A Survivor By Your Side
Providing Hope to Those Facing Cancer
Ways to Get Involved With CanCare
Support for Those Who Have or Had Cancer
CanCare matches people currently facing a cancer diagnosis with a cancer survivor to offer support as you navigate your treatment and the life changes that come with your diagnosis. We also match cancer caregivers with those that have walked the path of loving and caring for someone with cancer.
Our services include:
- Support from a survivor or caregiver
- Online Support Groups
- Healthcare Partner Visitation
Volunteer To Share Your Recovery Experience
Cancer patients and caregivers are matched with a volunteer who has survived the same or similar type of cancer to receive one-on-one positive encouragement and hope from someone who understands firsthand what they are going through.
Join our community of volunteers and offer support through our One-On-One Support Program or our Healthcare Partner Visitation Program.
Donate or Start a Fundraiser
Looking for other ways to provide hope to those facing cancer? Help us ensure that no one endures cancer alone by supporting our work in one of the following ways :
- Event Sponsorships
- Launch your own Fundraiser
- Join Team CanCare
- Honorarium & Memorium Gifts
- Matching Gifts
- Planned Giving
- Stock Transfers
- and more!
You Are Not Meant to Endure Cancer Alone
Cancer is hard, but it doesn’t have to be lonely.
CanCare envisions a world where no one faces cancer alone. We provide hope and healing to the cancer community by ensuring anyone facing cancer can have a survivor by their side. Our 500+ trained volunteers walk alongside those facing cancer as they navigate treatment and the life changes that come with a cancer diagnosis.
Whether you need or want to give encouragement, CanCare is the place for you! No matter if you need cancer support in Texas, or if you're located anywhere else in the country, emotional support is available over the phone, via text, email and in person – one time or on an ongoing basis.
Who We Are
Founded by Anne Shaw Turnage, a survivor of colon cancer, CanCare has grown into a network of trained volunteers including survivors, caregivers of survivors, and medical professionals who provide emotional support and cancer-related resources. Survivors of more than 75 different types of cancer are the heartbeat of the organization, providing hope, friendship and hospital visitations for those facing cancer.
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Survivors by your side
Testimonials
... View Full Story“Cancer gave me the compassion to support others with cancer, to listen to and talk about life’s journey with cancer.”
... View Full Story"I contacted CanCare and spoke to a woman who had faced and won the battle I was fighting. I felt so uplifted and re-energized to continue fighting and accept what was happening."
... View Full Story"One morning while in Houston Methodist Hospital for transplant, a CanCare volunteer knocked on the door. He sat and shared with Ron and Ina about his time not just in the same hospital, but in the very same room as Ron! That day they found a new best friend in this CanCare volunteer. Ron and Ina both took a deep breath, seeing a survivor walking and sharing his story and listening to theirs. It was uplifting for both and gave them a sense of hope."
... View Full Story"I am a proud supporter of CanCare! Without CanCare, I think I could still be searching for someone that understands my specific challenges and perhaps would still be struggling with how to move forward."
... View Full Story"The fact that CanCare screens and trains their volunteers and that they can match a request from a patient or caregiver looking for support within 48 hours brings me so much peace. Cancer can be a serious problem and if I can be a part of helping someone’s cancer experience be a little bit easier or lighter, I feel like my own cancer had a purpose."
... View Full Story"The service CanCare provides in any community cannot be measured in hours or number of people affected. The goodness that pours out from volunteers and staff is so far reaching. It is not only the client who benefits by the support, but the client’s family can see the good it does for their loved one."
... View Full Story"I now have one CanCare client that had cancer in his tonsils just like I did. When we spoke the first time, he helped me as much as I helped him. It felt good and also reminded me what I endured and overcame. CanCare keeps me focused on my health and giving back to others. Giving back is a great reward."
... View Full Story"There were many other positives along the way. I cannot share all of our conversations, but I will say that CanCare is where I received the advice that allowed me to get back into the game of life."
... View Full Story"CanCare provides me with a resource that I need. There are not enough adjectives to describe the professional dedication of this organization’s staff and volunteers. I am blessed to be a part of this."
... View Full Story"She was in a wheelchair and had just recently been diagnosed. She was slumped down in her wheelchair looking like she had lost her last friend. I introduced myself and told her that I was a stage 4 tongue cancer survivor. She got a big smile on her face, straightened up in her wheelchair, and asked, ”YOU ARE?” She was surprised. It was obvious I made a big impact on her but what she didn’t realize was how big an impact she made on me."
... View Full Story"I was very thankful that he took the time to visit patients goung through a rough time like myself. It made me feel like there was hope and that if he made, I could too."
... View Full Story"As a client of CanCare and as a caregiver, I felt witnessed and heard. My CanCare mentor-volunteer was actually an ovarian cancer survivor. Usually, CanCare ensures cancer patients are matched up with survivors and caregivers are matched with caregivers. I am grateful to this day for CanCare’s creativity in pairing up a volunteer survivor with a caregiver client."
... View Full Story"Her desire to 'give back' became stronger after she completed her treatment. Iris wanted to be available to other women who had just received news of their diagnosis. She wanted to offer hope and be a support to them."
... View Full Story"CanCare was instrumental in helping me discover how to walk side-by-side with my sister through her health event."
... View Full Story"Working as a volunteer at my local hospital by offering emotional support has been a life-changing experience. I started my journey at North Cypress thinking that offering my “help” to cancer patients would be my way of giving back to the community..."
..."Nargis has been a pleasure to talk to. She is so sweet and kind and I really enjoy hearing about her experience compared to mine."
..."My Cancare volunteer became my friend I love and appreciate Kim!"
"I deeply appreciate your help and talking with Wanda has really been helping me through this diagnosis and in sorting through my thoughts and feelings. She is kind, listens, is very comforting, and a wonderful person."...
..."This is a great program you have. Nothing like support from someone who really knows what you are going through."
..."I am so grateful and thankful CanCare matched me with Claudette who had kidney cancer in 2001 and has been cancer free all these years. She gave me so much hope and assuaged all my fears about the surgery and outcome. We talked over an hour the first time and we have stayed in touch since my surgery Sept 20. Claudette and I continue in stay in touch and we hope to meet for lunch when I am feeling better. I have already referred a friend to CanCare. She is about to have a double masectomy. Thank You for your program. I am the first in my family to have cancer so had so many questions I forgot to ask the day I received the results of my CT scan."
..."I am forever grateful for Anthony, Tom, and Greg. All have in their own special ways helped me deal with a very difficult situation. Anthony is my rock. Someone who stays in contact and always provides support and encouragement. Tom reaches out and listens to me, and talking helps tremendously. Amazingly, Greg and I share doctors and have the same cancer. Being able to talk with someone who is on a very similar journey brings me comfort and peace."
..."My volunteer met with me for several hours over coffee to talk about her fight and answered so many questions I had about my daughter's diagnosis."
..."I thank you very much for offering this service. It help me when I was overwhelmed with my husband's cancer."
..."Brenda in Texas is kind and understanding. She gave freedom to contact her anytime. She always gets right back in touch with me. Thank you for having this service available to us cancer patients who live with the unknown. Brenda has wonderful faith that rubs off onto me. Thank you again."
..."I am just starting my journey with cancer. My volunteer has been great. Thanks for connecting us!"
..."Wonderful organization and excellent and compassionate service for both staff and volunteers."
..."My volunteer has been a great help to my wife (tongue cancer)."
..."She’s been a huge blessing to my life, amongst this worldwide crisis. I can’t wait to meet her in person when this is all over (or passes us.)"
..."Trish was the best I couldn’t have gone through this without her!"
..."This is a must! So needed so valuable."
..."The response by your team when I reached out was immediate and amazing. I felt their interest and caring was totally sincere."