Our mission is to help women with breast cancer as we would want to be helped ourselves. The Breast Cancer Assistance Group (BCAG) is supported by breast cancer survivors who raise funds and awareness to improve the lives of local breast cancer patients and their families. The BCAG is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization.
More than 245 women in Monterey County will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the upcoming year, many of whom will face financial difficulty due to their diagnosis and treatment. The combination of reduced income and increased medical expenses will cause significant emotional and financial stress for patients and their families. For over 28 years, the Breast Cancer Assistance Group (BCAG) has provided financial support to individuals with breast cancer, helping to cover costs such as housing, utilities, food, transportation to medical appointments, childcare, and other essential needs during treatment. As an all-volunteer organization made up of breast cancer survivors, BCAG understands that financial hardship can impact recovery and aims to lessen these challenges. BCAG serves about one-third of breast cancer patients in our community who are undergoing treatment. Our goal is to help ease patients' financial worries and hardships, so they can focus on their health and well-being.
BCAG provides financial assistance to residents with breast cancer from Monterey County who are being treated by physicians located anywhere and residents of San Benito or Santa Cruz counties who are being treated by Monterey County physicians. The BCAG has assisted individuals from losing their homes, avoiding evictions, and falling into severe debt. The immediacy and urgency around the cancer diagnosis doesn’t allow a person to prepare for such a change and they often find themselves falling into deep financial debt. The combination of undergoing treatment with a loss of work-related income can come with increased medical bills and unpaid household expenses. By recognizing the devastating impact financial stress can have on a patient’s physical and mental health, the BCAG is there to provide financial assistance and cover their most immediate basic living expenses expeditiously.
I am so grateful for the BCAG grant I received to help with living expenses after being diagnosed with breast cancer. The work time I lost with doctor appointments, surgery and treatment caused me to lose much of my income over several months. The BCAG grant was so helpful to supplement my income and pay bills. The woman that called me for my interview was kind, compassionate and understanding. The grant was issued quickly and was so helpful in my time of need. Thank you all so much.
- Sally Voss, Carmel Valley
