Patient Care
When Bad Weather Disrupts Your Chemo Visit: Patient Safety is of the Utmost Importance
It's that time of year again when the Rochester and Finger Lakes region becomes a winter wonderland.
Patients scheduled for chemotherapy, radiation or other cancer-related appointments during a winter storm or other treacherous weather should keep safety in mind first, especially if they’re traveling far.
“I know our patients hate to cancel their appointments or reschedule their treatments, but their safety is important,” says Cassie Adams, R.N., senior level II nurse at Wilmot Cancer Institute's Sands Cancer Center in Canandaigua. “The majority of the time, there is no harm in rescheduling. However, patients should speak with their treatment team to make that decision.”
Patients can find the contact information for their oncology team on the Locations page of Wilmot’s website.
Here are a few tips for those who plan to keep their appointments:
- Be sure to give yourself plenty of travel time. Consider finding a friend, family member or co-worker to travel with you to avoid being alone if something goes wrong on the road.
- Dress in warm layers and wear safe shoes or boots. Some cancer treatments come with cold sensitivity as a side effect, so don’t be afraid to ask for and accept help. If you’re coming to the Wilmot Cancer Center, use Wilmot’s valet parking service. Pull up to the entrance on Crittenden Boulevard and someone from the parking team will be there to help. You can plug 90 Crittenden Blvd. into your GPS to find it. The cost is $4 for patients and $8 for others.
- Be sure to talk with your oncology team for advice about any special needs you may have.