Cancer Support Resources in Maryland

Maryland is one of the most economically and geographically diverse states in the country, and that diversity creates a cancer care landscape that looks very different depending on where you live. The state packs an unusual range of communities into a small footprint: a major East Coast city with deep racial health disparities, some of the wealthiest suburbs in the nation, a rural agricultural and watermen’s economy on the Eastern Shore, mountain communities to the west, and a concentration of federal government and military activity that doesn’t exist anywhere else.

Baltimore City sits at the center of Maryland’s cancer equity challenge. Neighborhoods in east and west Baltimore have cancer mortality rates that significantly exceed the state average — driven by late-stage diagnoses, barriers to consistent care, high uninsured rates, and the layered effects of poverty and limited access to preventive services. Despite being home to Johns Hopkins Hospital and the University of Maryland Medical System — both nationally recognized for cancer care — Baltimore’s most underserved residents do not automatically benefit from that proximity. Insurance barriers, transportation, lack of patient navigation, and distrust of the healthcare system are all real factors. Community-based organizations and hospital outreach programs work to bridge these gaps, and several are listed in this directory.

Maryland’s Eastern Shore is a different situation. The nine-county peninsula east of the Chesapeake Bay has a primarily rural, agricultural, and waterman-based economy, with pockets of deep poverty in counties like Somerset, Dorchester, and Worcester. Oncology care on the Shore is limited — most complex diagnoses require patients to travel across the Bay Bridge to Baltimore or to Salisbury’s TidalHealth Peninsula Regional. For low-income patients, that travel is a significant financial and logistical burden. Transportation assistance programs are among the most valued resources in these communities.

Western Maryland — Garrett, Allegany, and Washington counties — shares characteristics with other Appalachian communities: limited specialist access, rural transportation barriers, and healthcare infrastructure under sustained pressure. Cumberland is the regional population center, but patients with complex diagnoses often travel to Hagerstown, Frederick, or Baltimore for specialized oncology care.

Maryland’s military and federal presence is significant. Fort Meade, Joint Base Andrews, Aberdeen Proving Ground, and Naval Support Activity Bethesda anchor large military communities across the state. Veterans dealing with cancer — particularly diagnoses connected to Agent Orange, burn pit exposure, or other service-related hazards — may qualify for VA oncology services and benefits not available through commercial insurance. Several organizations in this directory specialize in veteran support and can help navigate those programs.

Proximity to Washington, D.C. gives Maryland residents access to a remarkable concentration of research and specialized care — including the National Cancer Institute and NIH in Bethesda, and pediatric specialists at Children’s National Hospital across the border. But navigating insurance across state and jurisdiction lines adds complexity that patients in other states don’t face. Patient navigation services are especially valuable here.

This directory is organized by region, starting with statewide programs available to any Maryland resident, then by county and metro area. Whether you need help with finances, transportation, a support group, veterans’ benefits, or community organizations close to home — use the filters and search to find what fits your situation. Most resources listed here are free.

Showing all 74 resources

Statewide Resources

Baltimore City

Baltimore County & Suburbs

Montgomery County & DC Suburbs

Prince George’s County

Anne Arundel & Annapolis

Eastern Shore

Frederick & Western Maryland

Southern Maryland