Statements

Mission

The mission of the Tennessee Breast Cancer Coalition is to be an advocate and provider for Tennesseans facing breast cancer through individual assistance, education and legislative action.

Background

The Tennessee Breast Cancer Coalition began as a grassroots organization in 1995 with a mission to eradicate breast cancer. Rather than allowing the disease to control its victims, survivors, family members, and friends TBCC decided to fight against the disease through action and advocacy. Today we provide financial assistance to breast cancer patients experiencing financial toxicity. TBCC manages an Emergency Access Fund to be able to provide assistance to men and women in Tennessee while they are in treatment for breast cancer. We have narrowed our focus to direct financial assistance, for basic necessities such as rent, mortgage, utilities and insurance premiums. If the patient is uninsured we will help with medical bills that pertain to the treatment of the breast cancer. Educating the patients we help goes hand in hand with the individual, their doctors and nurses.

Impact

Through fund raising the Tennessee Breast Cancer Coalition has contributed over $3.3 million for education, awareness and financial assistance to breast cancer patients. Our Emergency Access Fund (EAF) continues to assist patients who have become financially burdened due to loss of income and the inability to work while in treatment. Through our EAF each year we are able to help hundreds of individuals and their families, keep their home, pay rent, utilities and/or insurance premiums. We are able to decrease stress, keep the patient and their family in their home and allow them to concentrate on healing.

Needs

While TBCC continues to grow and fundraise to help breast cancer patients in Tennessee we could do so much more if we had more funding. Funding specifically for our Emergency Access Fund (EAF). Each year we raise our budgeted amount for this fund and each year we run out of money before December 31. Qualified patients can be awarded a max of $1000, therefore it takes hundreds of thousands of dollars every year. Keep in mind that the cost of living, especially housing is increasing at an alarming rate. Every year we have to turn patients away. Where do these patients turn, who else is helping them? If a patient is in active treatment and unable to work, where is the money coming from to pay those necessities? And we are talking bare necessities, place to live and heal, running water, electricity and utilities. Imagine that you are single mother with young children and you can't work while you are going through breast cancer treatment, who will pay your basic necessities?

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Health Care  - Patient & Family Support
Secondary Category:	Diseases, Disorders & Medical Disciplines  - Breast Cancer
Tertiary Category:	Human Services  - Emergency Assistance (Food, Clothing, Cash)

Areas Served

The Tennessee Breast Cancer Coalition serves the entire state of Tennessee.

TN