Charitable Programs

HERS Breast Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Federal Tax ID #94-3309906.

Charitable Mission

The HERS Breast Cancer Foundation was founded in 1998 to help fill a gap in the path to recovery for breast cancer survivors. HERS stands for Hope, Empowerment, Renewal and Support.

We are here to provide:

• HOPE — Belief in a promising future.
• EMPOWERMENT — Strength and knowledge for the journey ahead.
• RENEWAL — Restored self-image and physical healing.
• SUPPORT — A community of compassion, aid, and advocacy.

Our mission is to support all individuals healing from breast cancer by providing post-surgical products and services, regardless financial status.

Our Charitable Programs

WE Support, YOU Survive

This program provides bras and prosthesis to under-served and under-insured women in the San Francisco Bay Area. We primarily serve the clients insured by Medi-Cal, which accounts for people in the poverty level determined by the State of California. Recently, the demand for this program has increased and we evaluate each case individually to grant services.

Lymphedema Project

After a woman has had breast cancer surgery, she may also face a diagnosis of lymphedema resulting from the removal of lymph nodes.

Lymphedema of the arm and chest is a side effect of breast cancer surgeries that can begin during or after treatment. It can occur in 30% of cases. This is not a life threatening condition, but it is one that can have a lasting, and dramatic effect on a woman’s body. This condition involves swelling of the soft tissues of the arm, hand or chest. The swelling may be accompanied by numbness, discomfort, and sometimes infection. Some women have mild lymphedema, which is hardly noticeable. Some develop moderate lymphedema that may be noticeable, tends to persist, and gets worse when aggravated. Others have severe lymphedema that is very uncomfortable and even disabling.

Compression garments are used to prevent this condition and can help restrict future growth of established lymphedema. Medicare does not cover these garments, and all other insurance companies have their own rules, with most insurers declining coverage for these garments.

Clients in this program receive garments at NO COST in two ways:

1. Uninsured: These are clients with no insurance coverage at all for any product, as well as those who are covered through the Medi-Cal program.
2. Underinsured: These are clients that have insurance coverage but their provider does not cover lymphedema garments.

Hair With Care

Women either beginning or ending their chemotherapy treatment can seek refuge and comfort in the program and regain the self-esteem that may have been lost as their hair thinned during their treatment.

Hair with Care provides women of all ages the opportunity to meet with a certified Cosmetologist in a supportive, caring, and understanding environment, where their needs and concerns come first. Helping women feel empowered and beautiful again is what the program strives for and delivers to each customer.

Losing one’s hair can be a difficult process and Hair with Care Cosmetologists are available help find the perfect wig for that special event or for everyday. They are there to hear a woman’s story, lend a shoulder to cry on when the stress of restoring or regaining her appearance seems overwhelming. They are also there to style, and assist in fitting and adjusting the wig for comfort.

Few insurance providers cover the cost of these products, however we have grant and other financial support from our Program Stores to provide funds to this program. Because of this, we can provide these products at NO COST to the uninsured/low income client.