American Cancer Society Transportation Program

Powered by Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Who is eligible for assistance?
Low-income (<250% of Federal poverty level), uninsured and Medicaid-eligible women who live in or are being treated anywhere in Oregon or the following counties of Washington: Clark, Skamania, and Cowlitz.

What type of assistance is available?
Transportation, lodging and food assistance in the form of pre-paid gift cards or transit vouchers is offered through a generous grant from the Oregon and SW Washington Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure to help women travel to breast cancer treatment, screening and diagnostic mammography appointments.

How much assistance is provided?
For treatment, up to $1,000 total is provided for any one breast cancer patient (with the possibility of a $1,500 cap in very special circumstances).  Outside the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan areas, where public transportation is rare, transportation assistance is only available in gas cards, which will be issued in $50 $100 increments.  Within the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area, for screening appointments, MAX and bus passes will be available, though gas cards are available for those with access to private vehicles, as long as they live 25 miles or more from their treatment facility.

Hotel rooms can be handled via $100 vouchers, though we are often able to negotiate for better rates, or even free rooms.  Food is managed via $50 Visa cards, or gift cards at common restaurants such as Applebee’s.

All cards are issued to the recipient individually, with her name appearing on the card.

For screening, one $25 gas card is available, per person.

How can women access this assistance?
Please click here for an informational spreadsheet, which lists the covered Oregon and Washington counties, and gives phone numbers for the American Cancer Society facility or staff member to call.  If a woman lives or is traveling for treatment to one of the covered counties then she meets the residence/treatment eligibility criterion.

Call the number provided, and the person at the other end will complete the application forms and submit them, and send you a copy.