Patient Support Grants

Through our Patient Support Committee, our foundation offers 2 types of grants to adolescents and young adults with cancer who qualify.

These are:

1) Fertility Preservation

2) Living Expenses.

Fertility Preservation Grants

Through our Patient Support Committee, our foundation offers 2 types of grants to adolescents and young adults with cancer who qualify. These are 1) Fertility Preservation and 2) Living Expenses.

Fertility Preservation – It is well known that cancer and or its treatment may put the patient’s fertility at risk. Also, young women who have undergone cancer treatment successfully may be at risk for early menopause due to ovarian failure secondary to the treatment. The reproductive future of these young patients may benefit from the collection, freezing and storage of their residual follicles or eggs after ovarian stimulation. Each request for a Fertility Preservation grant is promptly evaluated by our Patient Assistance Committee, and an answer is usually available within a day from the request. The criteria used to award one of these grants is as follows:

Patient’s age 15 to 39 years
Texas resident
Patient to begin, undergoing, or post treatment for cancer
Patient uninsured or insurance company not covering procedures
Patient unable to work full time
Patient and/or family unable to afford cost of procedures
Verification of the above by registered social worker, case manager, or physician from treating institution in writing
Payments for procedures to be sent directly to provider after receipt of invoices

The providers of fertility preservation procedures our non-profit works with are faculty at the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Division at the Women’s Medicine Health Center, UT Health San Antonio.

Living Expenses Grants

Currently, our Living Expenses grants provide up to $500 per month per patient, with a maximum of $2,500 per patient, based on financial need and available resources. The funds are designed to cover basic necessities such as rent, utilities, transportation, and
groceries. This program is intended for residents of the San Antonio area or patients actively receiving cancer treatment at San Antonio treatment facilities. Our Living Expenses grants are designed to serve as a critical lifeline for economically struggling young cancer patients.

Patient’s age 15 to 39 years
Texas resident
Patient undergoing treatment for cancer
Patient unable to work fulltime
Patient dependent economically on family or/and friends for living expenses including rent, utilities, and groceries
Verification of the above by registered social worker or case manager from treating institution in writing
Check grant to be sent directly to patient/familyApplication Review Process.

Application Review Process:

Applications submitted from the 1st through the 15th of the month will be reviewed by the end of the same month.
Applications submitted from the 16th through the end of the month will be reviewed byvthe 15th of the following month.
As part of the review process, applicants will be contacted by phone by our referral nurse coordinator to assess their financial status and may also be referred to our community partners resources for additional support through our AYA Support Network.
Requests for Living Expenses grants are evaluated and voted on by members of the Patient Assistance Committee.
For further details and eligibility information please email Dr. Jaime Estrada at jaime@ayafsa.org.