Hotel room prices soar ahead of Super Bowl hurting cancer patients

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A hotel room may be hard to come by as the big weekend approaches, even if you need to be here for cancer treatment.

Hotels are packed, and the American Cancer Society says it's had trouble helping patients find rooms. They say they usually receive and help fill 40 to 50 requests for rooms a week. For this week, they received 70 requests but were only able to help 14 patients.

Johnnie Overstreet, a patient receiving cancer treatment near NRG, booked his room in January at an affordable medical rate.

"I'm just so thankful to have a place to stay, I knew I wouldn't have to worry about it when I left home, and knew I'd have a place to stay while I was here," said Overstreet.

The Better Business Bureau says businesses are within their rights to charges higher than usual prices, unless it is during a time of disaster when people need essentials like lodging.