Traveling for Treatment, Centered on Healing

For many patients, a cancer diagnosis is followed by another unexpected challenge: leaving home for treatment. Whether you’re travelling from another state or another country, planning medical care in an unfamiliar city can feel overwhelming. At the New York Proton Center (NYPC), patients are never expected to navigate those challenges alone.

As one of the world’s leading proton therapy centers, the New York Proton Center (NYPC) welcomes patients from throughout the United States and around the globe. While every patient’s journey is unique, one thing remains consistent: our team works to make traveling for treatment as seamless as possible so patients can focus on what matters most — healing.

Before You Arrive: A Team That Helps You Plan

Before treatment begins, the NYPC care team helps patients coordinate many of the practical details that come with receiving care away from home. From scheduling appointments to discussing transportation and nearby lodging options, patients receive guidance well before their first day of treatment.

For international patients, this support extends even further. Social workers can assist with documentation needed for medical travel, including letters that may help patients and accompanying family members or caregivers obtain visas to travel to the United States for treatment. The team also provides guidance on travel logistics and accommodations, helping patients feel prepared before they arrive.

Finding a Place to Stay During Treatment

Traveling for treatment often means staying away from home for days or weeks. NYPC’s social workers help patients identify lodging options based on their needs, eligibility, and treatment plan. Among them are the Ronald McDonald House, providing lodging and support services for pediatric and young adult patients through age 26 and their families, as well as the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge for patients age 18 and older.

Supporting Patients Beyond Medical Care

At NYPC, social workers are an integral part of each patient’s care team, helping address the non-clinical needs that can significantly impact the treatment experience. They connect patients with community resources, provide emotional support, help navigate financial concerns, coordinate practical services, and assist families as they adjust to life during treatment.

Whether someone needs assistance finding local resources, understanding available support programs, or simply someone to talk to throughout treatment, NYPC’s social work team helps ensure no patient feels alone.

Through partnerships that address financial and other practical challenges, NYPC continues to expand support services that improve the overall patient experience, recognizing that exceptional cancer care extends well beyond the treatment room.

Healing Away from Home: Lamont’s Story

Every patient’s journey is unique, but many share the same concern before arriving at New York Proton Center: What will it be like to travel away from home for cancer treatment?

For prostate cancer survivor Lamont Mitchell, traveling from Washington, D.C. to New York for proton therapy was a decision that allowed him to receive the specialized care he was looking for without putting his life on hold.

While every treatment experience is different, Lamont’s journey illustrates how personalized care and comprehensive support can make traveling for treatment more manageable. Read his full story here.

Throughout his treatment, NYPC’s team helped make his stay in New York as smooth as possible. With guidance from social worker Mark Eala, Lamont secured lodging at the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge, giving him a comfortable place to stay while receiving treatment.

 “I am so grateful to social worker Mark Eala, who helped me find lodging at the Hope Lodge, which is run by the American Cancer Society.” – Lamont Mitchell

Lamont’s story reflects NYPC’s commitment to supporting patients beyond their treatment plan. From coordinating lodging and travel resources to providing compassionate care every step of the way, the Center strives to ensure that patients who travel for treatment feel supported from the moment they arrive until they return home.