For 40 years, the Women’s Cancer Resource Center (WCRC) has championed women with cancer by providing free, community-based programs that honor cultural differences and lived experiences. Each year, we assist more than 1500 clients—primarily low-income individuals, seniors, Black/African American and Latina women, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community —by offering personalized patient navigation, psychosocial support, financial assistance, and practical resources.

Our approach is grounded in research showing that psychosocial support lowers anxiety, depression, and cancer recurrence rates, and that meeting a person’s basic needs like food and transportation can significantly improve health outcomes. 

WCRC’s programs have received national recognition. In 2019, Dr. Jill Biden visited WCRC to learn how our holistic navigation model improves cancer journeys. This led to our 2022 invitation to speak with Dr. Biden, the National Cancer Institute’s Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, and Congresswoman Jackie Speier about the critical role of partnerships between community-based organizations and leading institutions like UCSF’s cancer center. We are also proud that our Community Engagement Director and Client Support Clinician, Dolores Moorehead, has co-authored studies validating our model, including a presentation at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology conference. These milestones reflect the trust we have built with partners such as Alameda Health System, Stanford, UCSF, Carol Ann Reed Breast Cancer Center, John Muir Health, Martinez Health Center, and fellow cancer-support agencies and nonprofits. 

At WCRC, we recognize that cancer care must encompass more than just medical treatment. That’s why we meet our clients where they are, offering trauma-informed mental health support, wellness programs, exercise and cooking classes, and help enrolling in social services. Our diverse staff and volunteer team ensures that our clients receive respectful and accessible care. By providing navigation, emotional support groups, and resources such as transportation and emergency funding, we break down linguistic, cultural, and financial barriers to equitable care. 

With a steadfast commitment to compassionate person-focused care and a vision of health equity for all, WCRC remains dedicated to transforming the cancer experience. We invite you to join us in our mission to ensure that everyone—regardless of background—has the tools and support they need for a better quality of life before, during, and after a cancer diagnosis. 

In 1986, a small group of women with cancer founded Women’s Cancer Resource Center to provide direct services to women with cancer, and to advocate for changes in the health care system. For the first two years, WCRC was simply an answering machine in founder Jackie Winnow’s living room. As word spread of WCRC’s existence, our founders recognized that they had struck a chord in the community.

What began as a group of volunteers has now grown to a staff of thirteen and a core group of nearly 200 active volunteers, providing extensive services to women with cancer and their loved ones. While our primary focus is still women with cancer, we have expanded to provide wellness programs for everyone, regardless of gender.