Positive Cancer

I have mentioned in previous posts that Cancer hits the wallet hard, and that I would post information that I had from my own experiences about how to save some money. One way to do that is to save on where you are staying.

In Canada, Weston Hotels partners with the Canadian Cancer Society and donates rooms for out-of-town people to use, free of any charge. That’s right, absolutely free, as long as you call the Canadian Cancer Society and tell them what your appointment is about, give them your information, your doctors information and they will begin the process. It’s best to give them a good amount of time so that they can get Weston Hotels the information of dates and times as soon as possible.

In addition to the Weston, several different Hotel chains offer a “hospital” discount, especially if they are located near a hospital. In my case during one of my visits to Calgary, I could not stay at the Weston Hotel as it was booked up completely, and so I called three different hotels in the vicinity of the hospital and all three gave me a discounted “hospital” rate which basically amounted to 15 percent off the normal rates.

When trying to deal with Cancer every person must do whatever is possible to reduce stress, and hopefully having a little more information of what is available out there will help to do exactly this. That’s Positive Cancer.

Often times people, myself included, come up with excuses for why we do the things we do, or don’t do. Take for instance working out. We know we have Cancer, and we know that exercise generally helps with both the physical problems associated with Cancer, and the Mental, and yet we do not take the time to work out. This post is to help you overcome that, and get you into the gym.

I have to start by once again stressing that I am not a doctor, just a patient who has found his way with simple methods, and low cost means. Any exercise program should be run past your family physician, or your specific Cancer doctors, or anyone who is helping you with recovery and knows your condition better. With that in mind, one of the most devastating things about Cancer is that it hurts you not just physically, and not just mentally, but it really hits you fiscally.

Cancer is expensive to live with, and as such, many people use lack of funds as an excuse to continue to feel sorry for their condition, and in a way they accept that Cancer kills their previous lifestyle, or carefree attitude. While some sulking, self-reflection and depression are normal, one cannot live life being held back by our own inability to move forward. If you want something bad enough, you can make it happen, and that includes affording a gym membership to get you on the path to feeling healthy.

I have received help from several different sources but one of the best, and I mean best source is the YMCA. Let me clear up something, I do not work for the YMCA, they are not endorsing me, and I have no connection to them other than I am a member at one of their gyms. As someone who has gone to them with financial difficulties, I am in the position to tell you how they can help, and that’s what this website is all about.

YMCA will not turn you down, regardless of whether you can afford a membership or not, as long as you’re situation is legitimate. That means that if you can afford only a few dollars a month, their okay with that because they are a not-for-profit organization. I have gone to two different YMCA’s in two different cities, and both membership directors were unbelievably accommodating, and both were very sympathetic to my needs and neither had any problems with helping me get into the gym. Not only did they help me, they gave me a family membership to help my wife and kids get into the gym as well. You cannot ask for more than that.

Cancer is hard, but getting into the gym is easy, as long as you have the willpower. If your doctor thinks you can handle it, but your wallet disagrees, seek the nearest YMCA.

Part of what makes it hard to stay positive when dealing with Cancer is the toll it takes on your wallet. I know from my own experience how hard it is to come up with the kinds of money required for additional care, transportation, medication, and support. This post deals with an interesting form of help that is available in Canada.

The charitable organization is called Hope Air, and I have personally used their service. Here’s what Hope Air says about itself, via its webpage:

Hope Air is a national Registered Charity founded in 1986. We help Canadians in financial need fly to necessary medical treatment.

Our vision is to ensure that no Canadian is denied medical care for inability to afford air travel. To achieve our mission, we arrange free flights to recognized health facilities for medical treatment unavailable in a patient’s home community.

Since our inception we have provided over 50,000 flights to Canadians in need. The majority of Hope Air’s aircraft seat capacity is generously provided by Canada’s commercial airlines, while our Volunteer Pilot Program provides a significant number of flights in most provinces as well.

When I called Hope Air, they took some information concerning my financial status, and then asked for doctor’s names, appointment times, and when I wanted to travel. They explained to me that if I was eligible, based on lower income, I would be able to travel to my treatment for a fee of $50. Furthermore they told me that I could take an escort if the doctors thought I needed one for an additional $50. That’s $100 for two people, round trip to see my doctors. In my case they saved me over $700 on the flight, and I used them twice, which amounted to a $1400 savings. There are limitations on what you can do with them, as they go through commercial flights and are not an airline themselves, the most stringent of which being that they can only fly you twice a calendar year.

I found Hope Air to be of great help to me when I had to travel for appointments, and because I had persons with disability status, I was further able to get them to pay the $50 fee.

The website for Hope Air is http://www.hopeair.org. Of course they are a Canadian charity and can only help Canadians. If you know of anything similar within the United States, or other Countries, please send me the information at webmaster@positivecancer.com or just post a comment on this article.