Understanding Metastatic Breast Cancer
A foundational guide to what MBC is, how it is diagnosed, how it spreads, and how to navigate the U.S. health system as a patient.
AWCAA Metastatic Breast Cancer Resource Directory
Resources for Women Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer
Free guides, trusted organisations, financial assistance, and practical tools — in one place.
This page brings together everything AWCAA has developed and identified to support women living with metastatic breast cancer, their families, and the communities and professionals who care for them.
You will find eight free, downloadable Resource Guides covering every aspect of the MBC journey — from diagnosis and treatment to financial support, caregiving, and living with hope — as well as a curated directory of the most important external organisations, hotlines, and tools available in the United States.
Everything here is free. Nothing requires registration. Take what is useful and share it freely.
The AWCAA Metastatic Breast Cancer Resource Guide Library was developed with support from Gilead Sciences as part of the EmpowerHER programme. Resource Guide development was led by AWCAA. The guides represent AWCAA's independent editorial work and do not constitute an endorsement of any product or treatment by Gilead Sciences.
SECTION A
AWCAA Metastatic Breast Cancer Resource Guide Library
Eight free guides covering the MBC journey.
Culture, Faith, Family, and Cancer
A guide to navigating stigma, strengthening faith, supporting families, reducing isolation, and maintaining emotional well-being during MBC.
Navigating the U.S. Healthcare System
A practical guide to finding care, understanding insurance, exercising patient rights, appealing insurance denials, and working with patient navigators.
Understanding Treatment
A clinically grounded guide to every major treatment modality for MBC — hormone therapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation, palliative care, and clinical trials.
Living Well with Metastatic Breast Cancer
A wellness guide covering nutrition, exercise, fatigue management, mental health, sexual health, workplace rights, and advance care planning.
Family, Caregivers, and the Cancer Journey
A guide for the families and caregivers who support someone with MBC — with tools for communication, self-care, legal rights, and shared planning.
Financial, Legal and Practical Support
A comprehensive guide to financial assistance programmes, insurance navigation, transportation and lodging, employment rights, and legal planning.
Living With Hope
The final guide in the series, addressing hope, post-traumatic growth, grief, meaning, legacy building, palliative care, and community and faith.
Language access: The AWCAA Resource Guides are designed for translation into multiple languages, including Amharic, Arabic, Spanish, Yoruba, Igbo, and French. Translated versions will be added to this page as they become available. If you need these resources in a language other than English, or if you need an interpreter for any healthcare appointment, please contact AWCAA — we can help connect you with language support.
SECTION B
External Resource Directory
Trusted organisations, programmes, tools, and services referenced across the AWCAA Resource Guides.
NEED HELP NOW?
Important Helplines
START HERE
Most Comprehensive Resources
American Cancer Society
24/7 helpline; comprehensive cancer info, treatment guides, and survivorship resources
CancerCare
Free counselling, support groups, financial assistance; multilingual
National Cancer Institute
Evidence-based info on cancer types, treatment, clinical trials, and coping
Living Beyond Breast Cancer
MBC-specific education, peer support, and wellness resources
Metastatic Breast Cancer Network
Peer support and advocacy for Stage IV patients
Triage Cancer
Free guides on ADA, FMLA, HIPAA, insurance appeals, caregiver rights
Showing 50 of 50 resources
MBC Education and Information
Patient Support and Navigation
Clinical Trials
Financial Assistance
Transportation and Lodging
Finding and Accessing Care
Patient Rights and Legal Resources
Palliative Care Resources
Advance Care Planning
Caregiver Support
Mental Health and Crisis Support
Nutrition, Wellness, and Government Assistance
MBC Education and Information
American Cancer Society
cancer.org1-800-227-2345
24/7 helpline; comprehensive cancer info, treatment guides, and survivorship resources
MBC Education and Information
National Cancer Institute
cancer.gov1-800-4-CANCER
Evidence-based info on cancer types, treatment, clinical trials, and coping
MBC Education and Information
WebMD Breast Cancer Center
www.webmd.com/breast-cancerPlain-language treatment overviews and patient guides
MBC Education and Information
National Breast Cancer Foundation
www.nationalbreastcancer.orgPatient education, sexual health guide, and free resources
MBC Education and Information
Breastcancer.org
www.breastcancer.orgDetailed MBC treatment and quality-of-life guidance
MBC Education and Information
Living Beyond Breast Cancer
www.lbbc.orgMBC-specific education, peer support, and wellness resources
MBC Education and Information
Penn Medicine – MBC
www.pennmedicine.orgClinical overviews of Stage IV breast cancer
CancerCare
www.cancercare.org1-800-813-4673
Free counselling, support groups, financial assistance; multilingual
Metastatic Breast Cancer Network
www.mbcn.orgPeer support and advocacy for Stage IV patients
Cancer Support Community
www.cancersupportcommunity.orgFree professional counselling and support groups
Susan G. Komen
www.komen.orgFinancial assistance, research, and education for breast cancer patients
Clinical Trials
NCI Clinical Trials Search
www.cancer.gov/research/participate/clinical-trials-searchSearch NCI trials by type, location, and treatment
Clinical Trials
ClinicalTrials.gov
clinicaltrials.govComprehensive database of all registered U.S. trials
Clinical Trials
BreastCancerTrials.org
www.breastcancertrials.orgFree trial-matching service for breast cancer patients
Financial Assistance
TotalAssist (PAF + PAN Foundation)
www.totalassist.org1-866-512-3861
Co-pay, premium, deductible, living-expense grants (merged 2026)
Financial Assistance
HealthWell Foundation
www.healthwellfoundation.org1-800-675-8416
Co-payments, premiums, deductibles, and travel assistance
Financial Assistance
CancerCare Co-Pay Foundation
www.cancercare.org/copayfoundation1-866-552-6729
Co-payment assistance for chemo, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy
Financial Assistance
Good Days
www.mygooddays.org1-877-968-7233
Co-pay, premium, diagnostic testing, and travel assistance
Financial Assistance
The Pink Fund
pinkfund.orgRent, utilities, and car payments for breast cancer patients
Financial Assistance
Family Reach
familyreach.org1-857-233-2764
Housing, transport, utilities, food; Clinical Trial Access Fund
Financial Assistance
NeedyMeds
www.needymeds.orgSearchable directory of medication assistance programmes
Financial Assistance
Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition
cancerfac.orgSearchable database of financial assistance programmes
Financial Assistance
NCOA BenefitsCheckUp
www.benefitscheckup.orgFree tool to identify benefits you may qualify for
Transportation and Lodging
ACS Road to Recovery
www.cancer.org/support-programs-and-services/road-to-recovery.html1-800-227-2345
Free volunteer rides to and from cancer treatment
Transportation and Lodging
Air Charity Network
aircharitynetwork.orgFree air travel to distant treatment centres
Transportation and Lodging
Corporate Angel Network
corpangelnetwork.orgFree flights on empty corporate aircraft seats
Transportation and Lodging
ACS Hope Lodge
www.cancer.org/support-programs-and-services/hope-lodge.html1-800-227-2345
Free lodging near treatment; 31 U.S. locations (must be >40 miles from centre)
Transportation and Lodging
Joe's House
www.joeshouse.org1-877-563-7468
Searchable directory of reduced-rate lodging near cancer centres
Finding and Accessing Care
HRSA Find a Health Center
findahealthcenter.hrsa.govFQHCs offering sliding-scale care regardless of insurance
Finding and Accessing Care
NCI Cancer Centers Directory
www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centersNCI-designated comprehensive cancer centre locator
Finding and Accessing Care
Healthcare.gov
www.healthcare.gov1-800-318-2596
ACA marketplace insurance, subsidies, special enrolment
Finding and Accessing Care
2-1-1 Helpline
www.211.orgCall/text 211
Free local resource referrals: health, food, housing, transport
Patient Rights and Legal Resources
Triage Cancer
triagecancer.orgFree guides on ADA, FMLA, HIPAA, insurance appeals, caregiver rights
Patient Rights and Legal Resources
CMS – No Surprises Act
www.cms.gov/medical-bill-rights1-800-985-3059
Federal billing rights and No Surprises Act guidance
Patient Rights and Legal Resources
HHS Office for Civil Rights
www.hhs.gov/ocr1-800-368-1019
Language access, HIPAA, and non-discrimination complaints
Patient Rights and Legal Resources
EEOC – ADA
www.eeoc.gov1-800-669-4000
Workplace discrimination complaints and ADA guidance
Patient Rights and Legal Resources
U.S. Dept. of Labor – FMLA
www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fmla1-866-487-9243
FMLA guidance and complaint process
Patient Rights and Legal Resources
Social Security Administration
www.ssa.gov/disability1-800-772-1213
SSDI applications including Compassionate Allowances fast-track
Patient Rights and Legal Resources
LawHelp.org
www.lawhelp.orgFree and low-cost legal aid by state
Palliative Care Resources
GetPalliativeCare.org
getpalliativecare.orgWhat palliative care is, how to access it, and its benefits
Palliative Care Resources
Center to Advance Palliative Care
www.capc.orgResources for patients and caregivers on palliative care
Advance Care Planning
The Conversation Project
theconversationproject.orgFree guides to advance care planning family conversations
Advance Care Planning
NHPCO – Advance Directives
www.nhpco.org/patients-and-caregivers/advance-care-planningFree state-specific advance directive forms
Advance Care Planning
Evaheld
evaheld.comDigital tools for ethical wills, legacy letters, and memory gifts
Caregiver Support
Family Caregiver Alliance
www.caregiver.org1-800-445-8106
Respite care, legal info, and state-specific resources for caregivers
Caregiver Support
National Alliance for Caregiving
www.caregiving.orgResearch and advocacy for family caregivers
Caregiver Support
Cancer and Careers
www.cancerandcareers.orgEmployment resources for people managing cancer and work
Mental Health and Crisis Support
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
988lifeline.orgCall/text 988
Free, confidential crisis support; also for caregivers
Nutrition, Wellness, and Government Assistance
SNAP – USDA
www.fns.usda.gov/snapFederal food assistance programme; apply via state social services
Nutrition, Wellness, and Government Assistance
LIHEAP
liheap.acf.hhs.govCall 211
Low-income home energy assistance; apply via state office
SECTION C
How to Use These Resources
If you have been diagnosed with MBC
- Start with Resource Guide 1 to understand your diagnosis.
- Use Resource Guide 3 for insurance and healthcare navigation.
- Use Resource Guide 7 for financial assistance and legal planning.
- Browse the External Resource Directory by category for support in specific areas.
If you are a family member or caregiver
- Start with Resource Guide 6, written specifically for caregivers.
- Resource Guide 7 explains your legal rights under FMLA and how to access financial help.
- The Caregiver Support and Mental Health categories in the Resource Directory are designed for you.
If you are a faith leader or community member
- Resource Guide 2 explains how to support community members living with MBC.
- All guides are written to be shared in community settings and translated.
- Contact AWCAA about community education workshops and patient navigation support.
If you are a healthcare provider or social worker
- All eight guides are freely downloadable for distribution to patients.
- The External Resource Directory provides a vetted reference list for patient referrals.
- Contact AWCAA to discuss partnership and patient navigation collaboration.
SECTION D
Need Help Navigating? AWCAA Is Here.
AWCAA can help connect women and families with patient navigation, support groups, community education, and relevant resources. Contact AWCAA to discuss your needs and available support.
