Since 1998, the Hirshberg Foundation has partnered with CancerCare to help families navigate the financial and emotional challenges that follow a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. With your generosity, we provide bi-annual grants that fund one-time financial assistance for low-income patients, alongside CancerCare’s free counseling, education, and case management. We are pleased to share our mid-year results and announce that our grant has been renewed for the second half of 2025, so more patients can stay on track with care.
Why Financial Assistance Makes All the Difference
A pancreatic cancer diagnosis often brings unexpected costs that strain family budgets. Even with insurance, expenses for transportation, co-pays, home care, childcare, and nutrition support add up quickly. These mounting expenses can force families into difficult trade-offs, choosing between basic needs or staying on track with treatment. Through our partnership with CancerCare, we step in with practical help so patients can focus on treatment, well-being, and time with loved ones.
The National Cancer Institute reports that average medical costs for cancer patients exceed $43,000 in the first year after diagnosis and can climb to more than $109,000 in the final year of life. For families already coping with the physical and emotional toll of pancreatic cancer, these numbers are staggering.
That’s why every grant matters. For a patient, this support can mean reliable transportation to chemotherapy, support for in-home care or prescriptions. Thanks to our community, this partnership offers not only financial aid but also dignity and hope when it’s needed most.
Stories of Strength: Real Patients, Real Impact
Behind every grant is a story of resilience, determination, and hope. With your support, CancerCare and the Hirshberg Foundation are helping patients focus on healing while easing the financial strain of pancreatic cancer.
Fighting with Faith and Family Support
James, 73, North Carolina
Living with Stage IV pancreatic cancer, James described the diagnosis as something that “hit us pretty hard,” yet he remains determined to “keep fighting.” He relies on his wife and faith community for strength, but struggles with transportation to treatment. With grant support, James covered travel costs and was connected to additional national organizations for ongoing resources.
Finding Comfort at Home During Treatment
Melissa, 74, New York
Melissa is in active treatment for Stage IV pancreatic cancer and experiences fatigue and weakness from chemotherapy. With her husband as her primary caregiver and support from her nearby adult children, she needed home care assistance and coverage for nutritional supplements. The grant provided relief for home care expenses, along with guidance to obtain reimbursement for Ensure, helping her maintain strength during treatment.
Balancing Treatment and Young Family Life
Eric, 40, New York
A father of young children, Eric is undergoing chemotherapy for Stage IV pancreatic cancer. He shared, “Some days are good, and some others are not so good,” but continues to cope with side effects like nausea and fatigue. The cost of childcare and household bills weighed heavily on his family. A grant helped cover childcare expenses, and he was referred to multiple partner organizations for further financial and emotional support.
Courage Through Treatment and Financial Strain
Fernando, 59, Georgia
Currently in chemotherapy for Stage III pancreatic cancer, Fernando faces significant side effects and the challenge of being unable to work. Household bills and medical co-pays created financial stress. The grant helped with treatment-related expenses, while referrals connected him to other foundations offering gas cards, meal assistance, and additional financial relief. With the support of his wife and extended family, Fernando continues to push forward with determination.
Names have been changed to protect confidentiality.
Mid-2025 Program Impact
From January 19 to July 31, 2025, CancerCare awarded 65 grants, averaging just over $200 per grant. Support helped cover transportation, treatment co-pays, home care, imaging, and other essential needs. Patients served came from 30 states and Washington, D.C., with the largest groups in New York, Texas, New Jersey, and North Carolina. Most patients were 41–64 or 65+, and services were available in multiple languages, including English (86%) and Spanish (11%).
The Hirshberg Foundation CancerCare Grant
Thanks to our donor community, the Foundation has renewed funding with CancerCare for the remainder of 2025. This program offers limited financial assistance for transportation, pain medication, childcare, home care, and other urgent needs for eligible low-income patients. CancerCare also provides free support groups, workshops, co-payment assistance, case management, and counseling in English and Spanish.
If you or someone you love needs assistance, please contact CancerCare to learn about eligibility and available services. If you would like to make this lifeline possible for more families, please consider a gift to the Hirshberg Foundation today.
