Mesothelioma is a rare, incurable cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Standard treatments are surgery, when possible, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Combination therapy, using more than one mode of treatment, has the highest success with prolonging survival times and improving quality of life. Even in combination, standard frontline treatments are often not effective so participating in clinical trials that are investigating new therapies is highly recommended.
To participate in a mesothelioma clinical trial or alternative treatment sometimes means that the patient diagnosed with mesothelioma may need to travel, not an easy or inexpensive thing to do when there is advanced stage cancer. The first step is to talk with your treating oncologist to make sure that dates of travel do not interrupt on-going, already scheduled treatments. Discuss the best trip dates, mode of transportation, and risks with your medical team before making any decisions.
If you decide to pursue traveling for treatment, prepare by having all necessary medicines, directions regarding medication use, physicians and family members’ phone number and FAX, information about medical care facilities along the route and at the place of destination, photocopies of recent treatments, and locations for prescription refills. Take extra precautions to protect your health by washing hands, wearing a mask, and avoiding contact with those that are ill before, during or after travel.
Several organizations have been formed to help assist cancer patients, including those with mesothelioma, to travel for treatments. These include:
Helps anyone who can independently walk without assistance or life/emergency care support provide travel for treatment or bone marrow donations by providing private jet transportation with a travel companion.
(914) 328-1313 info@corpangelnetwork.org.
Specialized service also available for veterans with mesothelioma and/or active military personnel and their family members through Angel Flight Veterans.
Provides free air transportation to people in need of specialized health care at distant locations
1-800-549-9980 www.aircharitynetwork.org
Provides charitable, long-distance medical air transportation to patients in need of specialized medical evaluation, diagnosis or treatment who cannot afford the cost of travel
1-800-296-1217 info@nationalpatienttravelcenter.org
Patient transport provided by volunteer pilot organizations to help those in need of medical treatment
1-888-260-9707 mail@aircareall.org
If flying on a public airline, patients seeking treatment should be as prepared as possible and allow plenty of time before departure. Certain steps can help alleviate the stress and toll of travel, such as early boarding, assistance getting to gate and with luggage, pre-investigation as to what medical and medicine equipment is allowed on-board, and if it’s necessary to get pre-authorization from an Airline Medical Officer (AMO) to fly.
In addition to travel, free, or greatly discounted, accommodations throughout the United States while traveling for cancer treatment are also provided through:
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or any other asbestos related cancer and are in need of transportation or lodging, hopefully the above information will prove useful and provide the support and services you need.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 1st, 2010 at 4:49 pm and is filed under Mesothelioma Treatment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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