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Travel Expenses/PD-1
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Travel Expenses/PD-1

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Travel Expenses/PD-1

  • Post
    • December 30, 2013 at 6:45 pm
    Brendan
    Participant

      Hi Everyone,

      I hope the holidays are treating you well.  

      I am happy to report that I am now in a PD-1 trial.  I am receiving nivolumab every other Friday for at least five more doses. If I respond then I will receive six additional doses.  The clinical trial is in Tampa and I live in Philadelphia.  I have flown down twice and the bills are already adding up.  USAir and Southwest fly daily and I am going to look into their medical travel programs.

      Does anyone know of any agencies, non-profits, etc., that help cancer patients with travel expenses?  The primary expense is obviously airfare, but car rental adds up too.

      Thanks and good luck to you,

      Brendan

       

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • December 30, 2013 at 7:30 pm
        POW
        Participant

          Hi, Brendan-

          That's great news that you are on the trial and have actually gotten started with your treatments. Hooray!

          Travel expenses really can mount up. I hope that others here can give you suggestions about how to save money. I do have a couple of suggestions; these are things I have heard about but never used myself.

          1. Contact your clinical trial coordinator and ask him/her to refer you to a Moffitt social worker. They often know a lot about financial assistance programs available to cancer patients.

          2. Contact Angel Flights and Angel Flights Southeast as well as the individual airlines.

          3. I think the American Cancer Society offers small grants ($500/yr maybe?) for travel.

          4. I think that the Melanoma International Foundation sponsors a few travel grants. Contact Catherine Poole for more info: [email protected]

          5. Post your question on the Melanoma International Foundation forum, too. Maybe some folks there will have some suggestions.

          It is my understanding that what works best is to cobble together several small programs (some air fare, some ground transportation, some hotel discounts, etc) that in aggregate add up to quite a lot of savings. This requires a lot of research and paperwork, but it might be worth it to you. 

          • December 30, 2013 at 7:30 pm
          POW
          Participant

            Hi, Brendan-

            That's great news that you are on the trial and have actually gotten started with your treatments. Hooray!

            Travel expenses really can mount up. I hope that others here can give you suggestions about how to save money. I do have a couple of suggestions; these are things I have heard about but never used myself.

            1. Contact your clinical trial coordinator and ask him/her to refer you to a Moffitt social worker. They often know a lot about financial assistance programs available to cancer patients.

            2. Contact Angel Flights and Angel Flights Southeast as well as the individual airlines.

            3. I think the American Cancer Society offers small grants ($500/yr maybe?) for travel.

            4. I think that the Melanoma International Foundation sponsors a few travel grants. Contact Catherine Poole for more info: [email protected]

            5. Post your question on the Melanoma International Foundation forum, too. Maybe some folks there will have some suggestions.

            It is my understanding that what works best is to cobble together several small programs (some air fare, some ground transportation, some hotel discounts, etc) that in aggregate add up to quite a lot of savings. This requires a lot of research and paperwork, but it might be worth it to you. 

            • December 30, 2013 at 7:30 pm
            POW
            Participant

              Hi, Brendan-

              That's great news that you are on the trial and have actually gotten started with your treatments. Hooray!

              Travel expenses really can mount up. I hope that others here can give you suggestions about how to save money. I do have a couple of suggestions; these are things I have heard about but never used myself.

              1. Contact your clinical trial coordinator and ask him/her to refer you to a Moffitt social worker. They often know a lot about financial assistance programs available to cancer patients.

              2. Contact Angel Flights and Angel Flights Southeast as well as the individual airlines.

              3. I think the American Cancer Society offers small grants ($500/yr maybe?) for travel.

              4. I think that the Melanoma International Foundation sponsors a few travel grants. Contact Catherine Poole for more info: [email protected]

              5. Post your question on the Melanoma International Foundation forum, too. Maybe some folks there will have some suggestions.

              It is my understanding that what works best is to cobble together several small programs (some air fare, some ground transportation, some hotel discounts, etc) that in aggregate add up to quite a lot of savings. This requires a lot of research and paperwork, but it might be worth it to you. 

              • January 1, 2014 at 2:09 pm
              ReginaTink
              Participant

                I'm to start anti-pd1 in a few weeks and live in washington pa.  I will go to hillman cancer center in pittsburgh pa which would be a shorter distance for you.  Hope you can keep me updated on your treatments and how you feel.  I am concerned about side affects because I could not tolerate interferon.  Regina

                • January 1, 2014 at 2:09 pm
                ReginaTink
                Participant

                  I'm to start anti-pd1 in a few weeks and live in washington pa.  I will go to hillman cancer center in pittsburgh pa which would be a shorter distance for you.  Hope you can keep me updated on your treatments and how you feel.  I am concerned about side affects because I could not tolerate interferon.  Regina

                  • January 1, 2014 at 2:09 pm
                  ReginaTink
                  Participant

                    I'm to start anti-pd1 in a few weeks and live in washington pa.  I will go to hillman cancer center in pittsburgh pa which would be a shorter distance for you.  Hope you can keep me updated on your treatments and how you feel.  I am concerned about side affects because I could not tolerate interferon.  Regina

                Viewing 5 reply threads
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