Fighting Breast Cancer, One Family at a Time

Health care access

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

When a person is diagnosed with breast cancer, they often must quit their job to focus on treatment. Yet in doing so, they lose income and health insurance while facing mounting medical bills. In the U.S., 82.5% of high-income women aged 40+ received a mammogram in the last two years, but only 68.4% of low-income women did. This disparity leads to delayed diagnoses and higher mortality among lower-income patients, especially women of color.
Breast cancer patient Kimberly H. shared: "I had to quit my job. I tried to work as long as I could, but I became too weak. I needed time to focus on my primary job: saving my life." But then came the impossible choices: "How was I supposed to pay $1,000 with everything going on?" No one should have to choose between life-saving treatment or paying rent & buying food. This financial toxicity leads to dangerous treatment delays, severely impacting healing. The economic burden of breast cancer pushes already vulnerable patients to the financial brink.

Breast Cancer Angels (BCA) alleviates the financial burden for breast cancer patients so they can focus on treatment and healing. Our program One Family at a Time (OFT) swiftly provides financial assistance for non-medical basic living expenses to patients in active treatment.
BCA is unique in:
Speed: Patients receive funds within a week of applying, thanks to our hospital partnerships. Other programs have 90-day wait periods.
Scope: BCA provides $300-$500 monthly (based on need) for up to 6 months, covering rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, childcare, and more.
Wrap-around services: BCA connects patients to additional resources, including legal aid, mental health support, childcare, and meal delivery.
In 2022, BCA assisted 150 patients monthly on average, distributing over $800,000. With LA2050 support, we will scale up to help 180+ patients per month, including:
Rent/mortgage aid for 50+ patients
Utilities for 25+
Groceries for 100+
Transportation for 50+
Childcare for 30+
57% of LA cancer patients are low-income. LA2050 funding will ensure more vulnerable Angelenos can access vital support during treatment, without sacrificing financial stability. We will be a critical safety net for LA breast cancer patients in their time of greatest need.

If successful, OFT will significantly improve the lives of low-income breast cancer patients in LA County by alleviating the financial stress that often accompanies a diagnosis. In the short-term (Oct 2024-Oct 2025), LA2050 funding will allow BCA to provide critical financial assistance to 180+ patients monthly, a 20% increase from our current capacity. This means more patients can focus on treatment without worrying about being unable to feed their families.
But our vision extends beyond the grant period. By 2026, we aim to scale our program to assist 250+ patients monthly. Longer-term, we will leverage this growth to form new partnerships with hospitals & clinics serving low-income communities.
Ultimately, we envision an LA County where no breast cancer patient faces financial ruin due to their diagnosis. OFT has the potential to transform the breast cancer experience for LA's most vulnerable patients, ensuring they can focus on what matters most: their health and families.

BCA has been a lifeline for breast cancer patients facing financial hardship since 2000. In 2022 alone, we provided over $800,000 in assistance to 1,800 patients, covering critical living expenses.
Our impact extends beyond numbers. As one patient shared: "I will always be grateful for your help. You have been so generous as BCA has been the only real help I have gotten on my journey with cancer."
We track success through: of patients assisted (goal: 20% increase YoY)
$ amount distributed (goal: $1 million annually by 2025)
% of patients reporting reduced financial stress (goal: 95%)
Long-term, we aim to establish a permanent $2M assistance fund by 2030, enabling us to help 4,000+ patients yearly across LA County. With a proven 23-year track record and a 20% yearly growth rate, BCA is well-positioned to expand our reach and impact with LA2050's partnership. Together, we can build a future where no LA breast cancer patient faces financial ruin due to their diagnosis.