Cancer Association of Greater New Orleans, The (CAGNO)

Since 1958, the Cancer Association of Greater New Orleans
has been the local leader in the fight against cancer.
CAGNO prides itself in protecting and defending the
community against cancer through education, outreach,
research and assistance of needy cancer patients.

Uninsured or underinsured cancer patients who do not
qualify for government assistance can have their
prescription medication expenses picked up by CAGNO.
CAGNO also provides colostomy bags, bedpads, prostheses
and other medical supplies to cancer patients needing
such items.

Since the storm, CAGNO has increased the types of financial
assistance to cancer patients to now include assistance
paying for medical supplies or equipment, transportation
for travel to/from treatment (in the form of gas cards),
and relief with utility bills, Insurance premiums, and
medication co-pays.

For community members-at-large, CAGNO offers free stress
management and smoking cessation programs, as well as free
seminars on tobacco prevention or other health- or
cancer-related topics.

Many of our patients are still displaced since the storm.
Some were advised by their doctors to remain where they are
because of the unstable health environment in the greater
New Orleans area. Others need to stay where they are in
order to complete cancer treatments interrupted by the storm.
Those who have returned home must travel 30 to 100-plus miles
in order to continue treatment at hospitals affiliated with
the Medical Center of Louisiana system (charity hospitals)
because they are uninsured.

In order to most effectively meet the growing needs of the
cancer community and fill in gaps of available services,
CAGNO has had to adapt and expand its program offerings.
CAGNO, which before the storm depended on the United Way to
provide more than half of its operating budget, has received
a major cut in funding and so has had to depend on the
generosity of outside organizations and foundations to keep
it afloat financially.

Contact us at:
504.733-5539 or 800.624.2039
http://www.cagno.org

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Got some free time on your hands? Want to make a difference
in the Greater New Orleans community? Then, come join our
force of volunteers! CAGNO would like to beef up our volunteer
force and we'd love to have you be a part of it. Whatever it
is that you can do -- clerical support, special event planning,
social work, health education, etc. -- we have that position
for you.

Contact us via e-mail at: director@cagno.org
or via telephone at (504)733-5539 or (800)624-2039.

We can't wait to hear from you!