Best Free Stuff for Breast Cancer Patients 2023

After going through a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, I found out that there’s more to the expense than just the medical bills. Cancer is expensive! I needed some free stuff for cancer patients.

Because of cancer, treatment, surgery, and fatigue, I was not able to do my normal things. So, we had to figure out how to take care of everything from child care to household care.

In order to help both myself and fellow cancer patients, I searched for discounts for cancer patients, free stuff for breast cancer patients, and other resources.  In this post, you’ll find the best freebies for breast cancer patients and survivors.

Here are my favorite ways to get free stuff for cancer patients. (click the links to jump to the section)

How to Get Discounts and Free Things for Cancer Patients Including Special Things for Breast Cancer Patients 2023

Cancer Is Expensive!

Below, you will find a few of my favorite freebies for cancer survivors.  I learned the hard way that cancer is expensive.  When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, there were so many extra expenses I had not thought about.

Luckily, there are a lot of organizations out there that offer free stuff for cancer survivors.  Although many of the freebies in the post can be for any type of cancer survivor,  the focus is on breast cancer survivors, since I myself, am one.

Cancer Free Stuff!

I know more about resources and organizations that give free stuff for breast cancer patients, but I’d love to share any other information that would be helpful to all cancer survivors.

Cancer patients and their loved ones go through enough hardship. So, it’s great that there are so many websites that either offer special discounts or free gifts for cancer patients and their families.

Many of the companies offer free products to cancer survivors that help them live a better, happier life.  Below, you will find cancer organizations that give free vacations for cancer patients, free wigs, and free services. 

Some of these sites offer financial help, financial assistance, or legal help.

There are so many things that cancer patients have to deal with and it’s great that there are people out there that want to help.

Look Good Feel Better Program

Cancer patients can get free makeup and cosmetics. The Look Good Feel Better program (formerly through the American Cancer Society) gives free makeup to cancer patients.

Just before I started chemo for breast cancer I attended one of these sessions. The Look Good Feel Better program is a 2-hour, hands-on workshop that gives cancer patients tips for hair loss, nail care, makeup, clothing, and more.

I came home with a large cosmetic bag filled with all kinds of beauty goodies. 

Unfortunately, The Look Good Feel Better program is no longer funded by the American Cancer Society. Now very few Cancer Centers offer this program. Contact yours to see if they still do. Also, keep in mind these programs can also benefit from donations.

Go to the Look Good Feel Better Program Site Finder for more local information. There is also Live! Virtual Workshops are available through the partnering cancer centers.

Free Wigs from the American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society also gave me two free wigs to use during chemo.  If you are not able to get the free wigs for cancer patients from the American Cancer Society, then try asking your neighborhood Facebook group. 

Someone in my neighborhood’s group just asked and she got a lot of responses.

Knitted Knockers Free Breast Prosthetics

If you have not had breast reconstruction, then are various places where cancer patients can get free breast prosthetics.

Knitted Knockers are free to any woman who wants them. These special handmade breast prostheses are for mastectomies or other procedures to the breast.

Awesome Breastforms Free Breast Prosthetics

Awesome Breastforms are another knitted free breast prosthesis.  With these breast forms, you can choose if your breast prosthesis is made with nipples or without.

Good Wishes Free Head Wraps

For those going through chemotherapy, you can get a free head wrap from Good Wishes.  These chemotherapy freebies delivery can take 4-6 weeks.

Cancer Card XChange Free Gift Cards

If you are looking for free money for cancer patients, then check out this free help for cancer patients.  In the United States, The Cancer Card Xchange gives free gift cards to cancer patients to use for gas, restaurants, shopping, movies, and more.

Related Free Gift Cards (Not Cancer Specific)

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Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition

The Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (CFAC) is a group of national organizations that provide financial help to patients. CFAC provides a searchable database of financial resources for cancer patients.

CancerCare provides limited financial assistance for co-pays, transportation, home care, and child care.

Cancercare Co-Pay Assistance

Cancercare is a non-profit that helps metastatic breast cancer patients pay for their insurance co-pays due to chemo or other treatment.  There are certain qualifications that you must meet, but if you don’t qualify, Cancercare will refer you to other programs that might be able to help you.

Sisters Network Assistance for African Americans

The Sisters Network (www.sistersnetworkinc.org/programs.html) provides free services for women facing breast cancer treatment that include co-pays, related lodging, mammograms, and prosthesis.

Bags of Hope

Bags of Hope was created by Elizabeth Baldo-Downs who is also a Breast Cancer Survivor. While going through treatment herself, Elizabeth received a similar bag. It meant so much to her that after treatment she started Bags of Hope!

She wanted other Breast Cancer Patients who felt the way she did. If you or someone you know is currently going through treatment for Breast Cancer, please go to the website BagsofHope and fill out a “bag request”.

BagsofHope will then send a bag of goodies to brighten their day!  

Bags of Hope’s mission is to spread Love, Strength, and Hope to Breast Cancer Patients one bag at a time.

Cleaning for a Reason

This is a great idea!  Cleaning for a Reason gives three free cleaning services for cancer patients going through chemo.  Unfortunately, when I applied back in 2009 it was not available in my area.

Camp Kesem Free Summer Camp

Camp Kesem is wonderful!  Years ago, our kids went to Camp Kesem for the first time.  Camp Kesem provides a free week of summer camp for kids of parents with cancer.

There are various camps around the country run by volunteers including 3,000 passionate college student leaders.

If you are looking for ways to get free vacations for cancer patients, then look at all of these options.

Little Pink Houses of Hope Free Beach Vacations

Little Pink Houses of Hope gives free beach vacation getaways to breast cancer patients and their families.

Breast Cancer Resource Center Help and Advice

Breast Cancer Resource Center (BCRC), provides services free of charge to anyone affected by breast cancer.  The BCRC is a great help at diagnosis, during treatment, and after treatment to help those living with cancer.  Through the BCRC I have gotten a lot of breast cancer freebies.

Livestrong at the YMCA Free Fitness Classes

Livestrong at the YMCA has a free 12-week, small group fitness program.  These are provided at various YMCAs around the country.

By raising $720, you support a class of 12 cancer survivors find their new normal after cancer treatment through LIVESTRONG at the YMCA. pic.twitter.com/Ac8KbymI3s

— TeamLIVESTRONG (@TeamLIVESTRONG) February 24, 2017

Team Survivor Free Exercise Programs

Team Survivor has free exercise programs for female cancer survivors.  There are locations in many different cities.  In Austin, we have the Captial of Texas Team Survivor group that has group classes ranging from golf to boxing.

Ballet Austin Pink Pilates

For free pilates classes, check out Ballet Austin’s Pink Pilates. This class is a post-operative workout for women recovering from breast cancer. This is an awesome FREE 10-week program at Ballet Austin and the instructor, Vlada Sheber, is compassionate, fun, and knowledgeable.

I highly recommend this program!  The Pilates for Breast Cancer class is valued at $600.

Ballet Austin’s Pilates Pink Ribbon Program from Ballet Austin on Vimeo.

More Resources for Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors

1UponCancer put together a list of Freebies and Discounts for Cancer Patients.  The list includes a variety of free and discounted goods and services such as basic needs, prostheses, classes, gas, housecleaning, pampering, retreats, and more.

For example, Air Care Alliance ACA flies patients to treatments at no charge. Breast Cancer Charities gives qualifying breast cancer patients up to $500 towards rent or utilities.

Crickett’s Answer For Cancer gives breast cancer patients free Mastectomy massage, other massage therapies, facial, manicure, a basket of pampering products.

Heal in Comfort Post-Mastectomy Clothing and Recovery Shirts

Another great resource is HealinComfort.

I wish I would have known about these post-mastectomy recovery shirts when I was going through treatment.  Many of these mastectomy recovery shirts are offered only to low-income or under-insured patients, but some services are offered to any cancer survivors.

Suggested Cancer Readings

Here are some books I found helpful while dealing with cancer, the diagnosis, treatment, breast surgery, etc.

Crazy Sexy Cancer

Kris Carr has a whole “Crazy Sexy Cancer” following now.  She’s a young adult with cancer and she offers lots of helpful advice on living a healthy life.  Here are a few of her books.

AntiCancer

This book, AntiCancer, offers tips on how people living with cancer can fight it and how healthy people can prevent it.  There are lots of practical things you can do.  You choose to do as much or as little as you want, but the point is to do something.

My neighbor, Bernardo (who runs the site Your Great Life TV – Dare To Live Fully) found this book so inspiring and helpful, he gave me my own copy.

Planet Cancer

There’s also Planet Cancer: The Frequently Bizarre Yet Always Informative Experiences and Thoughts of Your Fellow Natives. This is a great read for young adult cancer survivors.

Next, check out these green cleaning posts

• Get your oven clean with baking soda and vinegar
• Cleaning a washing machine
• How Often Should You Clean Your House? Room By Room Tips

For more help for cancer patients see

• The Ultimate Gift Guide for a Friend with Cancer
• Free Haircut with Hair Donation to Locks of Love
• How to Get Free Gift Cards for Cancer Patients
• Post Operative Mastectomy Shirts – More Options for Breast Cancer Survivors