Why Give?

This number is growing due to the need for the specialized expertise and equipment only found in larger cancer centers and to a growing scarcity of oncology resources, particularly in rural communities.  

Many patients who need to travel for their care simply cannot afford to do so.  While insurance may cover treatment expenses, it rarely covers the cost of travel.  This financial burden causes patients to sacrifice needed treatment or receive inappropriate care:

• Patients with breast cancer who lived farther from a radiation treatment facility more often underwent mastectomy instead of Breast Conserving Surgery (BCS) or did not undergo radiation treatment after BCS.
• Patients who lived farther from radiation facilities were less likely to receive breast and rectal cancer radiation treatment.
• Patients with localized Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer who lived farther from a specialist hospital were less likely to have potentially curative surgery. 

For cancer patients who live in rural US communities, the situation is even more dire and the need for travel is growing at an even more rapid pace: 

• More than 70% of U.S. counties do not have any medical oncologists, made worse by the fact that rural community hospitals and cancer centers are closing at an increasing rate. 
• Radiation treatment often requires multiple day treatment for multiple consecutive weeks, placing a greater travel burden on rural patients.  

These statistics are only a few of many. If you have interest in finding out more information on these studies and the need, you can find more in our Additional Information section.