Families with a child who has cancer may find that because of the relative rarity of childhood cancer, they need to travel outside their communities to find the best treatment.

Many families are finding some of the burdens associated with that travel lightened by free or low-cost housing offered at or near treatment centers around the country. At some centers, the help goes beyond lodging.

"It's a great advantage to the families to be close to their child's doctors and we try to lessen the stressful burdens of all kinds that they have on them every day," said Brent Adams, director of patient housing for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis.

Perhaps the best-known temporary residences for cancer families are the 212 Ronald McDonald Houses in many parts of the US and another 19 nations.

These "homes away from home" provide supportive environments where family members can sleep, eat, relax, and draw strength and comfort from each other and from other families in similar situations. Families can donate from $5 to $20 per day, or if they cannot afford to donate, their stay is free.

At St. Jude, a nearby Ronald McDonald House can accommodate families for up to 90 days. Families in Memphis for less than a week can stay in a nearby Marriott Hotel, with which St. Jude has an arrangement. And Target House, sponsored by the retail discount giant, offers fully furnished apartments for those who need long-term housing.

There is no charge for any of the housing, Adams noted.

As is true at a growing number of centers, the housing program at St. Jude goes beyond just meeting a family's lodging needs, said Adams.

"We don't want families isolated, so we actively build community within our housing, so families can interact with other families who are going through the same things they are going through, and they draw strength from that," said Adams.

Professionals are on hand to help families through the toughest times during treatment, he said.

Similar facilities and programs are offered at a number of other cancer centers, such as the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Duarte, Calif.

A Ronald McDonald House, and apartments within Hope Village offer accommodations to patient families. Other options even include RV hookups for those who prefer to bring their homes with them.

Families with a child in a clinical trial at the Pediatric Oncology branch of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Md., can stay at the Children's Inn at NIH. The Inn has a library, computers, playrooms, and staff to help families learn how to deal with the extra challenges that come with a cancer diagnosis.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) provides free temporary housing for cancer patients and family members at 17 Hope Lodges across the US.

Families can learn more about the Hope Lodge in the area where their child will be treated by contacting their local ACS office.

The opportunity for families to be together in supportive environments during a child's treatment is priceless, said Adams.

No one can completely lift from cancer families the burden they carry on a day-to-day basis – the question of, 'Is my child going to do well?' he noted.

"But in addition to getting the best medical care available, the support these children and their families get in every other way — a really holistic approach to support — is very helpful to these families," said Adams.