Kentucky Cancerlink, Inc

What Kentucky Cancerlink, Inc does

Kentucky CancerLink, Inc. is a Kentucky-based nonprofit organization founded in 2008 (originally as Kentucky Pink Connection) that provides patient navigation, no-cost cancer screenings, and practical support services to Kentucky residents ages 18 and older facing cancer. The organization was inspired by Dr. Harold P. Freeman's patient navigation model and was originally focused exclusively on breast cancer before expanding its mission to all cancer types in 2014. It is led by Executive Director Melissa Karrer, who was named to the role in 2023 after progressing from volunteer to assistant director.

The organization's core service portfolio includes a Cancer Screening Assistance Program that connects eligible Kentuckians to free and low-cost screenings for breast, cervical, colon, ovarian, and lung cancer through partnerships with state-administered programs (KWCSP, KCCSP, Kentucky Lung Cancer Screening Program, Kentucky Department for Public Health, and UK Healthcare Markey Cancer Center). Complementary services include a Wig & Headwear Bank, a Fuel Card Program (for patients at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level), free post-mastectomy products (bras, prostheses, camisoles), lymphedema compression garments, smoking cessation resources, and community resource referrals. The organization maintains a 8–10 person staff headquartered in Lexington with Certified Patient Navigators and a Certified Bilingual Patient Navigator, and reaches its audience through organic social media, the monthly Link2Hope podcast and newsletter, a WKYT media partnership, an annual Links to Hope Golf Scramble, and direct referrals from Kentucky healthcare systems.

Kentucky CancerLink operates as a donation- and grant-funded nonprofit with no pricing model for patients — all services are provided at no cost to eligible Kentucky residents. Revenue streams consist of individual and corporate donations, government grants from Kentucky state health programs, and in-kind donations of wigs, headwear, and post-surgical products. The organization has no proprietary technology platform, relying on standard website forms, email, and phone for intake. The organization's go-to-market motion is community-led, driven by Certified Patient Navigators, community health workers, and referral relationships with CHI Saint Joseph Health, Baptist Health Lexington, Lexington Clinic, and the UK Healthcare Markey Cancer Center.

Name

Kentucky Cancerlink, Inc

Legal name

Kentucky CancerLink, Inc

Website

https://kycancerlink.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kentucky CancerLink, Inc. is a 2008-founded Kentucky nonprofit that provides free patient navigation, cancer screening access, and practical support services (wigs, fuel cards, mastectomy products, lymphedema garments) to Kentucky residents ages 18 and older facing cancer.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cancer Patient Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Oncology Remote Symptom Monitoring & Care Navigation (HLALAFAD)

Keywords

• Cancer patient navigation
• Cancer screening access
• Nonprofit cancer support
• Free wigs and headwear
• Cancer treatment transportation

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and corporate donations support the organization's general operations and service delivery.
2. Government Grants and Program Funding: Funding from Kentucky Department for Public Health, Kentucky Women's Cancer Screening Program (KWCSP), Kentucky Colon Cancer Screening Program (KCCSP), and Kentucky Lung Cancer Screening Program to provide no-cost screenings and support services.
3. In-Kind Gifts: Accepts donations of mastectomy bras, camisoles, breast forms, prostheses, wigs, hats and scarves for distribution to patients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kentucky CancerLink is a nonprofit organization that provides no-cost cancer screening assistance, certified patient navigation, and practical support services to Kentucky residents ages 18 and older. Core offerings include connecting patients to free breast, cervical, colon, ovarian, and lung cancer screenings; distributing free wigs, headwear, mastectomy products, and lymphedema compression garments; and providing fuel cards for transportation to cancer-related appointments.

Product overview

Kentucky CancerLink is a nonprofit organization offering a coordinated set of patient navigation and support services for Kentucky residents facing cancer. The core offering is a Cancer Screening Assistance Program that connects individuals to free and low-cost screenings for breast, cervical, colon, ovarian, and lung cancer through partnerships with state programs. This is complemented by a Wig & Headwear Bank providing free wigs to cancer patients, a Fuel Card Program for transportation assistance, post-surgical products (bras, prostheses, camisoles), and lymphedema compression garments. Additional services include smoking cessation resources, community resource referrals, the Link2Hope Podcast, and Missy's Mission memorial program. All programs are designed to reduce barriers to cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment for Kentucky residents ages 18 and older.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cancer Screening Assistance Program Program that connects Kentucky residents to free and low-cost cancer screenings for breast, cervical, colon, ovarian, and lung cancer through partnerships with state programs such as KWCSP, KCCSP, and KLCSP.
• Wig & Headwear Bank Provides wigs and headwear at no cost to cancer patients in Kentucky, with an online catalog organized by color.
• Fuel Card Program Provides gas cards to help Kentuckians travel to cancer-related appointments; eligibility based on household income at or below 250% of Federal Poverty Level guidelines.
• Post Lumpectomy/Mastectomy Products Provides free bras, prostheses, and camisoles to women who have undergone lumpectomy or mastectomy procedures.
• Lymphedema Compression Garments Offers free upper extremity lymphedema compression garments to cancer patients as inventory allows.
• Community/National Resource Referrals Connects patients to local community and national resources for additional support including housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and transportation assistance.
• Link2Hope Podcast Monthly podcast featuring experts discussing ways to remove barriers for Kentuckians in need of screening, diagnosis, and treatment for cancer, available on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.
• Missy's Mission Tribute program established in memory of Missy Jolliff, a founding leader of Kentucky CancerLink, honoring her service and commitment to serving others.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over the last five years, the cancer mortality rate in Kentucky has dropped by just over two percent, while deaths attributed to lung cancer declined by more than double that rate

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• UK Healthcare Markey Cancer CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor academic cancer center partnership providing clinical support, ovarian cancer screening program referrals, and healthcare collaboration. The UK Markey Cancer Center Ovarian Cancer Screening Program provides free annual sonographic screenings to women across Kentucky.
• Kentucky Department for Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government funding partner providing grants through Kentucky Colon Cancer Screening and Prevention Program (KCCSP) and Kentucky Lung Cancer Screening Program (KLCSP) to enable no-cost screenings for eligible Kentucky residents.
• Kentucky Women's Cancer Screening Program (KWCSP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState program partnership to provide resources helping with out-of-pocket costs, transportation, and screening services for breast and cervical cancer for those who qualify financially.
• Kentucky Colon Cancer Screening Program (KCCSP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState program providing funding for no-cost colon cancer screening options including Cologuard at-home tests and colonoscopies for positive results.
• CHI Saint Joseph HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional healthcare system partner providing the Yes, Mamm/Yes, Cerv! Program with expanded eligibility (350% FPL) for central Kentucky residents at participating facilities.
• Baptist Health LexingtonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare system partnership for cancer patient referrals and support services.
• Lexington ClinicmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-specialty physician group partnership including the Markey Cancer Center at Lexington Clinic for cancer care referrals.
• PhRMAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America partnership supporting patient advocacy and access to medications.
• WKYTmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal television station partnership for the Link2Hope media segment featuring cancer education content and organization visibility.
• Run SwitchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPR and media company that helped launch the Link2Hope Podcast and provides ongoing media support.
• The Lexington Cancer FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal cancer foundation providing support for Lexington-based cancer patient services.
• Dean DortonminorOthersLocal accounting and business advisory firm providing professional services support.
• LM CommunicationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunications firm providing marketing and communications support.
• Well CareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare services organization providing support for Kentucky cancer patients.
• Race RiseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing and communications company providing promotional support.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Livestrong Foundation: Livestrong Foundation provides survivorship resources, navigation tools, and financial support services to cancer patients. It is comparable as a broader incumbent offering cancer survivorship and navigation support overlapping with Kentucky CancerLink's services.
• Susan G. Komen: Susan G. Komen is a major breast cancer nonprofit funding research, screening, and patient support services nationwide. It is comparable as a larger incumbent that, like Kentucky CancerLink's original 'Pink Connection' mission, focuses on breast cancer patient support and screening access.
• American Cancer Society: American Cancer Society is the largest U.S. cancer nonprofit, offering research funding, patient support, screening initiatives, and a 24/7 helpline. It is comparable as a broader incumbent serving similar cancer-patient and screening populations, with overlapping board representation at Kentucky CancerLink.

Direct peers

• CancerCare: CancerCare is a national nonprofit providing free professional support services including counseling, financial assistance, and case management for cancer patients. It is directly comparable to Kentucky CancerLink in its free, navigation-style support model for people facing cancer.
• Patient Advocate Foundation: Patient Advocate Foundation provides case management, financial aid, and healthcare navigation services to patients with chronic and life-threatening illnesses including cancer. It is directly comparable to Kentucky CancerLink as a navigation and access-to-care nonprofit.
• Cancer Support Community: Cancer Support Community operates a global network delivering support groups, education, and navigation services to cancer patients and survivors at no cost. It is directly comparable as a free, community-based psychosocial and navigational support provider.

Emerging players

• Triage Cancer: Triage Cancer is a national nonprofit providing education and navigation on the practical and legal issues faced by cancer patients. It is comparable as an emerging navigation-focused organization addressing access barriers similar to those Kentucky CancerLink targets.
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is a disease-specific cancer nonprofit providing patient support, financial assistance, and navigation for blood cancer patients. It is comparable as an emerging player in cancer-specific patient navigation and financial aid, partially overlapping with KCL's mission.
• PearlPoint Nutrition Services: PearlPoint Nutrition Services provides free nutrition education and support specifically for cancer patients and survivors. It is comparable as an emerging player delivering specialized, free-of-charge support services to cancer patients similar to Kentucky CancerLink's model.

Others

• National Comprehensive Cancer Network: NCCN is an alliance of leading academic cancer centers producing clinical guidelines and patient resources. It is comparable as an ecosystem enabler whose Markey Cancer Center partner (UK Healthcare) is a key Kentucky CancerLink collaborator, though NCCN itself does not provide direct patient navigation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/KyCancerLink
• Facebookfacebook.com/KentuckyCancerLink
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kentucky-cancerlink-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/kentuckycancerlink

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kentucky Cancerlink, Inc