Cancer care often means frequent medical appointments and travelling far from home to get the best treatment. To alleviate the financial burden of cancer treatment, the American Cancer Society has awarded $9 million in transportation and lodging grants. The Cayuga Cancer Center, a member of Centralus Health, has been awarded $15,000 in transportation support for oncology patients.
The Patient Transportation and Lodging Grant program provides a chance for health systems to build a portfolio of services that meet their community’s needs and deliver services to patients who need it most.
Renata Dawson, RN, Oncology Nurse Navigator at Cayuga Medical Center, said the partnership with the American Cancer Society helps the staff do more for their patients. “Any obstacle we can remove means a better level of care for the people who depend on us. This grant will be very beneficial.”
This is the third year Cayuga Medical Center has applied for and received full funding.
“Transportation obstacles should not be a barrier that determines the survival of those needing cancer treatment,” said Dr. Arif Kamal, American Cancer Society Chief Patient Officer. “Providing funding to health systems and organizations across the country to deliver the direct assistance needed helps to fill these equity gaps and improves cancer outcomes.”
When the most effective treatment requires traveling away from home, patients facing a lack of reliable and affordable transportation can experience missed appointments, treatment interruptions, and incomplete follow-up care. In a 2023 Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI) study, ACS researchers found that delayed care due to lack of transportation is associated with increased emergency room use and mortality risk among adults with and without cancer history.
