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Transportation for Cancer Patients: How to Get to Chemo, Radiation & Treatment

Cancer treatment is exhausting. The last thing patients should worry about is how to get there.

Yet transportation is one of the biggest barriers to cancer care. Up to one-third of cancer patients face transportation challenges, leading to delayed or missed appointments and worse health outcomes (PMC/NIH). A study found that transportation barriers account for 62% of missed cancer appointments—more than illness, scheduling conflicts, or any other factor (American College of Surgeons).

The stakes are high: up to 20% of cancer patients miss two or more radiation appointments, increasing their risk of cancer recurrence and death (ASCO Post).

The good news is that many free and low-cost transportation options exist specifically for cancer patients. This guide covers every major program—from volunteer drivers to free flights—so you can focus on treatment, not logistics.

Why Cancer Patients Need Reliable Transportation

Cancer treatment isn't a single appointment—it's a months-long commitment requiring dozens of trips.

Treatment Frequency

Treatment Type Typical Schedule Total Trips
Radiation therapy 5 days/week for 3-7 weeks 15-35 trips
Chemotherapy Every 2-3 weeks for 3-6 months 8-12 cycles
Follow-up visits Weekly to monthly Varies

A breast cancer patient receiving standard radiation may need transportation five days a week for six weeks—that's 30 round trips (Living Beyond Breast Cancer). Add chemotherapy, follow-ups, and lab work, and the transportation burden becomes overwhelming.

The Real Impact of Transportation Barriers

Research shows that lack of transportation significantly influences whether patients continue or quit treatment:

  • 62% of missed cancer appointments are due to transportation barriers (ACS)
  • Patients without reliable vehicles are more likely to stop radiotherapy prematurely (Transportation Research Record)
  • 7-27% of patients report transportation as a reason for not enrolling in clinical trials (PMC/NIH)
  • Transportation insecurity leads to "missed or delayed administration of systemic therapies, radiation, and surgery, potentially resulting in higher rates of cancer recurrence and worse survival" (PMC/NIH)

Free Transportation Programs for Cancer Patients

American Cancer Society Road to Recovery

Best for: Cancer patients needing free rides to any cancer-related appointment

The American Cancer Society's Road to Recovery program provides free rides to cancer-related medical appointments using trained volunteer drivers (American Cancer Society).

How it works:

  • Volunteer drivers pick you up, take you to your appointment, and bring you home
  • Completely free—no cost to patients
  • Available for chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and follow-up visits

Eligibility:

  • Must be traveling to a cancer-related medical appointment
  • Patients who can't walk independently may need a caregiver to accompany them
  • Patients under 18 need an adult escort

How to request a ride: Call 1-800-227-2345 well in advance of your appointment—it can take several business days to coordinate rides.

Limitations:

  • Availability varies by location
  • Requires advance scheduling
  • May not be available in all areas

Medicaid Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)

Best for: Cancer patients enrolled in Medicaid

If you have Medicaid, you're entitled to free transportation to medical appointments, including cancer treatment. This is a federally mandated benefit in all states (Medicaid.gov).

Medicaid NEMT serves over 4 million patients annually and covers:

  • Transportation to chemotherapy and radiation
  • Rides to surgery and hospital visits
  • Follow-up appointments and lab work
  • Pharmacy visits for cancer medications

How to access:

  1. Call the number on your Medicaid card
  2. Request transportation 2-3 business days ahead
  3. For recurring treatments (chemo, radiation), ask about standing orders

Limitations:

  • Some states limit trips to 25 miles (75 miles for rural areas)
  • State policies vary—some impose small co-pays ($1-2 per trip)
  • May require advance scheduling

Learn more about Medicaid transportation

CancerCare Transportation Assistance

Best for: Patients with specific cancer types who need financial help with transportation costs

CancerCare offers transportation assistance grants through their "CancerCare Get You There" program for eligible patients with metastatic breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and squamous cell non-small-cell lung cancer (CancerCare).

How it works:

  • Individual grants help offset transportation costs
  • Funding depends on available resources and is first-come, first-served
  • If funds aren't available, CancerCare refers patients to other resources

How to apply: Call 800-813-HOPE (4673) and speak with an oncology social worker. The Hopeline is open Monday-Thursday 10am-6pm ET and Friday 10am-5pm ET.

Susan G. Komen Financial Assistance

Best for: Breast cancer patients with financial need

Susan G. Komen provides $500 grants for eligible breast cancer patients to cover daily living costs including transportation to treatment (Susan G. Komen).

Key statistic: Among Komen grant recipients, 29% identified transportation to and from treatment as their top financial stressor (Komen).

Eligibility:

  • Currently in active treatment for stage 0-3 breast cancer diagnosed in the last 24 months, OR living with metastatic breast cancer
  • Household income at or below 300% of Federal Poverty Level
  • Haven't received a Komen award in the past 12 months

How to apply: Call the Komen Patient Care Center at 1-877-GO KOMEN or email helpline@komen.org to connect with a navigator.

Blood Cancer United (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society)

Best for: Blood cancer patients needing travel assistance

Blood Cancer United (formerly Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) offers several transportation assistance programs (Blood Cancer United):

Program Amount Eligibility
Susan Lang Pay-It-Forward Travel Assistance $500 Blood cancer patients with household income ≤600% FPL
Pre CAR T-cell Therapy Travel Assistance $2,500 Patients being evaluated for CAR T-cell therapy
Patient Aid Program $100 Any blood cancer patient in treatment (no income requirement)
Urgent Need Program $500 Blood cancer patients with urgent non-medical expenses

Covered expenses: Ground transportation, gas, parking, tolls, car rental, air transportation, lodging, and ambulance services.

How to apply: Call (877) 557-2672 to speak with an Intake Specialist, Monday-Friday 8:30am-8pm ET.

Free Flights for Cancer Patients

For patients who need to travel long distances for specialized treatment, several organizations provide free air transportation.

Corporate Angel Network

Best for: Ambulatory cancer patients traveling to treatment centers

Corporate Angel Network arranges free travel on corporate business aircraft for cancer patients, bone marrow donors, and stem cell recipients (Corporate Angel Network).

Eligibility:

  • Must have a cancer diagnosis
  • Must be ambulatory (able to walk)
  • No medical assistance required during flight
  • Traveling for treatment, clinical trial, or second opinion

How it works: Corporations donate empty seats on their business flights. CAN matches patients with available flights at no cost.

Air Charity Network / Angel Flight

Best for: Cancer patients needing regional air transportation

The Air Charity Network coordinates volunteer pilots who fly patients in their own aircraft, completely free (Air Charity Network).

Regional chapters include:

  • Angel Flight Northeast
  • Angel Flight West (90,000+ flights over 40 years)
  • Angel Flight Southeast (3,000+ missions annually)
  • Angel Flight Soars (serving the Southeast)

Eligibility:

  • Must be ambulatory
  • Trips typically under 750 miles
  • No medical monitoring required during flight

How to request: Contact the Angel Flight chapter serving your region or call the Air Charity Network.

Mercy Medical Angels

Best for: Patients needing ground or air transportation over 50 miles

Mercy Medical Angels has provided over 400,000 charitable transportation trips since 1972, making it the nation's oldest and largest charitable medical transportation provider (Mercy Medical Angels).

Services include:

Service Details
Ground transportation Gas cards, bus tickets, train tickets for trips 50-300 miles
Volunteer pilot flights Free flights under 750 miles in select states
Commercial airline assistance Discounted/free airline tickets for trips over 750 miles

Requirements:

  • Must be ambulatory
  • Minimum 21 days' notice for flight assistance
  • Medical clearance form from doctor required

Contact: Visit mercymedical.org or call 757-318-9174.

Other Transportation Options

Medicare Advantage Plans

Original Medicare doesn't cover routine transportation, but some Medicare Advantage plans include transportation benefits. In 2026, 24% of individual Medicare Advantage plans offer transportation for medical needs (KFF).

Check your plan's benefits or call the number on your card to ask about transportation coverage.

Learn more about Medicare transportation benefits

Hospital Social Workers

If you're struggling with transportation, ask to speak with your hospital's social worker. Social workers can:

  • Connect you with local transportation programs
  • Help you apply for Medicaid (which includes NEMT)
  • Identify charitable resources in your area
  • Coordinate with patient navigation services

Research shows that hospitals with patient navigators and social workers have significantly lower rates of missed appointments (ACS).

Rideshare Programs

Some cancer centers partner with Uber Health or Lyft to provide subsidized rides. One study found that rideshare services resulted in 94% of appointments being attended and patients spending half the travel time compared to public transportation (PMC/NIH).

Ask your treatment center if they offer rideshare partnerships.

Volunteer Driver Programs

Many communities have local volunteer driver programs through:

  • Faith-based organizations
  • Senior centers
  • Community nonprofits
  • Hospital volunteer programs

Contact your local Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-677-1116 or dial 211 to find volunteer transportation in your area.

Tips for Managing Cancer Transportation

Plan Ahead

  1. Ask about transportation early — Don't wait until you're overwhelmed
  2. Set up standing orders — For recurring treatments, arrange regular pickup times
  3. Keep a backup plan — Have 2-3 transportation options identified
  4. Request morning appointments — Often easier to arrange transportation

Reduce the Burden

  1. Cluster appointments — Schedule multiple appointments on the same day when possible
  2. Ask about shorter treatment options — Some early-stage cancers qualify for condensed radiation schedules (3 weeks instead of 6)
  3. Explore telehealth — Some follow-ups can be done virtually
  4. Accept help — Let family and friends contribute rides

Know Your Rights

  • Medicaid patients have a legal right to transportation to medical appointments
  • Cancer centers are required to have social workers who can help with logistics
  • Clinical trials increasingly offer transportation support to participants

Finding Transportation Near You

Ready to find transportation to your cancer treatment? Here are your next steps:

  1. If you have Medicaid: Call the number on your card to arrange free transportation
  2. For free volunteer rides: Call Road to Recovery at 1-800-227-2345
  3. For financial assistance: Call CancerCare at 800-813-HOPE (4673)
  4. For free flights: Contact Corporate Angel Network or Air Charity Network
  5. For local resources: Call your hospital social worker or dial 211

MedTransport Finder lists NEMT providers across all 50 states who can help with cancer treatment transportation. Search for providers in your area with details on:

  • Wheelchair and stretcher transport
  • Medicaid acceptance
  • Service areas and hours
  • Patient reviews

Find transportation providers near you

Related Guides

Sources:

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