Incidence and mortality rates from all types of cancer are on the rise in the United States, Pennsylvania, and even in Crawford County.
At last November’s Crawford Health Improvement Coalition Annual Meeting, Dr. Nimit Sudan, Director of Medical Oncology at the Yolanda G. Barco Oncology Institute remarked that 562,875 people (or 23.2%) in the United States succumbed to some form of cancer in 2007.
Statewide, the Department of Health’s most recent report from 2009 showed that more than 75,000 people in Pennsylvania were diagnosed with some form of cancer. In Crawford County, more than 2,700 people contracted some form of cancer between 2004 and 2008. Those numbers have increased tremendously over the years.
With all of the depressing news, there is a bright light that may help people who have been afflicted with cancer. The American Cancer Society operates a program known as Road to Recovery which has become a godsend to those requiring regular treatment. According to the society, cancer patients may be able to survive longer by having their cancer move into remission from the treatments they receive. The problem is that sometimes these people cannot get to their appointments regularly or even at all.
The Road to Recovery provides free transportation for cancer patients to and from their cancer-related appointments. The program is made possible through volunteer drivers who give their time, talent and sometimes use of their personal vehicles to get these people to life-saving appointments.
Because the cancer incidence rates are up across the county, so is the need for this service. Last year, the American Cancer Society provided 595 rides to 29 individual cancer patients in Crawford County. This is up from just 224 rides provided the previous year – an increase of more than 60%! In neighboring Erie County, the number of rides doubled from 2010 to 2011, and in Warren County, the number of rides increased by 138%.
Considering that treatments can save lives in many cases, the need to keep appointments is critical. Crawford County is currently suffering from a 50% drop in volunteer drivers. As of December, there were only 6 drivers to handle the 600+ rides needed across the county. The treatments vary from patient to patient with some requiring transportation every week over the course of six to eight weeks while others need daily treatment for an undetermined amount of time. Anna-Marie Labowski, cancer control specialist with the American Cancer Society, made a fairly depressing statement recently when she said, “Many of these patients have no other available transportation so if a volunteer is not available their appointments are cancelled.”
As stated previously, these treatments could mean the different between life and death.
Toward that end, the American Cancer Society has put out a call for drivers. Drivers will be requested to transport patients from all over the county to their appointments, which could be local or in Erie, Buffalo, Cleveland or Pittsburgh. Thanks to the Meadville Medical Center, there is a van that can be utilized for many of these trips.
As per its motto, the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery program is one that works to save lives so we can live in a world with more birthdays.
How you can help:
Volunteer drivers are needed to help provide transportation to and from cancer treatment appointments. Drivers require no special skills or education. All that they need is a safe driving record, current insurance, some free time, a serviceable vehicle, and a willingness to help. To become a Road to Recovery volunteer, contact the American Cancer Society at 888-227-5445 or visit www.cancer.org.
References
Crawford Health Improvement Coalition. (2011). Annual meeting reports. Retrieved January 13, 2012 from http://www.crawfordcountypartnership.org.
Pennsylvania State Department of Health. (2011). Pennsylvania cancer incidence and mortality 2009 executive summary. Retrieved January 13, 2012 from http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=590073&mode=2.
Pennsylvania State Department of Health. (2011). An analysis of cancer incidence in Pennsylvania counties, 2004-2008. Retrieved January 13, 2012 from http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=596023&mode=2.
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