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survivorship and patient services Road to Recovery helps cancer patients get the treatment they need It is hard to think of a cancer patient missing a critical medical treatment simply because he or she does not have a ride. This is the reality for some cancer patients who are too weak to drive themselves, or who don't have relatives or friends living nearby to drive them. 
The American Cancer Society (ACS) is always working to improve the quality of life for cancer patients. Our Road to Recovery program is designed to connect patients who need rides with trained volunteer drivers. It is a life-saving program for many patients who need a ride to stay on track with their treatment. The success of the program revolves around the volunteer drivers who donate their time and the use of their personal vehicles. To become a driver, volunteers must have a safe driving record, a valid driver's license, and proof of auto insurance. They undergo a thorough training program which includes understanding the ACS and our mission, issues like patient confidentiality, and more. All volunteer drivers must allow the ACS to perform a criminal background check and a Department of Motor Vehicles check. When the need for a driver arises, the ACS's local volunteer coordinators call drivers to check their availability. Once a driver is found, they are given the patient's address, location and time of the treatment, and an expected length of the appointment. Then they simply pick the patient up at the arranged time, drive to his or her appointment, and return later to bring the patient safely home. Being a Road to Recovery driver Paul McNamara, a four year cancer survivor from Fort Wayne, Indiana, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2002. While undergoing his own treatment, he recognized that many cancer patients weren't able to drive themselves to their appointments. "I noticed some chemo buddies that were taking cabs to get treatment and I felt that it was just not right in my mind. People with cancer need someone with them to give them TLC," he said. Paul decided to find out if there was any way to help his "chemo buddies" and learned about Road to Recovery. He volunteered for the first time in early September 2006. Although it is not required for Road drivers to be cancer survivors, he provides a unique comfort to the patients he drives because of their common cancer experiences. "I think I have a better understanding of what they are going through. It seemed like they felt a little more comfortable knowing that I understood," he said. The patient's perspective Edna McCauley, a cancer patient from South Bend, Indiana, who is currently undergoing treatment, heard about Road to Recovery from her doctor and uses the program every two weeks to get to her appointments. "This program is important because we have no car and my daughter is on disability. It's wonderful, it's like a miracle," she said. How to help If you would like to volunteer or learn more about Road to Recovery in your area, please call 1-800-ACS-2345 to get in touch with your local American Cancer Society area service center. Pictured above: Paul McNamara. | |
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