Free in oncology
What you can get for nothing. 60 programmes and services across 12 groups and 14 regions: sequencing paid for by charities and health services, screening and vaccination that are free at the point of use, nurse lines, rides and beds near the hospital, second opinions, help with trial travel, genetic counselling, survivorship programmes, wigs and prostheses, and the open data researchers build on. Each entry says who is eligible and links to the programme's own page.
Eligibility rules change and differ by country, so the linked page is the authority; OnCo lists only programmes with a public page of their own. Free at the point of use means no bill when you attend, not that nobody pays. Nothing here is medical advice: screening is for people without symptoms, and anyone with symptoms should see a doctor. For manufacturer free-drug programmes, reimbursement and generics, product by product, use the financial help page.
Free tumour and germline testing
Programmes that pay for sequencing of the tumour or of inherited risk genes. Each has an eligibility rule; the programme page states it.
Free tumour sequencing with a report for the treating team.
- Who
- People with pancreatic cancer, through their oncologist
Free at-home saliva test for inherited cancer genes, with genetic counselling for carriers.
- Who
- Men with a prostate cancer diagnosis
Tumour panels, whole genome sequencing for some cancers and germline testing, ordered by your hospital team.
- Who
- NHS patients whose cancer is listed in the National Genomic Test Directory
Free BRCA1 and BRCA2 saliva test at home, with counselling if a variant is found.
- Who
- Adults in England with at least one Jewish grandparent
Screening that is free at the point of use
National programmes that invite people by age. Nothing to pay when you attend.
Home bowel test kit, mammograms and cervical screening, free; lung CT screening rolling out in England.
- Who
- Invited by age through your GP registration; lung screening for people 55 to 74 who smoke or used to
Free bowel kit, mammograms, cervical HPV test with self-collection, and lung CT screening since 2025.
- Who
- Residents in the eligible age ranges, invited automatically
Free bowel, breast and cervical screening through the HSE National Screening Service.
- Who
- Residents in the eligible age ranges; register online if you have not been invited
Time to Screen
New ZealandNational bowel, breast and cervical screening, with enrolment on one site.
- Who
- Eligible New Zealanders by age; cervical screening free for eligible groups
Free or low-cost mammograms, Pap and HPV tests and diagnostic follow-up through your state programme.
- Who
- Women with low income and no or limited insurance
Colorectal, breast, cervical and lung cancer screening without copay or deductible when done in network.
- Who
- Anyone with a marketplace, employer or Medicare plan, for screening rated A or B by the US Preventive Services Task Force
Free HPV vaccination
The vaccine that prevents most cervical cancers and several others, free through public programmes.
Free HPV vaccination at school, GP or sexual health clinic.
- Who
- School Year 8 pupils; anyone who missed it until their 25th birthday; men who have sex with men up to 45
Free HPV vaccine through enrolled providers; insured children are usually covered without cost sharing.
- Who
- Children through 18 who are Medicaid-eligible, uninsured, underinsured or American Indian or Alaska Native
National Immunisation Program (HPV)
AustraliaFree HPV vaccination under the National Immunisation Program.
- Who
- Young people through school programmes, with free catch-up to age 25
Gavi-supported national HPV programmes
Lower-income countriesFree HPV vaccine through the national immunisation programme.
- Who
- Girls in countries whose HPV programme Gavi supports
Free helplines and nurse lines
Trained nurses and information specialists who answer questions by phone, free of charge.
Information specialists by phone, chat and email, in English and Spanish, including trial searches.
- Who
- Anyone
- Call
- 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237)
Nurses, welfare rights and money advisers, seven days a week.
- Who
- Anyone affected by cancer
- Call
- 0808 808 00 00
Cancer nurses on weekdays; About Cancer pages and the Cancer Chat forum at any time.
- Who
- Anyone
- Call
- 0808 800 4040
Around-the-clock information specialists; the same line books free rides and lodging.
- Who
- Anyone
- Call
- 1-800-227-2345
Free counselling by oncology social workers, support groups and small grants.
- Who
- Anyone affected by cancer
- Call
- 800-813-HOPE (4673)
Counsellors and navigators, plus free programmes at local centres and Gilda's Clubs.
- Who
- Anyone affected by cancer
- Call
- 888-793-9355
Oncology professionals who explain diagnosis and treatment and help find trials.
- Who
- Anyone affected by a blood cancer
- Call
- 800-955-4572
Krebsinformationsdienst
GermanyDoctors answer questions by phone and email, every day, in German.
- Who
- Anyone
- Call
- 0800 420 30 40
Cancer Council 13 11 20
AustraliaCancer nurses and information about screening, treatment and support in each state.
- Who
- Anyone
- Call
- 13 11 20
Information specialists in English and French, and the Community Services Locator.
- Who
- Anyone
- Call
- 1-888-939-3333
Cancer nurses by phone and email, and Daffodil Centres in hospitals.
- Who
- Anyone
- Call
- 1800 200 700
Breast care nurses, Someone Like Me peer support and Moving Forward courses.
- Who
- Anyone affected by breast cancer
- Call
- 0808 800 6000
Free rides, flights and places to stay
Getting to treatment and sleeping near it, without a bill.
Free volunteer rides to and from treatment, booked through the ACS helpline.
- Who
- Patients who can walk unaided, where volunteer drivers exist
Free lodging near cancer centres for the length of treatment.
- Who
- Patients in outpatient treatment far from home, plus one caregiver
Free flights in empty seats on corporate aircraft; no income test.
- Who
- Medically stable patients travelling to treatment or a trial
Ronald McDonald House Charities
Many countriesFree or low-cost rooms and meals next to children's hospitals.
- Who
- Families of children in hospital, referred by the hospital
Free accommodation next to specialist hospitals, plus social workers and grants.
- Who
- Families of children and young people up to 25 in treatment
Refund of fares or mileage for hospital appointments, claimed within three months.
- Who
- Patients on qualifying benefits or with an HC2 or HC3 certificate
Free second opinions and free treatment
Named programmes that review a diagnosis or treatment plan for nothing, and the one hospital that never bills. For expert centres near you, see the second opinion page.
Cancer Commons
US-based, open worldwideA navigator reviews your records and writes up options and trials for your oncologist.
- Who
- People with advanced or hard-to-treat cancer, anywhere
A volunteer panel of specialists reviews the case, meets you and writes to your doctors.
- Who
- Adults with a cancer diagnosis living in California
Treatment, travel, housing and food with no bill to the family.
- Who
- Children referred by a physician with a cancer St. Jude is studying
Free trial participation and travel help
Trial drugs and trial-related care are supplied by the sponsor; these programmes help with the costs around them.
What the sponsor pays, what insurance must cover and what falls on you, explained by the NCI.
- Who
- Anyone considering a trial
Care within the study is free and some studies help with travel and lodging.
- Who
- People enrolled in an NIH study
Reimbursement of travel and lodging for you and a companion, and help finding a trial.
- Who
- Patients enrolling in FDA clinical trials, income-based
Search NHS studies by condition and postcode; taking part is free and expenses are often reimbursed.
- Who
- Anyone in the UK
Access to an investigational drug outside a trial; the company may only recover its costs, and usually supplies it free.
- Who
- People with a serious condition and no comparable option, through their doctor
Free medicines through assistance programmes
Manufacturer programmes, national schemes and charities, product by product, live on the financial help page.
Free-drug and co-pay programmes, reimbursement decisions and generics, product by product.
- Who
- Depends on the product and country
NICE, Cancer Drugs Fund and SMC decisions for every approved product; NHS cancer drugs are free at the point of use.
- Who
- NHS patients
Free genetic counselling routes
Where to talk to someone about inherited cancer risk without paying.
FORCE peer navigation and helpline
US-based, open worldwideFree helpline, peer navigators and expert-reviewed information on testing and options.
- Who
- Anyone facing hereditary cancer risk
Free genetic counselling and germline testing through regional clinical genetics services.
- Who
- People whose family or tumour history meets the National Genomic Test Directory criteria, via GP or hospital team
Free survivorship, rehabilitation and support
Exercise, courses, peer mentors and drop-in centres that cost nothing to use.
Drop-in support, benefits advice, psychological support and courses next to NHS cancer hospitals.
- Who
- Anyone with cancer and their family, no referral
Penny Brohn UK
UK (Bristol and online)Free Living Well courses and one-to-one sessions on nutrition, activity, sleep and coping.
- Who
- People with cancer and their supporters
Free twelve-week small-group exercise programme with a Y membership included.
- Who
- Adult cancer survivors
Look Good Feel Better
US, UK and many countriesFree skincare and make-up workshops with a free kit.
- Who
- Anyone having cancer treatment
Imerman Angels
WorldwideFree one-to-one match with someone who has had the same cancer.
- Who
- Patients, survivors and carers, anywhere
Free week-long outdoor adventure programmes with travel scholarships.
- Who
- Young adults aged 18 to 39 with cancer
Free summer camps and year-round support run by college student volunteers.
- Who
- Children aged 6 to 18 whose parent has or had cancer
Survivorship planner
WorldwideLate effects to watch for after each treatment, the screening test, how often, and the guideline that says so.
- Who
- Anyone finishing treatment
Free wigs and prostheses
Hair and breast prostheses supplied free by health services and charities.
Free wigs and fabric supports on prescription; others pay a set charge.
- Who
- Under 16s, 16 to 18 in full-time education, hospital inpatients, war pensioners and people on qualifying benefits or with an HC2 certificate
A free breast prosthesis after mastectomy, fitted through the hospital; Breast Cancer Now explains how.
- Who
- Anyone who has had breast surgery on the NHS
The Little Princess Trust
UK and IrelandFree real-hair wigs made from donated hair.
- Who
- Children and young people up to 24 who have lost their hair
Free custom hair replacement made from donated hair.
- Who
- Children under 18 with medical hair loss
Knitted Knockers
US (affiliates elsewhere)Free soft knitted breast prostheses, posted on request.
- Who
- Anyone who has had a mastectomy or lumpectomy
Free data and tools for researchers
The open databases OnCo itself is built on, with licences on the open data page.
Licences, cadence and access for each open source, and the ones OnCo could add next.
- Who
- Researchers, builders and anyone curious
onco.ccOpen the open data pageClinicalTrials.govPubMed & Europe PMCTCGA / NCI Genomic Data CommonscBioPortal for Cancer GenomicsDepMap (Cancer Dependency Map)CIViCOncoKBCOSMIC (Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer)GLOBOCAN / Global Cancer ObservatorySEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results)OnCo's own corpus
WorldwideEvery record on this site as JSON under a Creative Commons licence, with an API and machine-readable pages.
- Who
- Anyone
If a free programme with a public page is not here, send it through the corrections page with the link. Programmes without a page of their own, and offers that are discounted rather than free, are left out on purpose.