Housing and Travel Resources for Cancer Patients

Getting the proper cancer care often means traveling. It can involve booking flights, arranging rides, or finding a place to stay, often while juggling treatment schedules and daily responsibilities. The added expense and logistics of these challenges can put a strain on patients and their families and make care seem out of reach for some.

Travel and housing support help reduce that burden, making it easier to follow through with care. The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) does not provide travel and housing support directly, but we have created a list of resources to help you access the services you need. The resources below connect you to programs that help cover expenses, offer safe lodging, and make the process more manageable.

Why Assistance for Cancer Patients Matters

Travel and housing support make care more accessible and manageable for people living with multiple myeloma and other cancers. These services help address both practical and emotional challenges during treatment:

Access to specialized care: Many patients need to travel to major cancer centers or clinical trial sites that offer treatments not available locally.
Fewer logistical barriers: Coordinating appointments, travel, and accommodations can feel overwhelming. Support helps patients focus on their health rather than these details.
Long treatment accommodation: Some treatments require patients to stay near a facility for days or weeks. Temporary housing options provide comfortable accommodation during treatments.
Peace of mind for care partners: When care partners and loved ones know that travel and lodging are arranged, they can focus more fully on supporting their loved one's care.
Reduced financial strain: Lodging, transportation, and related expenses can add up quickly — support programs help ease the cost burden.

Transportation Assistance for Cancer Patients

Getting to and from treatment isn't always simple, especially when care is far from home or frequent appointments are required. Transportation assistance programs can help so that travel doesn't become a barrier to care:

Air Care Alliance: This organization supports a national network of volunteer pilot groups whose members assist patients in accessing free air transportation.
Air Charity Network™: This organization allows patients who need to travel to specialized healthcare facilities or distant locations access free air transportation.
Corporate Angels Network: Their goal is to help cancer patients access specialized treatment by arranging free travel across the country using vacant seats on corporate jets.
Lifeline Pilots: They help people in medical and financial distress access free air transportation on small private planes for distant health care.
Mercy Medical Angels: They provide free transportation for medical care for patients and their care partners.
PALS SkyHope: This organization provides free medical flights to people who need to access medical care that is two or more hours away.

Housing Assistance for Cancer Patients

Finding a safe, affordable place to stay during treatment can be difficult, especially when care requires overnight or extended visits far from home. Housing support programs help patients and families access temporary lodging to stay close to care with added financial or logistical stress:

Charitable lodging in Minnesota: Rochester, Minnesota, offers patients a home away from home when seeking medical care with the support they need.
Joe's House: This housing resource helps cancer patients and their families who must travel away from home for medical treatment find accommodation.
Our Hotel Partners Program: The American Cancer Society and hotels nationwide provide overnight accommodations to cancer patients traveling for outpatient treatment.

Financial Assistance for Travel and Accommodation

These financial assistance programs can help cover the travel costs for patients diagnosed with blood cancer to evaluate their eligibility for CAR T-cell therapy:

Susan Lang Pay-It-Forward Patient Travel Assistance Programs: The fund provides a grant of $500 once in a six month period to patients diagnosed with blood cancer who are being evaluated to determine if they are eligible to receive CAR T-cell therapy.
Susan Lang Pre CAR T-Cell Therapy Travel Assistance Program: Cancer patients who are being evaluated to receive CAR T-cell therapy can apply for assistance for transport and lodging expenses of $2,500.

Making the Journey a Little Easier

Travel and accommodation support can relieve some of the pressure of traveling for care. Through these assistance programs, patients can focus on treatment and recovery. Whether planning in advance or adjusting quickly, you don't have to manage logistics alone — these resources help you get the care you need, no matter where it's located.