CancerCare
Support groups for patients, caregivers and people grieving a cancer loss, plus individual counseling for eligible New York and New Jersey residents. Oncology social workers lead the support.
- Hopeline
- 800-813-4673, Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET.[1]
- Online groups
- Open to anyone in the U.S. and territories.[2]
- Counseling area
- Individual counseling for New York and New Jersey residents.[1]
- Financial aid
- First come, first served; depends on funding.[4]
- Lung workshops
- NSCLC biomarker testing (Nov 3, 2026); small cell lung cancer (Nov 10, 2026).[3]
- Counseling eligibility
- New York/New Jersey residents; treatment and bereavement time limits apply. Intake assessment required.[5]
- Grief and caregiver groups
- Online message-board groups; U.S. residents including Puerto Rico and U.S. territories. Live groups have NY/NJ residency limits.[6]
Cost
HopelineCancerCare is a nonprofit staffed by licensed oncology social workers. It helps people with cancer, caregivers, loved ones and the bereaved with the emotional and practical side of cancer. It covers more than 150 diagnoses and topics, and, as of October 2026, describes its services as free.
What they offer
- The Hopeline, where you can talk with an oncology social worker by phone.
- Online support groups on a password-protected message board, led by oncology social workers and open to anyone in the U.S. and its territories. Groups include general, metastatic and young adult patient groups, caregiver groups and bereavement groups.
- For lung cancer: an online lung cancer patient support group, a caregiver group, and Connect Education Workshops such as "Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Biomarker Testing Treatment Trends" on November 3, 2026 and "Living with Small Cell Lung Cancer" on November 10, 2026.
- Resource navigation and a searchable database of financial and practical help.
- A Financial Assistance Program for some costs such as transportation, home care and child care, when funds are available.
How to start and what it costs
Call the Hopeline to speak with a social worker; it also tells you which financial programs are open for you. As of October 2026, services are free. Individual counseling and live groups are for New York and New Jersey residents. Financial aid is first come, first served and depends on current funding (checked October 24, 2026).
Emotional support and grief
Individual counseling is short-term and cancer-focused. The October 2026 eligibility guidance covers New York and New Jersey residents in active treatment or within 18 months of finishing, loved ones of those patients, and people bereaved within 18 months. An intake assessment determines whether the program fits. Counseling is available in English and Spanish.
For people elsewhere in the U.S., Puerto Rico or U.S. territories, online groups include caregiver and bereavement support. These use moderated message boards, rather than live chat or video. Live groups have New York/New Jersey residency limits. As of October 2026, the counseling and support groups described here are offered without charge.
How it fits with other groups here
CancerCare is a good first call for emotional support or when you do not know where to start. For insurance and copay problems, see Patient Advocate Foundation. For lung cancer peer communities, see LUNGevity and my find support guide.
Questions I would ask
- Which support group fits me or my caregiver right now?
- Which financial assistance programs are open for my situation today?
- Can you point me to help with travel or child care during treatment?
- Are there upcoming workshops on my cancer type?
Contacts
- Website: cancercare.org
- Hopeline: 800-813-4673 (800-813-HOPE)
- Email: info@cancercare.org
- Support groups: CancerCare support groups
- Financial help: Financial Assistance Program
- Counseling eligibility: Counseling FAQs
- Group formats and enrollment: Support group FAQs
Services & community focus
Nonprofit
