Various larger hospitals do have friendship associations for cancer patients, such as the Carnation Society at the Tri Service General Hospital, or the Breast Cancer Work Station at the Veterans General Hospital, as well as National Taiwan University's Liver Disease Prevention Center. But these units be long to these medical centers. After leaving the hospital, many patients are unwilling to again cross that threshold unless they absolutely have to.
雖然各大醫院中也有癌症病友聯誼會，如三總的「康乃馨」、榮總的「乳癌工作站」，及台大的「肝病防治中心」等，但因這些單位附屬於醫院，許多病人出院後，除非萬不得已，不願再次踏入，而有自己的「殼」的抗癌人協會，正好填補這個空缺。