **Specialized navigators:** Finances, clinical trials, genetics, pediatric and young adult, CAR T. (Sources: helpline) - **Locations:** Over 200, including Gilda's Club centers. (Sources: home) - **Languages:** Spanish navigation; translation in over 200 languages. (Sources: helpline) - **Emotional support:** Listening and navigation for patients and loved ones, with referrals to counseling and groups; not individual phone therapy. (Sources: emotional-helpline) Topics: expert-support, clinical-trials Capabilities: patient-support, clinical-trials, emotional-support Related record IDs: 656030c7-047a-40e9-b47b-14b19f3fd2bd, bcbf518f-872e-434c-b031-3d6c266ceaa4, 9626bcca-14a1-465f-a727-413f7285391e Follow Kevin on X: https://x.com/kevinace Educational information, not an individualized treatment recommendation.