Free and Discounted Retreats for People With Breast Cancer

Everyone needs a break. This can be particularly important for people living with breast cancer. Whether your destination is near or far, a trip away can help you reset and reconnect with yourself and others. 

But with the costs of being in treatment — all the doctor’s appointments, medical tests, and medicine — it can be hard to afford a vacation. Traveling when you have breast cancer can be a bit tricky, but with some planning and support from your care team, it can be successful.  

Many nonprofit organizations offer free or discounted vacations for people with cancer. Each organization has its own application process, eligibility requirements, and deadlines for receiving assistance. Depending on the program, you may be asked to provide medical records, proof that your doctor is OK with your participation in planned activities, or both. You can learn more about the specifics of each program by exploring the links below.

Mary’s Place by the Sea, in New Jersey, offers free wellness retreats for women in treatment for cancer, as well as those who have had treatment within the past two years. Visitors can participate in one- or two-day programs that include gentle yoga, meditation, creative writing, plant-based meals, and oncology massage. 

Jillian Cillo, who is 26 and was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in 2023, has gone on overnight retreats twice now. “You learn a lot about yourself,” explains Cillo. “I knew my feelings were valid and it was OK to rely on a community of strong women for just a little extra hope in life. After each retreat, I feel a little more mentally and emotionally powerful, and I experience a sense of relief.” 

Project Koru’s Camp Koru is a weeklong outdoor camp for people with cancer ages 18 to 39 who finished treatment at least three months ago. The camps are held in different locations each year. In 2024, the camp was held in Costa Rica. The program includes meals, snacks, lodging, activity instruction, and gear. Participants must cover travel costs, but may find grants to help lower or fully cover travel expenses.

Rachel Weber, who was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer at age 35, was amazed at how quickly she bonded with the other participants at Camp Koru last year in Costa Rica. “We felt like an immediate family, and we spent the week doing things most of us have never done,” Weber says. “I just went into it blindly, but I’m so glad I did.” 

Epic Experience, located on a ranch in the Colorado Rockies, offers week-long adventure camps for people over age 18 who’ve been diagnosed with cancer. The program accepts people at any stage in the cancer journey — including those who are in treatment and those who completed treatment years ago. Food, lodging, and activities that are part of the camp are free for campers. Participants are asked to cover the costs of travel to Denver International Airport, which is about a three-hour drive from the ranch. Epic Experience may be able to help if you can’t afford to get to Denver and you’re not eligible for a travel grant. 

Camp Breastie is a four-day summit held once a year in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, for people affected by breast and gynecological cancers. Attendees have the chance to bond while participating in a variety of activities, including panel discussions, ropes courses, and crafts. In 2025, tickets for the summit cost $350, and round-trip bus tickets from New York and New Jersey were available for $45. Camp Breastie offers several scholarships for people in need of financial assistance. Specifically, there are scholarships for people with stage IV cancer as well as those who identify as BIPOC and LGBTQ+.

Alex Whitaker Cheadle has been involved with The Breasties since she was diagnosed with stage 1 triple-positive breast cancer in 2018. She says she loves how there’s something for everyone at the summit — “from more physically demanding activities, to panels, arts and crafts workshops, or just zen hang time.”

The Faces of Courage Women of Color Retreat is a free weekend camp for Black and Brown women in treatment for cancer and cancer survivors. Participants have the chance to hear from guest speakers, including healthcare professionals; go swimming, canoeing, and fishing; enjoy spa treatments; and practice mindfulness. The camp is offered once a year in Brandon, Florida (just outside of Tampa).

Casting for Recovery provides free, two-day outdoor fishing retreats for women who’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer. The retreats are held across the U.S., and women who are in all stages of treatment and recovery are asked to apply to the retreat closest to where they live. Casting for Recovery hosts retreats exclusively for women with metastatic breast cancer. In 2025, these retreats will take place in California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, and Texas. 

Harmony Hill Retreats, located in Washington, offer three-day retreats to men and women with any type of cancer. There is no cost to participate in these retreats, which include meditation, gentle movement, and creative expression. However, participants are asked to pay for their lodging and meals, which is about $400. Harmony Hill offers grants to reduce these costs on a case-by-case basis. 

Skiing. Sailing. Backpacking. These are just a few of the outdoor adventures organized by the Send It Foundation. Young adults (ages 21-40) of all skill levels who are in treatment for cancer and have been in the past can participate in multi-day trips held throughout the year. The trips are held in Lake Tahoe and the San Francisco Bay Area, and include free food, lodging, guides, gear, and equipment. 

The Image Reborn Foundation is a nonprofit that hosts free weekend renewal retreats for people diagnosed with breast cancer. These retreats are held throughout the year in Colorado, Florida, Puerto Rico, Texas, and Utah. Image Reborn hosts a few renewal retreats for specific groups, including retreats in Spanish and retreats for people with metastatic breast cancer. People who would like to attend a retreat but are worried about the cost of travel may be able to apply for an Image Reborn travel grant.   

The annual I Am Hope Survivors Reset Retreat, held in the Greater Palm Springs Area in California, brings together cancer survivors for a chance to heal, relax, and focus on life after cancer. The four-day retreat includes lodging, meals, breakout sessions, and healthy activities — and is free. However, participants are expected to make and pay for transportation to and from the retreat. The event is hosted by the nonprofit Shay’s Warriors. 

For Pete’s Sake offers free respite programs for people living with cancer (ages 21-55), their caregivers, and their children. The Travel Respite Program covers the costs of accommodations, food, and activities at Woodloch Resort in Pennsylvania. Participants also receive a stipend to help cover the costs of travel. If you're unable to travel, For Pete’s Sake offers a Staycation Respite Package, with resources for the family to share and a cash stipend for a meal or activity close to home.

MBC Travelers hosts monthly gatherings across the U.S. and an annual bucket-list trip for people with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Participants travel together as a group along with volunteers who are available to help out. The trips and activities are offered at deeply discounted rates. If cost is a concern, MBC Travelers has a team that will work with you to raise the money to cover your trip.  

Waves of Grace is a nonprofit that pays for people living with breast cancer and their families to take a beach vacation in locations in the southeast United States, including Florida and South Carolina. The program covers the costs of travel, beach rentals, meals and activities, and medical equipment. 

Heather Milburn says the beach vacation she and her family took through Waves of Grace came at a time her family needed it most. “We were able to simply rest, breathe, and be still, without worrying about appointments, schedules, or responsibilities,” says Milburn, who was diagnosed at age 30 with triple-positive breast cancer. “Having someone step in and offer us an all-expenses-paid, no-strings-attached beach trip was a powerful act of love.” 

The Cassie Hines Shoes Cancer Foundation is a nonprofit that provides assistance to young adults (under age 40) living with cancer who have plans to attend a cancer retreat or conference.

Cancer Cartel provides unrestricted financial grants to cancer survivors to help with everyday living expenses. While they don’t provide direct transportation services, grant recipients are free to use their funds however they need, including travel to and from retreats, camps, or other restorative experiences. Grants are awarded through a monthly application process provided by a social worker or case manager.

Some organizations may offer gift cards for transportation companies funded by donors. For instance, Mary’s Place by the Sea may provide, on occasion, donated Uber gift cards, which are passed along to guests who live within a one-hour radius of Mary’s Place.

Epic Experience also offers day activities called Regional Meetups, where participants gather for yoga, hikes, and more. These events are held in cities across the United States.

Above + Beyond Cancer offers several year-round activities for cancer survivors and those in active treatment, such as a rowing class called Row + Renew and a pickleball event for young adult survivors, ages 18 to 40. The programs are offered in Iowa are are free for people living in the state who are undergoing active treatment or are cancer survivors and their families. Each event registration page walks through the specific information needed such as dates, times, and what to bring.  

First Descents is a nonprofit that offers both weeklong and day events throughout the country. While the retreats are geared toward young adults (ages 15 to 39) with cancer, multiple sclerosis, or other serious health conditions, the community meetups are for survivors and their family and friends who are at least 18 years of age. The events are free of cost and include hiking, kayaking, rafting, paddleboarding, and rock climbing. 

Eagle Mount, located in Bozeman, Montana, offers low-cost sports and recreational activities for young people living with cancer as well as people with physical, developmental, and cognitive disabilities. Individuals and families can apply to participate in Eagle Mount programs, which include everything from theater and skiing to family art nights and sibling activities. Participants asked to pay 10% of the program costs, and scholarships are available for those who qualify.

If you want to learn more about other organizations that might offer free and low-cost retreats for people with cancer, consider asking your health care team or other people who’ve been diagnosed with cancer. Social media can be a great way to find out about events, either by becoming involved in Facebook groups for people with cancer, or following accounts or hashtags. 

If you aren’t sure you’re ready for a trip, Cillo recommends starting with an activity that’s small and close by. “We know ourselves best, and if there’s a retreat that is going to [take you too far] outside your comfort zone to attend at the moment, it is best to hold off until you feel 100%.” A larger retreat might feel overwhelming to some, she says, but a smaller retreat can be a great place to start.  

There’s something powerful about connecting with people who know what it’s like to walk through life after a breast cancer diagnosis, Whitaker Cheadle adds. “It's difficult to put into words what it means to find a community that immediately understands you on this deeper level. We like to say, ‘worst club, best members,’ and truer words haven't been spoken.”