American Cancer Society awards $5,000 grant to CHRISTUS Ochsner SWLA Foundation

The American Cancer Society has awarded $5,000 to CHRISTUS Ochsner Southwestern Louisiana (SWLA) Foundation to provide transportation assistance to people with cancer during treatment.

Funding from the grant is providing free gift cards to help cancer patients travel to and from their treatment appointments at CHRISTUS Ochsner St. Patrick Regional Cancer Center, ensuring they have access to the necessary care without the added burden of transportation costs.

“Many cancer patients drive as much as an hour each way to reach daily treatment appointments at the CHRISTUS Ochsner Regional Cancer Center,” said Dr. David S. Chang, director of radiology, oncology. “Long-distance transportation can be a substantial barrier to care. This burden falls especially hard upon patients of limited financial means. This grant will help lighten the load for our most vulnerable patients. We greatly appreciate the philanthropic support from the American Cancer Society and the CHRISTUS Ochsner SWLA Foundation.”

The American Cancer Society grant is part of a nationwide investment of $9.2 million that is expected to provide 81,500 eligible patients with 830,000 transportation and lodging services.

“These gas cards have been so helpful. I have not been able to work during my treatments. I drive 54 miles to the hospital each way for 28 treatments and it has been less burdensome with the help of the American Cancer Society’s transportation grant,” said Barbara Morgan, a cancer patient at CHRISTUS Ochsner St. Patrick Regional Cancer Center. “I’m so appreciative of the hospital and foundation staff, as well as the American Cancer Society for these very helpful funds.”

Access to high-quality cancer treatment impacts cancer outcomes. A lack of the transportation and lodging needed to receive quality care can lead to missed appointments, treatment interruptions, and delays in follow-up care. In a 2023 Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI) study, American Cancer Society 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.

“Transportation obstacles or the cost of a hotel room should not be barriers that determine the survival of those needing cancer treatment,” said Dr. Arif Kamal, chief patient officer for the American Cancer Society. “Partnering with health systems and organizations across the country to provide funding to deliver the direct assistance needed helps to fill these equity gaps and improves cancer outcomes.

The American Cancer Society believes all people should have a fair and just opportunity to live a longer, healthier life free from cancer regardless of how much money they make, skin color, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or where they live. In addition to providing transportation and lodging funding to health systems and organizations, the American Cancer Society runs a Road To Recovery program that provides free rides to and from treatment and over 30 Hope Lodge communities that provide a free place to stay during treatment.