Getting where you need to go for treatment.

Ouch_Ouch_Ouch
Ouch_Ouch_Ouch Member Posts: 508 Member
edited September 2018 in Anal Cancer #1

When I found out that I still had cancer, Martha suggested that I see Dr Eng at M.D. Anderson. I felt that it was pie in the sky to travel somewhere far away due to the cost of housing and traveling, so I opted for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC, which is much closer for me.

* The radiation oncologist's nurse told me about "Hope Lodge" in Manhattan on West 32nd Street. The MSKCC social worker helped me get accepted. (At the NYC branch - only actual days of treatment are acceptable, no days of consultation and planning; the commute had to be more than 50 miles. No parking.) There is no charge for the stay. Many volunteer groups from major companies bring dinners a few times a week, another cost savings. They have an agreement with MSKCC to provide shuttle service, but not to the other hospitals.

* In addition, there are more "Hope Lodges" in the country. There's even one in Puerto Rico for children and their caretakers. There is a Hope Lodge being built in Houston (free parking and shuttle service). Each hotel may have different amenities, rules, and criteria. https://www.cancer.org/treatment/support-programs-and-services/patient-lodging/hope-lodge.html

Then I discovered that there are ways to get no-cost flights to the city where you need to go.

* CAN (Corporate Angel Network) arranges flights on corporate jets. 866-328-1313. corpangelnetwork.org

* PALS (Patient Air Lift Services) arranges flights on private planes. 631-694-PALS. PALSflight.org

* For those of you who are staying locally, the American Cancer Society may be able to help you get rides to and from treatment with their "Rode to Recovery" program. https://www.cancer.org/treatment/support-programs-and-services/road-to-recovery.html

Take advantage of these offerings!

Comments

  • eihtak
    eihtak Member Posts: 1,473 Member
    #2
    Ouch...

    Hi,

    Thank you so much for sharing this information. I'm glad you were able to make use of some of the resources yourself. 

    While I personally have not yet needed most of these, my husband has had routine care for his blood cancer at a larger hospital 3 hours from home over the past 8 years. Several times due to my own health I have not been able to drive him and the schedule just didn't easily work for family so he has relied on programs such as Rode to Recovery or branches of similar help that they have reccomended.

    We also have a Hope Lodge in my area (I have not stayed at) but have been there to drop off donations and met a young mother staying while her baby was being treated at the area hospital. What a wonderful facility and she was beyond grateful to have this "home away from home" during this time.

    Hope you are doing well along the way...

    katheryn

  • Ouch_Ouch_Ouch
    Ouch_Ouch_Ouch Member Posts: 508 Member
    #3
    eihtak said:

    Ouch...

    Hi,

    Thank you so much for sharing this information. I'm glad you were able to make use of some of the resources yourself. 

    While I personally have not yet needed most of these, my husband has had routine care for his blood cancer at a larger hospital 3 hours from home over the past 8 years. Several times due to my own health I have not been able to drive him and the schedule just didn't easily work for family so he has relied on programs such as Rode to Recovery or branches of similar help that they have reccomended.

    We also have a Hope Lodge in my area (I have not stayed at) but have been there to drop off donations and met a young mother staying while her baby was being treated at the area hospital. What a wonderful facility and she was beyond grateful to have this "home away from home" during this time.

    Hope you are doing well along the way...

    katheryn

    Going home soon.

    My last treatment is on the 12th.

  • eihtak
    eihtak Member Posts: 1,473 Member
    #4
    Ouch_Ouch_Ouch said:

    Going home soon.

    My last treatment is on the 12th.

    Ouch...

    Yay for home...I bet that will feel good!

    I'll be thinking of you as you complete the last stretch of this part of the journey and praying that it leads to goodness and health!

    katheryn

  • tanda
    tanda Member Posts: 174 Member
    #5
    ouch

    Thanks for posting the information about resources for patients. Agree that where you are treated often makes a diffeence.  I think it is useful to have a consultation at a major center; often a treatment plan can then be carried out nearer to home. A very well know oncologist once said " your first shot is your best shot; you should hit the ground running!" However,initial treatment for anal cancer is pretty standard; recurrence ,ora higher stage is where art meets science

    I encourage people to contact the social worker at the treatment center to find out about local resources:  transportation, meal deliveries, nutrition consults, counselors,etc.

     

    In addition to Hope Lodge and other free lodging facilities, many hotels and motels have discounts for patients and caregivers  for short term or longer term stays.  If the social workers are not aware of any plans, try to call the hotel/motel directly; sometimes you can negotiate a reduced rate.

    In addition to Corporate Angel network there is also AngelFlight; private pilots that will fly patients(and accompaning person) to treatment site; this group has divisions  throughout the U.S.

    Google something like free air flights for cancer patients,etc.  

    analcancerhelp.info has a large amount of information; it is run by Helen Marshall, who participates in blogforacure (the anal cancer forum is extremely helpful, several bery knowedgeable long time survivors share their stories and provide excellent information.

  • annie4145
    annie4145 Member Posts: 218 Member
    #6
    American cancer society can

    American cancer society can also attempt to find hotels at free or reduced rate.  The located hotel for 49 dollars per  night within 15 miles of s.f.  also ucsf has the koz house, based on sliding scale, max 125 per night, arranged thru hospital social worker.  Other hospitals may have something similar upon inquiry...

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #7
    Ouch

    So glad you posted this important and helpful information!

  • Kim Gaia
    Kim Gaia Member Posts: 73
    #8
    Here in BC if your cancer is

    Here in BC if your cancer is being treated by BC Cacer Agency and you have go out of town to obtain your treatment, there are 4 Canadian Cancer Society Lodges in BC at the 4 centres for treatment - Vancouver, Victoira, Kelowna, Prince George. I stayed at the Victoria Lodge for my 6 weeks of treatment The rate is $55/night for one twin bed in a  2-bed room. You will usually be bunking with a stranger. But some people pay for the 2nd bed for their spouse or support person, or did what I did and pay double for private room. 3 meals a days provided in the dining room as part of the fee. And off street parking $5/day. And staff is on duty 24/7 to help you with a problem. The lodges are located across the street from the Cancer centres. Most patients can walk . But a free shuttle bus is alwasy avilable to drive to peopel to treatment if you need. It was a very good arangement and I feel blessed to live somewhere that this service existed. It was a very friendly and supportive environment. It made my treatment a LOT easier and more humane. Although I was sure glad to get home to sleep in my own bed and eat in my own kitchen.

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