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Cancer Support Resources in West Virginia
West Virginia consistently ranks among the states with the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates, driven by tobacco use, coal industry exposures, and limited rural access to preventive care. Patients in the southern coalfields — from Logan and Mingo to McDowell County — often travel to Charleston or Huntington for specialized cancer treatment. This guide covers practical, non-clinical help for patients, survivors, and caregivers across the Mountain State.
West Virginia faces the most difficult cancer landscape of any state in the nation. It consistently ranks first or near first in overall cancer incidence in the United States, driven by decades of coal mining and chemical industry exposures, some of the highest smoking rates in the country, and an aging population concentrated in communities where preventive care has been scarce for generations. Extreme Appalachian poverty touches every corner of the state — West Virginia ranks among the poorest states by median household income, and in the southern coalfields, poverty rates in some counties exceed 25%. The mountainous terrain that gives the state its beauty also makes travel to treatment centers grueling: winding two-lane roads through hollows and over ridges can turn a 50-mile trip into a two-hour ordeal, and many counties have no oncologist, no hospital, and no public transportation.
The opioid epidemic has hit West Virginia harder than any other state, straining an already fragile healthcare system and creating additional barriers for cancer patients who need pain management but face stigma, provider shortages, and pharmacy restrictions. Broadband gaps in rural areas limit access to telehealth, online support groups, and even basic health information. Whether you are receiving treatment at WVU Medicine in Morgantown, Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center in Huntington, CAMC in Charleston, or driving hours from a remote coalfield community, this guide connects you with over 100 organizations working to ensure no West Virginian faces cancer alone.
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Statewide Resources
These organizations serve all of West Virginia — by phone, online, or through regional offices. Start here if you are unsure where to look.
American Cancer Society — West Virginia
📍 Statewide
The ACS provides 24/7 cancer information, patient navigation, and connection to local support services across West Virginia. Their Road to Recovery program is especially critical in a state where patients may drive two or more hours on mountain roads to reach an oncologist. Hope Lodge accommodations in nearby cities help patients who must travel out of state for specialized treatment.
- 24/7 helpline: 1-800-227-2345
- Road to Recovery free transportation
- Hope Lodge referrals (nearest locations in surrounding states)
- Support groups and online community
Who: All cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers
Cost: Free
Phone: 1-800-227-2345
West Virginia Cancer Coalition
📍 Statewide
The WV Cancer Coalition is a statewide partnership of organizations, healthcare providers, and community members working to reduce the cancer burden across West Virginia. They coordinate the state’s comprehensive cancer control plan, connect patients to resources, and advocate for policies that improve cancer prevention, early detection, and survivorship for all West Virginians.
- Statewide cancer control plan coordination
- Patient resource navigation and referrals
- Community education and screening promotion
- Policy advocacy for cancer prevention
Who: All West Virginia residents
Cost: Free
West Virginia Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program (WVBCCSP)
📍 Statewide (through local health departments)
Funded by the CDC and administered by the WV Department of Health and Human Resources, this program provides free breast and cervical cancer screenings to uninsured and underinsured women. If cancer is detected, patients are fast-tracked to Medicaid coverage for treatment. In a state where many women delay screenings due to cost or distance, this program saves lives.
- Free mammograms, Pap tests, and clinical breast exams
- Diagnostic follow-up at no cost
- Medicaid enrollment upon cancer diagnosis
- Available through local health departments statewide
Who: Uninsured/underinsured women ages 25-64
Cost: Free
Phone: (304) 558-0684
Bonnie’s Bus — WVU Cancer Institute Mobile Mammography
📍 Statewide (mobile unit travels to all 55 counties)
Bonnie’s Bus is a state-of-the-art mobile mammography unit operated by the WVU Cancer Institute that travels to all 55 West Virginia counties, bringing screening mammograms directly to women in communities where the nearest hospital may be an hour or more away. Since its launch, Bonnie’s Bus has provided tens of thousands of mammograms and detected hundreds of cancers in women who otherwise would not have been screened.
- Mobile screening mammograms in all 55 counties
- Financial assistance for uninsured patients
- Same-day results when possible
- Referrals for diagnostic follow-up
Who: Women ages 40+ (younger with risk factors)
Cost: Free for uninsured; accepts insurance
Phone: 1-800-227-2345
Patient Advocate Foundation
📍 Statewide (phone-based)
When your insurance denies a claim or you cannot afford your medication, PAF assigns a case manager to fight for you. They handle appeals, negotiate medical debt, and run a copay relief fund. Critical for West Virginia patients navigating Medicaid, Medicare, or marketplace plans who face unexpected coverage denials or are overwhelmed by medical bills.
- Insurance denial appeals and arbitration
- Copay relief program (multiple disease funds)
- Medical debt crisis intervention
- Medicaid and insurance enrollment help
Who: Patients facing insurance barriers or financial hardship
Cost: Free
Phone: 1-800-532-5274
CancerCare — West Virginia Services
📍 Statewide (phone and online)
CancerCare provides free professional counseling from licensed oncology social workers by phone or online, support groups, and financial assistance for copays, transportation, and home care. No referral needed — just call. Their phone-based model is invaluable for West Virginia patients in remote communities with no local counseling options or reliable broadband for video calls.
- Individual and group counseling (phone and online)
- Support groups by cancer type
- Limited financial assistance for treatment costs
- Caregiver support programs
Who: Cancer patients, caregivers, and bereaved family members
Cost: Free
Phone: 1-800-813-4673
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society — West Virginia
📍 Statewide
LLS focuses exclusively on blood cancers and offers some of the most generous financial assistance in the cancer nonprofit space. Their copay program can cover thousands per year, and Information Specialists are available by phone to walk you through treatment options and clinical trial matching for leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.
- Copay assistance and travel aid
- First Connection peer-to-peer matching
- Clinical trial nurse navigators
- Patient education programs
Who: Blood cancer patients and caregivers
Cost: Free
Phone: 1-800-955-4572
Mountaineer Food Bank
📍 Statewide (48 counties)
Mountaineer Food Bank is West Virginia’s largest hunger-relief organization, distributing millions of pounds of food annually through a network of partner agencies across 48 counties. For cancer patients struggling to eat well during treatment while managing the financial strain of medical bills, their mobile food pantries reach some of the most isolated communities in the state.
- Partner food pantries across 48 counties
- Mobile food pantry deliveries to rural areas
- Senior food box program
- Emergency food assistance
Who: Anyone facing food insecurity
Cost: Free
Facing Hunger Foodbank
📍 Statewide (17 counties in western WV)
Facing Hunger Foodbank serves 17 counties in western West Virginia with food distribution through a network of 200+ partner agencies. Their BackPack program, mobile pantries, and senior commodity programs ensure that cancer patients and their families in the Huntington region and surrounding counties do not have to choose between food and treatment.
- 200+ partner food distribution agencies
- Mobile pantry program for rural areas
- BackPack program for children
- Senior commodity food program
Who: Anyone facing hunger in the 17-county service area
Cost: Free
Phone: 304-523-6029
LiveStrong at the YMCA — West Virginia Locations
📍 Multiple YMCA locations across West Virginia
The LiveStrong at the YMCA program offers free 12-week fitness and wellness sessions designed specifically for cancer survivors at participating YMCA locations in West Virginia. Trained instructors create personalized exercise plans that help survivors rebuild strength, improve energy levels, and regain confidence after treatment.
- Free 12-week group fitness program
- Personalized exercise plans for survivors
- Peer support through small group format
- Free YMCA membership during the program
Who: Cancer survivors (during or after treatment)
Cost: Free
Phone: 1-877-236-8820
WV DHHR — Medicaid and CHIP
📍 Statewide
West Virginia expanded Medicaid under the ACA, providing health coverage to adults earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level. For cancer patients, Medicaid covers treatment, medications, and supportive care. The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) covers children in families with slightly higher incomes. Social workers at any WV hospital can help you apply.
- Full medical coverage including cancer treatment
- Prescription drug coverage
- Transportation to medical appointments
- Application assistance through local DHHR offices
Who: Low-income WV residents and children
Cost: Free or low-cost based on income
Phone: (304) 558-0684
Legal Aid of West Virginia
📍 Statewide (regional offices)
Legal Aid of WV provides free civil legal assistance to low-income residents across the state. For cancer patients, they handle issues like Medicaid denials, disability benefits appeals, employment discrimination, advance directives, and utility shutoff protections. When a cancer diagnosis creates legal problems on top of medical ones, Legal Aid steps in.
- Medicaid and disability benefits appeals
- Employment rights and FMLA protections
- Advance directives and estate planning
- Utility shutoff protection assistance
Who: Low-income WV residents
Cost: Free
WV Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)
📍 Statewide
West Virginia Medicaid covers non-emergency medical transportation for enrolled patients who have no other way to get to medical appointments. This is a critical benefit in a state where public transit is nearly nonexistent in rural areas and cancer patients may need to travel hours for chemotherapy or radiation. Contact your Medicaid managed care plan to arrange rides.
- Free rides to cancer treatment appointments
- Covers mileage reimbursement for personal vehicles
- Available for all Medicaid-enrolled patients
- Must schedule in advance through your plan
Who: WV Medicaid enrollees
Cost: Free for Medicaid members
Phone: (304) 558-0684
PAN Foundation — Copay Assistance
📍 Nationwide (serves WV residents)
The Patient Access Network Foundation helps underinsured patients afford the out-of-pocket costs for their prescribed medications. They operate disease-specific funds for many cancer types. In West Virginia, where many patients are on high-deductible plans or Medicare with significant copays, PAN can mean the difference between affording treatment and going without.
- Copay assistance for cancer medications
- Disease-specific funds (check availability)
- Covers deductibles and coinsurance
- Phone application: 1-866-316-7263
Who: Underinsured patients with qualifying diagnoses
Cost: Free (income eligibility applies)
Phone: 1-866-316-7263
Charleston & Kanawha Valley
West Virginia’s capital and largest metro area, home to CAMC Cancer Center and the state’s most concentrated healthcare infrastructure.
CAMC Cancer Center
📍 Charleston
Charleston Area Medical Center’s Cancer Center is the largest cancer treatment facility in southern West Virginia, providing comprehensive oncology services including medical oncology, radiation therapy, surgical oncology, and clinical trials. Their patient navigation program helps patients coordinate care, find financial assistance, and access support services throughout treatment.
- Patient navigators for all cancer types
- Financial counseling and charity care program
- Support groups and survivorship programs
- Clinical trials access
Who: Cancer patients in the Charleston region
Cost: Financial assistance available
Phone: (304) 388-5432
Cancer Support Groups at CAMC
📍 Charleston
CAMC offers multiple cancer support groups including breast cancer, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, and general cancer survivorship groups. These groups meet regularly and provide a safe space for patients and caregivers to share experiences, learn coping strategies, and build connections with others who understand the cancer journey.
- Disease-specific support groups
- General survivorship group
- Caregiver support sessions
- Led by oncology social workers
Who: Cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers
Cost: Free
Phone: (304) 388-5432
CAMC Foundation — Patient Financial Assistance
📍 Charleston
The CAMC Foundation provides financial assistance to patients who cannot afford their medical care, including cancer treatment. Their charity care program covers hospital bills for qualifying patients, and financial counselors work with patients to identify all available assistance programs, negotiate payment plans, and apply for Medicaid or other coverage.
- Charity care for uninsured patients
- Payment plan negotiation
- Insurance enrollment assistance
- Connection to pharmaceutical assistance programs
Who: Patients with financial need
Cost: Free (income eligibility applies)
Kanawha Valley Collective — Community Resources
📍 Charleston and Kanawha County
This collaborative of nonprofits in the Kanawha Valley connects residents to emergency assistance, food, housing, and other resources. Cancer patients in the Charleston area can access a network of services including food pantries, utility assistance, and emergency financial help through a single intake process rather than navigating dozens of separate applications.
- Emergency financial assistance
- Food pantry network coordination
- Utility and rent assistance referrals
- Single-intake resource navigation
Who: Kanawha County residents in need
Cost: Free
VA Medical Center — Beckley (Charleston CBOC)
📍 Charleston (Community-Based Outpatient Clinic)
The Charleston Community-Based Outpatient Clinic serves as a satellite of the Beckley VA Medical Center, providing primary care and specialty referrals to veterans in the Kanawha Valley. Veterans with cancer can access oncology referrals, benefits counseling for service-connected conditions including toxic exposure cancers, and social work support through this location.
- Oncology referrals and care coordination
- Toxic exposure and burn pit cancer registry
- Benefits counseling and disability claims help
- Social work and mental health services
Who: Eligible veterans
Cost: Free or low-cost for eligible veterans
Phone: 1-877-222-8387
KRT — Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority
📍 Charleston metro area
KRT provides public bus service in the Charleston metropolitan area, including paratransit service for individuals with disabilities. Cancer patients who cannot drive due to treatment side effects can use KRT’s fixed routes or apply for paratransit service to reach CAMC and other treatment facilities in the Kanawha Valley.
- Fixed-route bus service in Charleston metro
- Paratransit for individuals with disabilities
- Reduced fares for seniors and persons with disabilities
- Service to major medical facilities
Who: Charleston metro area residents
Cost: Low-cost fares; reduced for seniors/disabled
Covenant House — Charleston
📍 Charleston
Covenant House provides free professional counseling services and support groups in the Charleston area. Their licensed counselors offer individual and group therapy for people dealing with life crises, including cancer diagnoses. They also provide grief counseling for families who have lost loved ones to cancer, with services available on a sliding-scale basis.
- Individual counseling for cancer-related distress
- Grief and bereavement support
- Family counseling
- Sliding-scale fees
Who: Anyone in need of counseling services
Cost: Sliding scale; many services free
WVU Medicine Children’s — Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (Charleston Division)
📍 Charleston
The Charleston division of WVU Medicine Children’s provides pediatric hematology and oncology services, bringing specialized childhood cancer care closer to families in southern West Virginia. Their team includes child life specialists, social workers, and patient navigators who help families manage the emotional and financial toll of a child’s cancer diagnosis.
- Pediatric oncology treatment
- Child life specialists
- Family support and navigation
- Financial counseling for families
Who: Children and adolescents with cancer
Cost: Financial assistance available
Phone: (855) 988-2273
St. Vincent de Paul Society — Charleston
📍 Charleston and Kanawha County
Local conferences of St. Vincent de Paul provide emergency financial assistance for rent, utilities, food, and prescriptions to anyone in need. Cancer patients can request help through their local parish conference — you do not need to be Catholic. Their volunteer-driven model means personal attention and a genuine effort to understand each family’s situation.
- Emergency rent and utility assistance
- Food and prescription help
- No religious requirement
- Personal needs assessment
Who: Anyone in financial need
Cost: Free
Phone: (314) 576-3993
Morgantown & North Central WV
Home to WVU Medicine and the state’s only NCI-designated cancer center, Morgantown serves as the primary cancer treatment hub for northern West Virginia and beyond.
WVU Cancer Institute / Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center
📍 Morgantown
The WVU Cancer Institute, anchored by the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, is West Virginia’s only NCI-designated cancer center and the state’s premier facility for cancer treatment and research. They provide comprehensive cancer care including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, bone marrow transplant, and access to cutting-edge clinical trials. Their patient support services include financial counseling, social work, nutrition counseling, and survivorship programs.
- NCI-designated comprehensive cancer care
- Clinical trials and experimental therapies
- Patient navigators for every cancer type
- Financial counseling and charity care
- Survivorship clinic and wellness programs
Who: All cancer patients (accepts referrals statewide)
Cost: Financial assistance available
Phone: 1-800-227-2345
WVU Cancer Institute — Support Groups
📍 Morgantown
The WVU Cancer Institute offers multiple support groups for patients and caregivers, including breast cancer, gynecologic cancer, head and neck cancer, and general cancer support. Groups are facilitated by oncology social workers and provide a safe space for sharing experiences, coping strategies, and practical tips for living with and beyond cancer.
- Disease-specific support groups
- General cancer support group
- Caregiver support group
- Virtual options available for remote patients
Who: Cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers
Cost: Free
Phone: 1-800-227-2345
WVU Cancer Institute — Patient Lodging Assistance
📍 Morgantown
Patients traveling to Morgantown for cancer treatment at WVU can access lodging assistance through the cancer center’s social work team. They maintain partnerships with local hotels for discounted rates, coordinate with the American Cancer Society’s lodging programs, and help patients find affordable places to stay during multi-day treatment schedules.
- Discounted hotel partnerships
- ACS lodging program referrals
- Social work coordination for housing needs
- Help for patients traveling long distances
Who: WVU Cancer Institute patients traveling for treatment
Cost: Reduced rates; some free options available
Phone: 1-800-227-2345
WVU Medicine Children’s — Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
📍 Morgantown
WVU Medicine Children’s is the primary pediatric cancer treatment center in West Virginia, providing comprehensive care for children with cancer, blood disorders, and solid tumors. Their multidisciplinary team includes pediatric oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, child life specialists, social workers, and psychologists who support the entire family through treatment.
- Full pediatric oncology treatment
- Children’s Oncology Group clinical trials
- Child life and psychosocial support
- Family housing assistance
Who: Children and adolescents with cancer
Cost: Financial assistance available
Phone: (855) 988-2273
Pantry Plus More — Morgantown
📍 Morgantown
Pantry Plus More is a community food pantry in Morgantown that provides fresh produce, proteins, dairy, and pantry staples to families in need. Cancer patients undergoing treatment at WVU who are struggling with food costs can access the pantry weekly. They focus on providing nutritious foods that support health and healing.
- Weekly food distribution
- Fresh produce and proteins
- No documentation required
- Delivery available for homebound individuals
Who: Anyone in the Morgantown area facing food insecurity
Cost: Free
Mountain Line Transit Authority
📍 Morgantown
Mountain Line provides free public bus transportation throughout Morgantown and surrounding areas, including routes that serve WVU Medicine and the cancer center. Cancer patients who cannot drive due to treatment effects can use this zero-fare transit system to reach medical appointments, pharmacies, and grocery stores.
- Free bus service throughout Morgantown
- Routes to WVU Medicine campus
- Paratransit for individuals with disabilities
- No fare required
Who: Anyone in the Morgantown area
Cost: Free
United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties
📍 Morgantown area
The local United Way serves as a hub connecting residents to community resources including financial assistance, food, housing, and health services. Their 211 helpline connects cancer patients to all available local resources through a single phone call, saving families the exhausting process of calling dozens of agencies individually.
- 211 helpline for resource navigation
- Emergency financial assistance programs
- Community resource directory
- Partner agency referrals
Who: Monongalia and Preston County residents
Cost: Free
WVU Cancer Institute — Community Outreach and Engagement
📍 Morgantown (serves statewide)
The WVU Cancer Institute’s outreach team works across West Virginia to reduce cancer disparities through education, screening events, and community partnerships. They deploy health educators to underserved counties, coordinate free screening events, and conduct research on the specific cancer challenges facing Appalachian communities.
- Community cancer education programs
- Free screening events in underserved areas
- Cancer disparity research and interventions
- Partnership with local health departments
Who: West Virginia communities, especially underserved areas
Cost: Free
Phone: 1-800-227-2345
Milan Puskar Health Right
📍 Morgantown
Health Right is a free clinic in Morgantown serving uninsured and underinsured patients. While not a cancer treatment center, they provide primary care, mental health counseling, dental services, and prescription assistance that cancer patients often need alongside their oncology care. Their pharmacy program helps patients access medications at no cost.
- Free primary care for uninsured patients
- Mental health and substance abuse counseling
- Free prescription assistance program
- Dental services
Who: Uninsured residents of north-central WV
Cost: Free
Huntington & Cabell County
West Virginia’s second-largest city, home to Marshall University and Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center, serving the Tri-State area of WV, KY, and OH.
Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center — Marshall Health
📍 Huntington
Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center, affiliated with Marshall University’s Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, provides comprehensive cancer care to patients across the Tri-State region. Their services include medical oncology, radiation therapy, surgical oncology, clinical trials, and a full range of supportive care including patient navigation, financial counseling, social work, and survivorship programs.
- Comprehensive cancer treatment and clinical trials
- Patient navigators and social workers
- Financial counseling and charity care
- Survivorship and wellness programs
Who: Cancer patients in the Tri-State region
Cost: Financial assistance available
Edwards Cancer Center — Support Groups
📍 Huntington
Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center offers several cancer support groups including breast cancer, prostate cancer, and general cancer support. Groups are facilitated by trained professionals and provide emotional support, education, and practical coping strategies. They also offer Look Good Feel Better sessions and art therapy programs for patients.
- Breast cancer and prostate cancer groups
- General cancer support group
- Look Good Feel Better sessions
- Art therapy and creative expression programs
Who: Cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers
Cost: Free
Mountain Health Network
📍 Huntington
Mountain Health Network operates Cabell Huntington Hospital and St. Mary’s Medical Center, providing cancer treatment services and patient support programs in the Huntington area. Their oncology social workers help patients navigate the healthcare system, find financial assistance, and connect with community resources throughout the Tri-State region.
- Cancer treatment at two hospital campuses
- Oncology social work services
- Financial assistance programs
- Community health programs
Who: Patients in the Huntington/Tri-State area
Cost: Financial assistance available
Hershel “Woody” Williams VA Medical Center
📍 Huntington
The Huntington VA Medical Center provides comprehensive healthcare for veterans in the Tri-State region, including oncology services, chemotherapy, and referrals for specialized cancer treatment. Their social work department helps veterans with cancer navigate VA benefits, apply for service-connected disability for toxic exposure cancers, and access community resources.
- Oncology services and chemotherapy
- PACT Act toxic exposure cancer support
- Benefits counseling and claims assistance
- Transportation services for veterans
Who: Eligible veterans
Cost: Free or low-cost for eligible veterans
Phone: 1-877-222-8387
Huntington City Mission
📍 Huntington
The Huntington City Mission provides meals, emergency shelter, and support services to individuals and families in crisis. Cancer patients who have lost housing or income due to their diagnosis can access meals, temporary shelter, and case management to help stabilize their situation while undergoing treatment.
- Free meals served daily
- Emergency shelter
- Case management and resource navigation
- Clothing and hygiene supplies
Who: Anyone in crisis
Cost: Free
Cabell-Huntington Coalition for the Homeless
📍 Huntington
This coalition coordinates services for individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the Huntington area. Cancer patients facing eviction or housing instability due to medical bills can access emergency housing assistance, rapid rehousing programs, and connections to other support services through their coordinated entry system.
- Emergency housing assistance
- Rapid rehousing programs
- Coordinated entry for homeless services
- Utility and rent assistance referrals
Who: Individuals and families at risk of homelessness
Cost: Free
Tri-State Transit Authority (TTA)
📍 Huntington metro area
TTA provides public bus transportation in the Huntington-Ashland metropolitan area, crossing into Kentucky and Ohio. Cancer patients can use fixed routes to reach Cabell Huntington Hospital, Edwards Cancer Center, and the VA Medical Center. Paratransit service is available for individuals with disabilities who cannot use fixed-route buses.
- Fixed-route bus service in Tri-State metro
- Paratransit for individuals with disabilities
- Routes serving major medical facilities
- Reduced fares for seniors and disabled riders
Who: Tri-State area residents
Cost: Low-cost fares
Prestera Center for Mental Health
📍 Huntington (multiple locations)
Prestera Center is the largest behavioral health provider in southern West Virginia, serving 8 counties. They provide individual and group counseling, crisis services, and substance abuse treatment. Cancer patients dealing with depression, anxiety, or the intersection of cancer and the opioid crisis can access mental health support regardless of ability to pay.
- Individual and group counseling
- Crisis stabilization services
- Substance abuse treatment
- Sliding-scale fees based on income
Who: Anyone needing mental health services
Cost: Sliding scale; Medicaid accepted
Wheeling & Northern Panhandle
The narrow strip of West Virginia between Pennsylvania and Ohio, with close ties to Pittsburgh’s world-class cancer centers.
WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital — Cancer Center
📍 Wheeling
Now part of the WVU Medicine system, Wheeling Hospital’s Cancer Center provides medical oncology, radiation therapy, and cancer surgery to patients in the Northern Panhandle. Their oncology social workers help patients navigate treatment, find financial assistance, and coordinate care with Pittsburgh-area cancer centers when specialized treatment is needed.
- Medical oncology and radiation therapy
- Patient navigation and social work
- Financial counseling and charity care
- Referral coordination with Pittsburgh cancer centers
Who: Cancer patients in the Northern Panhandle
Cost: Financial assistance available
Phone: (855) 988-2273
Wheeling Health Right
📍 Wheeling
Wheeling Health Right is a free clinic providing primary care, dental care, mental health services, and prescription assistance to uninsured and underinsured residents of the Northern Panhandle. Cancer patients without insurance can access free medications through their pharmacy program, mental health counseling, and referrals to oncology specialists.
- Free primary care and dental services
- Prescription assistance program
- Mental health counseling
- Referrals to specialty care including oncology
Who: Uninsured/underinsured residents of the Northern Panhandle
Cost: Free
Catholic Charities of Wheeling-Charleston — Food Programs
📍 Wheeling and throughout the diocese
Catholic Charities operates food pantries, emergency assistance programs, and social services across the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. Cancer patients facing food insecurity can access their pantries without religious requirements. They also provide emergency financial assistance for utilities, rent, and prescriptions to families in crisis.
- Food pantries across northern WV
- Emergency financial assistance
- Utility and rent help
- No religious requirement
Who: Anyone in need
Cost: Free
United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley
📍 Wheeling and Ohio County
The Upper Ohio Valley United Way funds and coordinates community programs including emergency financial assistance, health services, and basic needs support. Their 211 line connects cancer patients to all available local resources. They also fund partner agencies that provide transportation, food, and utility assistance to families in crisis.
- 211 resource helpline
- Emergency assistance fund
- Partner agency referrals
- Community resource coordination
Who: Upper Ohio Valley residents
Cost: Free
Ohio Valley Regional Transportation Authority (OVRTA)
📍 Wheeling metro area
OVRTA provides public bus service in the Wheeling metropolitan area with routes connecting to Wheeling Hospital, medical offices, and pharmacies. Their demand-response service helps patients in areas not served by fixed routes, and paratransit is available for individuals with disabilities who need door-to-door transportation to cancer treatments.
- Fixed-route bus service in Wheeling metro
- Demand-response service for rural areas
- Paratransit for individuals with disabilities
- Routes to medical facilities
Who: Wheeling metro area residents
Cost: Low-cost fares
Northwood Health Systems
📍 Wheeling (serves 7 counties)
Northwood Health Systems provides behavioral health and intellectual disability services across seven counties in the Northern Panhandle. Cancer patients dealing with depression, anxiety, or substance use issues alongside their diagnosis can access counseling, psychiatric services, and crisis intervention regardless of insurance status.
- Individual and group counseling
- Psychiatric services
- Crisis intervention
- Substance abuse treatment
Who: Residents of the 7-county service area
Cost: Sliding scale; Medicaid accepted
Beckley & Southern WV
The heart of West Virginia’s coalfields, where cancer rates are among the highest in the nation and healthcare access is most limited.
Beckley ARH Hospital — Cancer Services
📍 Beckley
Beckley ARH (Appalachian Regional Healthcare) Hospital provides cancer treatment services to patients in the southern West Virginia coalfields. Their oncology department offers chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgical services, with patient navigators who understand the specific challenges facing cancer patients in this region — from transportation barriers to financial hardship rooted in the coal industry’s decline.
- Medical oncology and chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Patient navigation and social work
- Financial assistance programs
Who: Cancer patients in southern WV
Cost: Financial assistance available
Beckley VA Medical Center
📍 Beckley
The Beckley VA Medical Center serves veterans across southern West Virginia with comprehensive healthcare including oncology services, chemotherapy, and specialty referrals. Many veterans in this region worked in coal mines after military service, compounding their cancer risk. The VA’s social work team helps navigate benefits for both service-connected and coal exposure-related cancers.
- Oncology services and chemotherapy
- PACT Act toxic exposure cancer support
- Benefits counseling and disability claims
- Transportation to VA appointments
Who: Eligible veterans
Cost: Free or low-cost for eligible veterans
Phone: 1-877-222-8387
Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center
📍 Beckley (serves 4 counties)
Southern Highlands serves Raleigh, Fayette, Summers, and Nicholas counties with mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, and crisis services. Cancer patients in the southern coalfields who are struggling with depression, anxiety, or substance use issues can access counseling and psychiatric services. Their team understands the intersection of the opioid crisis, poverty, and cancer in this region.
- Individual and group counseling
- Crisis intervention services
- Substance abuse treatment
- Case management and resource navigation
Who: Residents of Raleigh, Fayette, Summers, and Nicholas counties
Cost: Sliding scale; Medicaid accepted
Fayette County Community Action — Food Programs
📍 Fayetteville and Fayette County
Fayette County Community Action operates food pantries, commodity distribution, and emergency assistance programs for residents of Fayette County. Cancer patients in this rural area can access food, utility assistance, and other emergency support. Their outreach workers can also help with Medicaid applications and connect families to additional resources.
- Food pantry and commodity distribution
- Emergency utility and rent assistance
- Medicaid application assistance
- Outreach worker home visits
Who: Fayette County residents in need
Cost: Free
Black Lung Clinics — Southern WV
📍 Multiple locations in southern WV
For coal miners and former miners diagnosed with lung cancer, WV’s network of black lung clinics provides pulmonary evaluations, treatment coordination, and help filing federal black lung benefits claims. Many coal miners develop lung cancer alongside black lung disease, and these clinics understand the complex intersection of occupational exposure and cancer in the coalfields.
- Pulmonary evaluations for miners
- Black lung benefits claims assistance
- Coordination with oncology care
- Legal referrals for occupational exposure cases
Who: Current and former coal miners
Cost: Free for eligible miners
Phone: 1-866-487-2365
Community Action of South Eastern WV (CASE)
📍 Lewisburg and Greenbrier County
CASE provides emergency assistance, housing services, and community programs for low-income residents in Greenbrier, Monroe, and Pocahontas counties. Cancer patients in these remote rural areas can access utility assistance, emergency food, weatherization services, and case management. Their staff helps navigate the maze of available assistance programs.
- Emergency utility and rent assistance
- Food distribution programs
- Case management and resource navigation
- Weatherization and home repair
Who: Low-income residents of Greenbrier, Monroe, and Pocahontas counties
Cost: Free (income eligibility applies)
New River Transit Authority
📍 Beckley and Raleigh County
New River Transit provides public bus service in the Beckley area and demand-response transportation in surrounding counties. For cancer patients in southern WV without personal transportation, this service connects them to Beckley ARH Hospital, the VA Medical Center, and other medical facilities. Paratransit is available for individuals with disabilities.
- Fixed-route service in Beckley
- Demand-response service in surrounding areas
- Paratransit for individuals with disabilities
- Routes to medical facilities
Who: Southern WV residents
Cost: Low-cost fares
Raleigh County Community Action Association
📍 Beckley and Raleigh County
This community action agency provides emergency assistance, food programs, and social services for low-income families in Raleigh County. Cancer patients can access utility assistance (LIEAP), food distribution, emergency shelter referrals, and help applying for Medicaid and other benefit programs. Their staff meets people where they are, including home visits for homebound patients.
- LIEAP utility assistance
- Emergency food distribution
- Benefits enrollment assistance
- Home visits for homebound individuals
Who: Low-income Raleigh County residents
Cost: Free
Parkersburg & Mid-Ohio Valley
A region marked by chemical industry legacy, including C8/PFOA contamination, with growing cancer concerns and limited oncology resources.
WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center — Cancer Services
📍 Parkersburg
Camden Clark Medical Center, part of the WVU Medicine system, provides cancer treatment services in the Mid-Ohio Valley. Their oncology department offers chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgical services, with patient navigators and social workers who help patients manage the complexities of cancer treatment in a region still reckoning with the health impacts of decades of chemical industry contamination.
- Medical oncology and chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Patient navigation and social work
- Financial counseling and charity care
Who: Cancer patients in the Mid-Ohio Valley
Cost: Financial assistance available
Phone: (855) 988-2273
Cancer Support Group — Camden Clark
📍 Parkersburg
Camden Clark Medical Center hosts cancer support groups for patients and caregivers in the Parkersburg area. These groups provide emotional support, education about coping strategies, and a community of people who understand the cancer experience. In a region where many residents have been affected by environmental contamination concerns, these groups also address the unique anxiety of living in a community with elevated cancer risk.
- General cancer support group
- Breast cancer support group
- Caregiver support sessions
- Facilitated by oncology professionals
Who: Cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers
Cost: Free
Phone: (855) 988-2273
C8 Health Project — PFOA Exposure Resources
📍 Parkersburg and Mid-Ohio Valley
The C8 Health Project emerged from the landmark settlement over PFOA (C8) contamination from DuPont’s Washington Works plant near Parkersburg. Residents in six affected water districts are eligible for ongoing medical monitoring, including cancer screenings for kidney, testicular, and other cancers linked to PFOA exposure. If you lived or worked in the affected area, you may be eligible for free medical monitoring.
- Free medical monitoring for C8-exposed residents
- Cancer screening for PFOA-linked cancers
- Health tracking and follow-up care
- Information about exposure-related health rights
Who: Residents of six PFOA-affected water districts
Cost: Free for eligible participants
Family Crisis Intervention Center — Parkersburg
📍 Parkersburg
The FCIC provides emergency assistance, crisis counseling, and support services for individuals and families in the Parkersburg area. Cancer patients facing financial crisis can access emergency food, utility assistance, and referrals to other community resources. They also provide counseling for families dealing with the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis.
- Emergency food and financial assistance
- Crisis counseling
- Utility assistance referrals
- Community resource navigation
Who: Individuals and families in crisis
Cost: Free
Westbrook Health Services
📍 Parkersburg (serves 5 counties)
Westbrook Health Services provides mental health and substance abuse services across five counties in the Mid-Ohio Valley. Cancer patients dealing with depression, anxiety, or substance use issues can access individual counseling, group therapy, psychiatric services, and crisis stabilization. They accept Medicaid and offer sliding-scale fees.
- Individual and group counseling
- Psychiatric services
- Crisis stabilization
- Substance abuse treatment
Who: Residents of the 5-county service area
Cost: Sliding scale; Medicaid accepted
Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority
📍 Parkersburg area
MOVTA provides public bus and demand-response transportation in the Parkersburg area, including routes to Camden Clark Medical Center and other healthcare facilities. Cancer patients who cannot drive can use their services to reach treatment appointments, with paratransit available for those with disabilities.
- Fixed-route bus service
- Demand-response transportation
- Paratransit services
- Routes to medical facilities
Who: Parkersburg area residents
Cost: Low-cost fares
Martinsburg & Eastern Panhandle
The fastest-growing region in West Virginia, with closer ties to the DC/Baltimore metro area and access to Maryland and Virginia cancer centers.
WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center — Cancer Services
📍 Martinsburg
Berkeley Medical Center, part of the WVU Medicine network, provides cancer treatment services in the Eastern Panhandle. Their oncology team offers chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgical services, with patient navigation to help coordinate care. Their proximity to the DC metro area means patients can also access world-class cancer centers in Maryland and Virginia with relative ease.
- Medical oncology and chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Patient navigation and social work
- Coordination with regional cancer centers
Who: Cancer patients in the Eastern Panhandle
Cost: Financial assistance available
Phone: (855) 988-2273
Martinsburg VA Medical Center
📍 Martinsburg
The Martinsburg VA Medical Center provides comprehensive healthcare to veterans in the Eastern Panhandle and surrounding areas of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Their oncology services include chemotherapy, referrals to VA cancer centers, and the full range of veteran benefits support including PACT Act toxic exposure claims for veterans with cancer linked to burn pits or other military exposures.
- Oncology services and chemotherapy
- PACT Act and toxic exposure claims assistance
- Social work and benefits counseling
- Referrals to DC-area VA cancer specialists
Who: Eligible veterans
Cost: Free or low-cost for eligible veterans
Phone: 1-877-222-8387
Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Community (EPEC)
📍 Martinsburg and Eastern Panhandle
EPEC provides food assistance, emergency financial help, and community services in Berkeley and Jefferson counties. Cancer patients in the Eastern Panhandle can access their food pantry, utility assistance programs, and back-to-school supplies for families managing the financial strain of cancer treatment. They collaborate with other agencies to maximize support for each family.
- Food pantry and emergency food boxes
- Utility assistance programs
- Emergency financial assistance
- Referrals to partner agencies
Who: Eastern Panhandle residents in need
Cost: Free
Eastern Panhandle Transit Authority (EPTA)
📍 Martinsburg, Berkeley, and Jefferson counties
EPTA provides public bus and demand-response transportation in the Eastern Panhandle. Their routes serve Berkeley Medical Center and other medical facilities in the Martinsburg area. Cancer patients who need transportation to treatment can use their fixed routes or arrange demand-response rides with advance notice.
- Fixed-route bus service in Martinsburg
- Demand-response service in rural areas
- Paratransit for individuals with disabilities
- Routes to medical facilities
Who: Eastern Panhandle residents
Cost: Low-cost fares
Eastern WV Community & Technical College — Community Education
📍 Moorefield and Eastern WV
Eastern WV Community & Technical College partners with local health departments to provide health education and cancer awareness programs in the rural communities of the Potomac Highlands. Their community education programs include cancer screening promotion, health literacy workshops, and wellness programming that reaches some of the most isolated communities in the state.
- Cancer screening awareness campaigns
- Health literacy workshops
- Community wellness programming
- Partnership with local health departments
Who: Eastern WV community members
Cost: Free
Hospice of the Panhandle
📍 Martinsburg (serves Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan counties)
Hospice of the Panhandle provides end-of-life care, palliative support, and grief counseling for patients and families in the Eastern Panhandle. Their services include home-based hospice care, respite care for caregivers, bereavement support groups, and children’s grief programs. All grief and bereavement services are open to the community regardless of hospice enrollment.
- Home-based hospice care
- Palliative care consultations
- Grief and bereavement support groups
- Respite care for caregivers
Who: Patients with serious illness and their families
Cost: Covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most insurance; grief services free
Rural Appalachian WV
Resources serving West Virginia’s most remote communities — from the coalfields of McDowell and Mingo counties to the Potomac Highlands — where cancer patients face the greatest barriers to care.
Cabin Creek Health Systems
📍 Multiple locations (Kanawha, Clay, Boone, Putnam counties)
Cabin Creek Health Systems is a federally qualified health center (FQHC) serving rural communities along the Kanawha River and surrounding hollows. They provide primary care, behavioral health, dental care, and pharmacy services on a sliding-fee scale. For cancer patients in these isolated communities, Cabin Creek serves as a critical link to oncology referrals, screening coordination, and medication management between cancer treatments.
- Primary care and cancer screening referrals
- Sliding-fee scale for uninsured patients
- Behavioral health and substance abuse counseling
- 340B pharmacy program for low-cost medications
Who: Anyone, regardless of insurance status
Cost: Sliding scale based on income
Tug River Health Association
📍 Gary, Northfork, and surrounding communities (McDowell, Mingo counties)
Tug River Health Association is an FQHC serving some of the most impoverished communities in the nation — the coal towns of McDowell and Mingo counties where poverty rates exceed 30% and cancer rates are staggering. They provide primary care, cancer screening referrals, behavioral health, and pharmacy services in communities where the nearest hospital may be an hour away.
- Primary care in the most remote coalfield communities
- Cancer screening coordination and referrals
- Sliding-fee pharmacy
- Behavioral health services
Who: Anyone, regardless of insurance
Cost: Sliding scale based on income
Williamson Health and Wellness Center
📍 Williamson (Mingo County)
The Williamson Health and Wellness Center is an FQHC that has become a nationally recognized model for community health in rural Appalachia. In a town devastated by the decline of coal and the opioid epidemic, they provide primary care, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services. For cancer patients in Mingo County, they coordinate screening, referrals, and medication management.
- Primary care and chronic disease management
- Cancer screening coordination
- Behavioral health and addiction services
- Community wellness programs
Who: Anyone, regardless of insurance
Cost: Sliding scale based on income
Minnie Hamilton Health System
📍 Grantsville (Calhoun County)
Minnie Hamilton Health System is a critical access hospital and FQHC in Calhoun County, one of West Virginia’s most rural and underserved counties. They provide primary care, emergency services, and specialty referrals for cancer patients who would otherwise have to drive over an hour to reach oncology services. Their pharmacy and financial counseling programs help patients manage medication costs.
- Critical access hospital services
- Primary care and cancer screening
- Specialty care referrals and coordination
- Pharmacy assistance programs
Who: Calhoun County and surrounding area residents
Cost: Sliding scale; financial assistance available
Pocahontas Memorial Hospital
📍 Buckeye (Pocahontas County)
Pocahontas Memorial Hospital is a critical access hospital serving one of West Virginia’s most rural and mountainous counties. Cancer patients in the Potomac Highlands face some of the longest travel times in the state to reach oncology care. The hospital’s primary care team coordinates cancer screening, referrals, and follow-up care, and their financial counselors help patients navigate insurance and assistance programs.
- Primary care and cancer screening
- Referral coordination to regional cancer centers
- Financial counseling
- Telemedicine services for remote consultations
Who: Pocahontas County and surrounding area residents
Cost: Sliding scale; financial assistance available
WV Community Action Partnerships (WVCAP)
📍 Statewide (local agencies in every county)
West Virginia’s network of Community Action Agencies serves every county in the state with food assistance, energy assistance (LIEAP), housing programs, and emergency financial help. For cancer patients in rural areas where no other services exist, their local community action agency may be the only source of help with utility bills, food, and basic necessities during treatment.
- LIEAP energy assistance
- Emergency food distribution
- Housing and weatherization programs
- Case management and resource navigation
Who: Low-income residents in every WV county
Cost: Free (income eligibility applies)
West Virginia Rural Health Association
📍 Statewide
The WV Rural Health Association advocates for improved healthcare access in the state’s rural communities. They maintain a directory of rural health clinics and critical access hospitals, promote telehealth expansion, and work to recruit healthcare providers to underserved areas. For cancer patients in remote communities, they can help identify the nearest available services and connect patients to telehealth options.
- Rural health clinic directory
- Telehealth resource information
- Healthcare access advocacy
- Provider recruitment for underserved areas
Who: Rural WV communities
Cost: Free
WV Bureau of Senior Services — Aging and Disability Resource Network
📍 Statewide
West Virginia’s Aging and Disability Resource Network connects older adults and people with disabilities to home and community-based services including home-delivered meals, personal care assistance, respite care for caregivers, and transportation. For elderly cancer patients in rural areas who need help at home during treatment, these services can mean the difference between staying in their home and institutional placement.
- Home-delivered meals (Meals on Wheels)
- In-home personal care assistance
- Respite care for family caregivers
- Transportation to medical appointments
Who: Adults 60+ and people with disabilities
Cost: Free or sliding scale
Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center
📍 Whitesburg, KY (serves WV coalfield communities)
While based in Kentucky, the Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center serves coal miners and coalfield families across the Central Appalachian region, including southern West Virginia. They provide free legal representation for black lung benefits claims, which is critical for coal miners diagnosed with lung cancer alongside occupational lung disease. They also advocate for environmental justice in communities affected by coal and chemical industry contamination.
- Free legal help for black lung benefits claims
- Environmental justice advocacy
- Workers’ rights legal assistance
- Community education about occupational exposure rights
Who: Coal miners and coalfield families in Central Appalachia
Cost: Free
WV Public Transit — Rural County Services
📍 Various rural counties statewide
Several rural WV counties operate demand-response transit services that can transport patients to medical appointments, including cancer treatment. These services typically require advance scheduling and may have limited hours, but for patients in counties with no other transportation options, they provide an essential lifeline. Contact your county’s transit provider or call 211 to find your local service.
- Demand-response medical transportation
- Door-to-door service in many rural counties
- Advance scheduling required (usually 24-48 hours)
- Call 211 to find your county’s service
Who: Rural WV residents needing medical transportation
Cost: Low-cost or free for medical appointments
West Virginia Health Information Network (WVHIN)
📍 Statewide
WVHIN is West Virginia’s health information exchange, helping ensure that cancer patients’ medical records are accessible to all their providers across the state’s fragmented healthcare system. When a rural patient sees their primary care doctor, an oncologist in Charleston, and a specialist in Morgantown, WVHIN helps ensure each provider has access to the same medical history, test results, and treatment plans.
- Statewide health information exchange
- Medical record sharing across providers
- Coordination of care across facilities
- Patient portal access
Who: All WV healthcare providers and patients
Cost: Free for patients
WV FREE (Focus on Rural and Environmental Education)
📍 Statewide
WV FREE advocates for reproductive health access and women’s health equity across the state. They provide health education, advocate for cancer screening coverage, and connect women in rural communities to breast and cervical cancer screening resources. Their community health workers reach women in counties where access to gynecologic and breast cancer screening is most limited.
- Cancer screening education and referrals
- Women’s health advocacy
- Community health worker outreach
- Health policy advocacy for screening access
Who: Women across West Virginia
Cost: Free
Good Shepherd Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers
📍 Multiple rural WV counties
Good Shepherd volunteer caregiver programs operate in several rural WV counties, providing free practical assistance to elderly, disabled, and seriously ill residents. Trained volunteers offer transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping, light housekeeping, friendly visiting, and respite for family caregivers. For cancer patients isolated in rural hollows, a Good Shepherd volunteer may be the only regular visitor they see.
- Volunteer transportation to appointments
- Grocery shopping and errands
- Friendly visiting and companionship
- Respite for family caregivers
Who: Elderly, disabled, and seriously ill residents
Cost: Free
WV Caring — Hospice and Palliative Care
📍 Elkins (serves 16 counties)
WV Caring provides hospice and palliative care across 16 counties in central and eastern West Virginia. They bring end-of-life care directly to patients’ homes in some of the most remote communities in the state, where traveling to a facility for palliative care would be impossible. Their bereavement services support families for 13 months following a loss and are open to anyone in the community.
- Home-based hospice care in 16 counties
- Palliative care for serious illness
- Bereavement support for 13 months
- Caregiver education and respite
Who: Patients with serious illness and their families
Cost: Covered by Medicare, Medicaid, most insurance; bereavement services free
Shenandoah Valley Medical System
📍 Multiple locations in the Potomac Highlands
Shenandoah Valley Medical System is an FQHC serving the rural Potomac Highlands of eastern West Virginia. They provide primary care, behavioral health, dental, and pharmacy services in communities where the nearest oncologist may be in Virginia or Maryland. Their team coordinates cancer screening referrals and helps patients navigate the complex process of accessing treatment across state lines.
- Primary care and cancer screening
- Sliding-fee pharmacy
- Cross-state referral coordination
- Behavioral health services
Who: Anyone, regardless of insurance
Cost: Sliding scale based on income
Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) — Health Programs
📍 Statewide (all of WV is in the Appalachian region)
The Appalachian Regional Commission funds health programs across West Virginia, including cancer prevention, screening, and treatment access initiatives. ARC grants support community health workers, telehealth expansion, and transportation programs that help cancer patients in the most underserved Appalachian communities access care. West Virginia is the only state entirely within the ARC’s service area.
- Cancer prevention and screening grants
- Telehealth expansion funding
- Community health worker programs
- Transportation infrastructure grants
Who: Appalachian communities (all of WV)
Cost: Free (grant-funded programs)
Phone: (202) 884-7700
Mountain Mission — Charleston
📍 Charleston (serves statewide through programs)
Mountain Mission provides emergency financial assistance, food, and household goods to families in need across West Virginia. Their thrift stores throughout the state provide deeply discounted clothing and household items, and their emergency assistance programs help with rent, utilities, and prescription costs. Cancer patients can call to request assistance regardless of location.
- Emergency financial assistance
- Food assistance
- Thrift stores with deeply discounted goods
- Prescription cost assistance
Who: Anyone in need
Cost: Free
Make-A-Wish — Greater Virginia (serves WV)
📍 Statewide
Make-A-Wish grants wishes to children ages 2.5-17 with critical illnesses, including cancer. For West Virginia children battling cancer, a wish experience provides hope, strength, and joy during an incredibly difficult time. Medical professionals, parents, or the children themselves can initiate the referral process.
- Wish granting for children with cancer
- Referral by medical team, parents, or self
- Ages 2.5-17 with qualifying diagnosis
- Full wish experience coordinated by volunteers
Who: Children ages 2.5-17 with critical illness
Cost: Free
Phone: 1-800-722-9474
HealthWell Foundation
📍 Nationwide (serves WV residents)
The HealthWell Foundation provides financial assistance to underinsured patients for prescription copays, premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance. They operate disease-specific funds covering many cancer types. For West Virginia patients struggling with the out-of-pocket costs of cancer medications, HealthWell can provide thousands of dollars in annual assistance.
- Prescription copay assistance
- Premium and deductible help
- Disease-specific cancer funds
- Phone and online application
Who: Underinsured patients with qualifying diagnoses
Cost: Free (income eligibility applies)
Phone: (800) 675-8416
NeedyMeds — Prescription Assistance
📍 Nationwide (serves WV residents)
NeedyMeds maintains a comprehensive database of patient assistance programs, drug discount programs, and free clinic listings. West Virginia cancer patients can search by medication name to find manufacturer assistance programs, copay cards, and other resources to reduce the cost of cancer drugs. Their drug discount card is accepted at pharmacies statewide.
- Searchable database of patient assistance programs
- Free drug discount card
- Manufacturer patient assistance program listings
- Free and low-cost clinic finder
Who: Anyone needing medication cost assistance
Cost: Free
Phone: 1-800-503-6897
Cancer Support Community — Online Services
📍 Nationwide (online, serves WV residents)
Cancer Support Community provides free online support groups, educational workshops, and individual counseling for cancer patients and caregivers. In a state where many patients live hours from the nearest in-person support group and broadband access is limited, their phone-based support groups are especially valuable. Their Cancer Support Helpline connects patients to trained counselors and resource navigators.
- Online and phone-based support groups
- Individual counseling by phone
- Cancer Support Helpline: 1-888-793-9355
- Educational workshops and resource navigation
Who: Cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers
Cost: Free
Phone: 1-888-793-9355
Stupid Cancer — Young Adult Cancer Support
📍 Nationwide (online, serves WV residents)
Stupid Cancer is the largest young adult cancer advocacy organization in the country, providing online support, education, and community for cancer patients and survivors ages 15-39. For young adults in West Virginia diagnosed with cancer, their online meetups, podcasts, and peer-to-peer connections provide a community of people who understand the unique challenges of cancer at a young age.
- Online support meetups for young adults
- Peer-to-peer matching
- Educational resources for AYA cancers
- Advocacy and awareness programs
Who: Cancer patients and survivors ages 15-39
Cost: Free
Phone: 1-800-227-2345
Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic
📍 Serves WV patients needing air travel to treatment
Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic coordinates free air transportation for patients who need to travel to distant treatment centers. For West Virginia cancer patients who need specialized care at NCI-designated cancer centers in other states — such as those in Pittsburgh, Columbus, or the DC area — Angel Flight can arrange free flights with volunteer pilots, eliminating the barrier of a 4-6 hour drive over mountain roads.
- Free air transportation for medical treatment
- Volunteer pilot network
- Covers patients and one companion
- Must be ambulatory and medically stable for flight
Who: Patients needing air travel to treatment (financial need)
Cost: Free
WV Family Caregiver Support Program
📍 Statewide (through Area Agencies on Aging)
The WV Family Caregiver Support Program provides assistance to family caregivers of older adults and chronically ill individuals, including cancer patients. Services include caregiver training, respite care, counseling, and supplemental support such as home modifications and assistive devices. Contact your regional Area Agency on Aging to access these services.
- Respite care for family caregivers
- Caregiver training and education
- Counseling and support groups
- Supplemental services (home mods, supplies)
Who: Family caregivers of adults 60+ or chronically ill individuals
Cost: Free
WV SNAP and WIC Programs
📍 Statewide (through DHHR offices)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program provide food assistance to low-income families. Cancer patients who have lost income or face increased expenses due to treatment may qualify for SNAP benefits to help cover food costs. WIC serves pregnant and postpartum women and children under 5 in families affected by cancer.
- Monthly food assistance benefits (SNAP)
- Nutrition assistance for mothers and young children (WIC)
- Application through local DHHR offices
- Online application available
Who: Low-income individuals and families
Cost: Free
Phone: (304) 558-0684
Mountain State Justice
📍 Charleston (serves statewide)
Mountain State Justice provides free civil legal services to low-income West Virginians, focusing on consumer protection, public benefits, and housing. Cancer patients can get legal help with Medicaid and disability denials, medical debt issues, housing discrimination, and debt collection defense. Their lawyers understand the financial devastation that cancer causes in low-income households.
- Medicaid and disability appeals
- Medical debt defense
- Consumer protection advocacy
- Housing and employment rights
Who: Low-income WV residents
Cost: Free
Appalachian Power — Medical Certificate Program
📍 AEP service area in southern WV
Cancer patients in Appalachian Power’s service area can obtain a medical certificate from their physician to prevent utility disconnection during active treatment. This program provides temporary shutoff protection for households where a member has a serious medical condition that requires continuous electric service. Ask your oncology team to provide the required medical certificate.
- Temporary shutoff protection during treatment
- Medical certificate from physician required
- Renewable for ongoing treatment
- Does not eliminate the bill but prevents disconnection
Who: AEP customers with serious medical conditions
Cost: Free (bill still accrues)
WV Veterans Assistance League
📍 Statewide
The WV Veterans Assistance League provides emergency financial assistance to veterans and their families, including those dealing with cancer. They help with utility bills, rent, food, and transportation costs. For veterans who have cancer and are struggling financially, they can provide bridge assistance while VA benefits applications are processed.
- Emergency financial assistance for veterans
- Utility and rent help
- Food and transportation assistance
- Bridge funding during VA claims processing
Who: WV veterans and their families
Cost: Free
Phone: 1-877-222-8387
WV 211 — Statewide Information and Referral
📍 Statewide
Dial 2-1-1 from any phone in West Virginia to reach trained specialists who can connect you to local resources for food, housing, transportation, financial assistance, healthcare, and more. Available 24/7 in multiple languages, 211 is often the fastest way to find help near you. Cancer patients can describe their needs and receive referrals tailored to their location and situation.
- 24/7 helpline: dial 2-1-1
- Multilingual specialists
- Comprehensive local resource database
- Referrals for all basic needs
Who: Anyone in West Virginia
Cost: Free
Joe’s House — Lodging Near Treatment Centers
📍 Nationwide (searchable database)
Joe’s House maintains a searchable database of affordable lodging near cancer treatment centers nationwide. For West Virginia patients who must travel to Pittsburgh, Columbus, or other cities for specialized treatment, Joe’s House helps find hotels, hospitality houses, and other accommodations at reduced rates. This is a critical resource in a state where most cancer patients must travel significant distances for care.
- Searchable lodging database by treatment center
- Reduced-rate hotels and hospitality houses
- Free lodging options when available
- Information about lodging assistance programs
Who: Cancer patients traveling for treatment
Cost: Free to search; lodging costs vary
Phone: 1-877-563-7468
WV Tobacco Quitline
📍 Statewide
West Virginia has one of the highest smoking rates in the nation, and quitting tobacco is one of the most important things a cancer patient can do to improve treatment outcomes and reduce recurrence risk. The WV Tobacco Quitline provides free coaching, quit plans, and nicotine replacement therapy to anyone ready to quit. Especially important for cancer patients whose oncologists recommend cessation.
- Free quit coaching by phone
- Free nicotine replacement therapy (patches, gum, lozenges)
- Personalized quit plans
- Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669)
Who: Anyone ready to quit tobacco
Cost: Free
Phone: 1-800-784-8669
Salvation Army — West Virginia
📍 Multiple locations statewide
The Salvation Army operates service units across West Virginia providing emergency financial assistance for rent, utilities, food, and prescriptions. Cancer patients in financial crisis can contact their nearest Salvation Army location for immediate help. They also provide seasonal assistance programs and clothing vouchers.
- Emergency rent and utility assistance
- Food pantry and meal programs
- Prescription assistance
- Clothing and household goods
Who: Anyone in financial need
Cost: Free
Phone: 1-800-725-2769
Hospice Care Corporation — Huntington
📍 Huntington (serves southwestern WV)
Hospice Care Corporation provides home-based hospice, palliative care, and grief support services in southwestern West Virginia. Their team of nurses, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers provides comfort care in patients’ homes, including the most remote hollers of the coalfield counties. Bereavement services are open to anyone in the community.
- Home-based hospice care
- Palliative care consultations
- Bereavement support groups
- Caregiver respite and education
Who: Patients with life-limiting illness and their families
Cost: Covered by Medicare, Medicaid, most insurance; grief services free
WV Primary Care Association — FQHC Network
📍 Statewide (30+ health centers)
The WV Primary Care Association supports a network of over 30 federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) across the state. These centers provide primary care, behavioral health, dental, and pharmacy services on a sliding-fee scale regardless of insurance status. For cancer patients in areas without an oncologist, their local FQHC serves as the primary link to cancer screening, referrals, and medication management.
- 30+ health center locations statewide
- Sliding-fee scale for all patients
- Cancer screening and referral coordination
- 340B pharmacy discounts
Who: Anyone, regardless of insurance
Cost: Sliding scale based on income
Explore support in nearby states: Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, or browse all states.
Not Sure Where to Start?
- Call 2-1-1 — free, 24/7, multilingual. They connect you to local programs anywhere in West Virginia.
- Call 1-800-227-2345 — American Cancer Society specialists help with rides, lodging, support groups, and financial aid.
- Talk to your care team — ask for a social worker or patient navigator. That is literally their job.
- Search cancerfac.org — filter by diagnosis and need.
- Bookmark this page. Share it. Come back anytime.