People who need to travel for cancer treatment often encounter added challenges. The emotional and physical toll is profound, and for many, the financial burden only adds to the stress. This is particularly true for those living outside major cities, where long distance travel for appointments, tests and treatment is often unavoidable.
To ease that burden, the Canadian Cancer Society offers the Cancer Travel and Accommodation Services (CTAAS) program. Thanks to the generous funding from the Government of B.C., this vital support is available to B.C. residents who are currently in active treatment or will soon be undergoing active treatment, and who meet specific income and distance criteria.
Whether it's chemotherapy, specialized procedures like bone marrow transplants, CAR-T therapy, or ongoing follow-up care, the costs of travel and accommodation can quickly become overwhelming. For many, these additional challenges create significant barriers to accessing timely, essential care.
Complete your CTAAS application online here
Through the program, eligible individuals and families can access:
- Travel treatment funding: Financial assistance for travel and temporary relocation related to cancer care.
- Free accommodation: Comfortable Canadian Cancer Society lodges near treatment centres offer a welcoming place to stay, allowing those affected by cancer to focus on healing.
- Transportation assistance: Volunteers from the Wheels of Hope program provide reliable, compassionate rides to and from appointments.
“We know how tough it is to deal with a cancer diagnosis. It’s a life-changing event that impacts patients and their families deeply, especially when travelling for treatment is necessary. The CTAAS program is here to help make things a bit easier by reducing the stress of logistics and financial costs, allowing patients to focus on their treatment and recovery,” said Carolyn Knox, Senior Director of Access to Care, Canadian Cancer Society.
Getting care shouldn’t be the hardest part of someone’s experience with cancer. For people affected by cancer in British Columbia, help is here. To learn more, including how to book support services, please visit cancer.ca/CTAAS, email BCTravelFund@cancer.ca or call 1-888-939-3333.