Anthony's Chemotherapy

It's been a challenging year for me. I lost my Mom to cancer last summer, and as many of my friends know, I have also been fighting colon cancer, as I was diagnosed not long after the loss of my Mom with the same type of cancer.

In lieu of intravenous chemotherapy, I opted for an oral chemo regimen consisting of two drugs: Xeloda and Stivarga, both very effective so far in shrinking my tumor. Since the recent change in my employment status, and loss of my medical insurance, I am now responsible for the drugs' monthly co-pay. (The fact that a combined 112 pills costs $14,830 per month is a whole other story.) 

As I alluded to above, my position has been furloughed for approximately 60 days (but up to 90 days), and since I was previously self-employed and since I have been at my current job only two months, unemployment insurance is still in doubt. While I have some savings to cover day-to-day expenses such as mortgage and utilities, I will not be able to cover my current oral chemotherapy regimen. Since the current drugs have had excellent results with shrinking the tumor, it makes sense to continue down this path.

The loss of employment has forced me to swallow my pride an ask for help to cover my co-pays while I am out of work for the near future. A good friend told me recently that there is nothing wrong with asking for help for myself. She told me it's Karma's way of coming full circle. And I guess she is right.

Each donation is sincerely appreciated, however big or small. 

And to all those who have been cheering me on this past year, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you.