The Cancer Center at the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center is offering gasoline gift cards to cancer patients who must regularly travel to the capital city for treatment.
Due the rising costs of fuel and the high expense of cancer treatment, the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center Foundation awarded a $10,000 internal grant to the Cheyenne Regional Cancer Center to buy gas cards for patients in need.
“Fuel has gotten expensive. Many of our cancer patients have to travel to our cancer center multiple times a week for treatment,” the foundation announced on social media Thursday. “This unfortunately causes a financial burden and can prevent compliance with receiving treatment.”
The doctors at the cancer center treat about 50 types of cancer, including breast, lung, brain, skin and much more.
The center offers radiation and medical oncology treatment, a on-site ambulatory infusion center and lab, cancer screening and prevention programs, financial counseling/navigation services, community outreach and education, social work consultations, local transportation services and a resource center and library.
The American Cancer Society said in a report that in 2018, U.S. cancer patients paid $5.6 billion out of pocket for treatments, including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. The organization also shared in the same report the fact that 16.9 million Americans have a history with cancer.
According to the Wyoming cancer plan, issued by the state Department of Health, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the state, killing around 1,000 people each year.
The most common types of cancer seen in Wyoming are prostate, female breast, lung, colorectal and melanoma. There are an estimated 40,000 survivors living in the state.
While there are nine cancer centers in the state, none treat childhood cancer, meaning families have to leave Wyoming in order to receive treatment.
