Opinion|Articles|July 22, 2026

Cancer Care Leader Founds Program to Give Women Access to Cold Caps

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Key Takeaways

Financial barriers to scalp cooling exemplified how noncovered supportive interventions can force tradeoffs between psychosocial well-being and household stability, disproportionately disadvantaging patients with fewer resources.
Community-based navigation and outreach—mammography coordination, mobile van awareness, seminars, and on-demand guidance—can materially improve early detection and reduce access gaps beyond traditional clinical roles.
Philanthropic microfunding mechanisms, such as recurring community photo fundraisers, can operationalize rapid, targeted support for underinsured patients while building durable, intergenerational engagement.
Mandated insurance coverage for cold caps in 2026 reflects policy catching up to patient-centered supportive care needs and the cumulative impact of sustained local advocacy.

Sara Fusco-Parise, of Northwell Health, co-founded Caps of Courage to provide cold caps to breast cancer patients who couldn't afford them out of pocket.

In the spring of 2021, a conversation changed the way I understood cancer care. A friend shared that his wife, nearing the end of chemotherapy for breast cancer, was forced to pay out of pocket for cold caps because insurance did not cover them. The idea that someone already fighting for her life had to choose between preserving a sense of dignity and providing for her family was devastating. Even worse, those with the fewest resources had no choice at all.

The first person I called was Sara Fusco-Parise. Though she had moved on from her formal role as a patient care coordinator, she remained the person her entire community turned to when the word "cancer" entered their lives. Fusco-Parise is accessible day and night, always willing to answer a call or text, offer guidance, recommend next steps or simply listen. She constantly encourages group mammogram outings, shares information about mobile mammogram vans, and promotes community outreach programs and educational seminars, ensuring that early detection and access to care remain top priorities.

On that call, Fusco-Parise and I agreed that doing nothing was not an option. Together, we founded Caps of Courage, raising funds through annual holiday card photo sessions to provide cold caps to women who otherwise could not afford them. Now in its fifth year, the program has watched families return year after year, children grow and hope take root.

Even beyond her professional role, Fusco-Parise's compassion never switches off. She is a devoted wife and a deeply involved mother of three boys, yet remains endlessly generous with her time, expertise and energy. With cold cap coverage finally mandated by insurance in 2026, her tireless advocacy feels long overdue. Sara Fusco-Parise is an extraordinary healer in every sense.

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