Jill Schulke, director of Patient Family Support Services at the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center (UNMCCC), stated that funding from the American Cancer Society (ACS) assists in the care of people and families seeking treatment. Her remarks, found in a July 7 news release from the Cancer Center, were made in response to the announcement of new ACS grants.
“The costs associated with transportation and lodging continue to put pressure on patients and their families who struggle with how to get here for treatment and, in some cases, how to stay near their loved ones and support them through the process,” Schulke said in the release. “Programs like these ACS grants help us try to alleviate that stress so our patients can focus on getting better.”
The ACS funding came in the form of two grants, which together added up to more than $45,000, according to the release. Part of the funding was intended for patient transportation and part for patient lodging.
UNMCCC is an important facility because it is the only comprehensive cancer center for a 500-mile radius around the city of Albuquerque, making it a crucial asset in the access of treatment for many state residents, the release said. The grants mark the center’s fourth year of funding, with the same amount delegated for lodging expenses but over two times more for transportation.
An annual event called the Lobo Cancer Challenge also brings in funding for UNMCCC, and registration for this year’s event has begun, the release said.
Directed by Yolanda Sanchez, the UNM Cancer Center, is one of 53 comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in America, according to its website. It is recognized as the official cancer center of the state and boasts modern, high-quality treatment.
The mission of the ACS is to put an end to cancer for all people, the organization’s website said. It works to improve the lives of cancer-affected people and families, implementing support, research and advocacy in their efforts to help patients.