Cancer Resource Spotlight: Triage Cancer
Briefly share about Triage Cancer and its mission?
Triage Cancer is a national, nonprofit organization that provides free education on the legal and practical issues that may impact individuals diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers, through events, materials, and resources.
What is a fun fact about your organization?
Our founders, Joanna Fawzy Morales and Monica Fawzy Bryant, are not only cancer rights attorneys, but sisters, too!
Can you talk more about the Triage Cancer Conference and its importance? Any specific topics you are focusing on for 2021?
Triage Cancer’s free educational conferences provide critical information and resources to individuals diagnosed with cancer, caregivers, advocates, and oncology health care professionals. We cover key tips needed to help navigate practical issues, minimize the financial burden of a cancer diagnosis, and reduce stress. This includes getting and using health insurance to lower out-of-pocket costs, understanding your employment rights to stay at work, take time off, or return to work, accessing disability insurance, planning ahead and medical decision making, and being an empowered patient and advocate.
In 2021, we noticed a lack of accessible information surrounding COVID-19 and pandemic-era laws, including the American Rescue Plan. To meet this need, this year’s conferences share ways people can navigate cancer, while making the most out of new government protections and programs.
How are you preparing or currently dealing with cancer on the rise after Covid?
The uncertainty, economic crisis, employment losses, barriers to accessing care, and health risks caused by COVID-19 prompted a whole new set of challenges for the cancer community.
To help people navigate these issues, Triage Cancer launched our Legal and Financial Navigation program to offer free one-on-one assistance. The goal of these navigation services is to explain your options, provide accurate information, and empower you to take next steps.
We’ve also launched a number of other resources to help those diagnosed with cancer navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Our “COVID-19” page includes resources in English and Spanish, like our Checklist to Managing Work, Insurance, & Finances During Covid-19. Our CancerFinances.org “COVID-19 and Cancer” module includes even more on navigating this pandemic and cancer, beyond diagnosis.
What was one good thing that came out of the past year and the pandemic?
COVID-19 forced Triage Cancer, other cancer advocacy organizations, and policy-makers alike to find new, innovative ways to meet individuals’ needs. For us, a large part of that was implementing our Legal and Financial Navigation program, a resource we are confident will serve individuals beyond the pandemic.
Any new things for Triage Cancer on the horizon?
We are always developing new resources to improve the lives of those diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers. In August, we will be releasing our state-specific Estate Planning Toolkits for individuals planning for the future. Also launching soon is our four-part animated video series on Medicare, to be shared on our Animated Videos page. Plus, we’ll be adding a new module to CancerFinances.org on navigating insurance. For the latest resources and upcoming events, sign up for the Triage Cancer newsletter!
Do you have an organization in mind that is making a difference in the cancer community and deserves recognition? Send your recommendations to Meagan Spalding at Meagan@cancer-companions.org for the chance to be featured in our next newsletter!
Resource Spotlight
Triage Cancer is a national, nonprofit organization that provides free education on the legal and practical issues that may impact individuals diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers, through events, materials, and resources.
