Journal of Hope
Sherry Whitaker will always be remembered for her attitude of service, courage and faith. Her family and friends were inspired to create a run with one goal and purpose:…
Read MoreSupportive Services
For more information about any of the following free programs, please contact our office at (615) 467-1936 or toll-free (877) 467-1936.
Resource Center & Oncology Social Work Services
Nutritional Consultations & Recommendations
Advancing Treatment in the Community
Transportation Assistance
Cancer Screenings
The Minnie Series
Cancer in the Workplace DVD
Shop Smart to Fight Cancer
Resource Center & Oncology Social Work Services
The Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation’s Cancer Resource Center offers a treasure of cancer-related materials. Our free lending library is stocked with an updated selection of educational and inspirational books, magazines, pamphlets, and audiovisual materials as well as computer access to bookmarked Internet cancer sites for research on up-to-date cancer information. Our cancer supportive services' team members, including oncology social workers and a registered dietitian, are on staff each day to address any concerns about cancer, to offer support, and to answer questions about coping with cancer, its prevention, detection, and its treatment, as well as cancer screening recommendations. Come by for a visit or contact them by phone or e-mail. As always, our services and programs are free of charge.
Nutritional Consultations & Recommendations
Scientists estimate that 30%-40% of all cancers could be prevented by eating a healthy diet, getting regular physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight. Our Registered Dietitian, Kimberly Petersen, RD, LDN, is available daily for nutritional consultations to discuss wellness, good nutrition, and the relevance of diet to cancer prevention and its treatment. Come by for a visit or call or e-mail her to talk about the latest in nutritional findings as they relate to cancer prevention.
Click here to see the current nutrition/wellness guidelines to help you make choices that will significantly lower your cancer risk. At the same time, you’ll be lowering your risk for a variety of other chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, hypertension, and adult-onset diabetes, while improving your overall health.
Advancing Treatment in the Community
Those diagnosed with cancer do have options for treatment. Guided by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, The Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation recognizes that "the best management of any cancer patient is participation in a clinical trial."
A clinical trial is not the first step in the development of a new drug or treatment. In fact, it is one of the last. Clinical trials (or research studies) are designed to answer questions about new ways of finding and diagnosing, treating and preventing cancer, which will improve the current standard of care. Benefits of participating in a trial include access to promising new treatment that may be better than the current standard of care; access to high-quality expert medical care at leading cancer treatment and research facilities; and an opportunity to participate in efforts to find more effective cancer treatment options for others facing this disease.
The Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation helps answer the fears of joining a trial. Our role is to share information, assist in exploring options, and assist in developing questions that those considering a clinical trial may ask their physicians. Knowing about and understanding the benefits of cancer-related clinical trials help those impacted by cancer to make an informed decision about treatment options.
Transportation Assistance
The MPCF offers transportation assistance to those breast cancer patients in Tennessee whose travel for treatment poses financial hardship. This transportation assistance is available through generous funding from the Greater Nashville Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and from the Tennessee Breast Cancer Control Coalition.
Cancer Screenings
The Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation offers free screenings (such as mammography and prostate cancer screenings) free of charge to those who might otherwise be unable to receive such services. Contact a member of our Cancer Supportive Services staff for more information.
The Minnie Series
Join us for quarterly lunch and learn programs that address timely topics (such as nutrition, physical activity, emotional health, and well-being) related to cancer survivorship. We offer these programs free of charge at our Resource Center, regardless of a participant’s treatment facility, and make them available to cancer survivors in or out of treatment, as well as family members, friends, caregivers, oncology professionals and anyone impacted by a cancer diagnosis. Click here for information about our upcoming Minnie Series.
Cancer in the Workplace DVD
The Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation developed and offers for free an educational DVD, Cancer in the Workplace, as a resource for companies that want to better understand the implications of a cancer diagnosis among their employees, as well as to offer better workplace support to employees during cancer treatment. Click here to learn more.
Shop Smart to Fight Cancer
SHOP SMART to Fight Cancer is a grocery store tour led by registered dietitian Kimberly Petersen, RD, LDN, to learn valuable shopping tips that not only help protect against cancer but that are good for your budget. E-mail nutrition@minniepearl.org or call (615) 467-1936, ext. 102 to register. As always, we are able to offer great programs and series, such as this, free of charge thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors.