Patient Resources

Housing Resources​
  • Hope Lodge – Hope Lodge is supported through the American Cancer Society and provides patients and their caregivers a free place to stay during treatment for people with cancer – at no cost. 

  • Joe’s House – Joe’s House is a nonprofit organization that helps cancer patients and their families find a place to stay when traveling away from home for medical treatment.
  • Road to Recovery – Road to Recovery is supported through the American Cancer Society and provides free transportation to treatment for cancer patients
Free or reduced flight transportation options:
General Resources​

A cancer diagnosis is unpredictable and we recognize our members may be at the beginning of their career journey or post retirement.

Is cancer considered a disability?
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a “disability” is defined in three ways:

  • a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual
  • a record of such an impairment
  • being regarded as having such an impairment

Major life activities” include but are not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.

A “major life activity” also includes the operation of a major bodily function, including but not limited to, functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions.

An impairment limits a major life activity; but cannot be transitory or minor (ie. 6 months or less)

According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) cancer is considered a disability.

Do I need to report my diagnosis in new job applications? What about in an interview? 

Some job applications may ask if you have a disability. It is your personal choice to disclose or not.

The federal government strives to employ individuals of all abilities; if you are interested in those positions, it may be beneficial to share via your application.

Search for companies who hire individuals with disabilities to find lists or companies.

Physical limitations or appearance may be visible during virtual or in-person interviews. The interviewer cannot ask you directly about the limitation (why do you have X? How did Y happen?), but they can ask questions to determine whether you can perform the “essential functions” of the job (if hired, will you be able to perform X task?).

Cancer & Careers – “Cancer and Careers empowers and educates people with cancer to thrive in their workplace, by providing expert advice, interactive tools and educational events.”

 
LinkedIn – LinkedIn is a digital platform that helps individuals build and maintain their network. By creating a free account, individuals can connect with others, search for jobs and research companies.

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Find Your Community

Over the years many ACC survivors have found our 4000+ member ACCOI Online support group to be helpful in connecting with others. We also have an ACCOI FaceBook page for family and friends to connect with other ACC survivors.