That number doesn’t do justice to the reality many women face when they realize their insurance coveragedoesn’t cover much, or they have to go on disability, or their partner leaves—or all of the above.

That’s where organizations like The Pink Fund and theHelp Now Fund come in. They’re part of a growing network around the country that provides cancer patients with emergency funds to pay bills, help with insurance, transportation and more.

Many of these groups (read a longer source list) wereformed by survivors like Molly MacDonald, whose 2005 diagnosis opened her eyes to the financial side of the disease, inspiring her to start The Pink Fund.

“I know all too well how stressful it is to strugglefinancially while fighting cancer,” MacDonald writes on her site, “and I'm determined to help prevent other women, men, and their families from the same.”