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Ken Riches is both a cancer survivor and a cancer patient. In June 2018, Ken was diagnosed with Double-hit Lymphoma, with 90% being standard large cell lymphoma, and 10% being an aggressive cancer with a higher risk of recurrence. Although his cancer went into remission in October 2018, it sadly returned in May 2019 in the bone marrow, but with no spreading to the lymph nodes.
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Click HERE to read more about Double-Hit Lymphoma
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ROUND 1
Ken had the misfortune of having his initial symptoms present themselves while on vacation in Florida, and the resulting bill for his 25-day stay in the hospital (out of network) after insurance, was more than he paid for his house. Ken and his family are still making credit card and hospital payments from Round 1.
A SECOND OPINION
As part of Ken's quarterly checkups with his oncologist, it was suggested that he get a second opinion on the monitoring aspect of his remission since there was a high risk of a cancer relapse. When Ken sought out the second opinion, a bone marrow biopsy was performed, and in May 2019 the biopsy showed that the lymphoma had returned to his bone marrow in an aggressive way.
ROUND 2
On June 4, 2019, Ken started Round 2 of his treatment which will consist of three (3) chemotherapy sessions followed by a bone marrow stem-cell transplant.
COUNTING THE COST
The financial costs of cancer are high for both the person with cancer, their family and for society as a whole. The Agency for Healthcare research and Quality (AHRQ) estimates that the direct medical costs (total of all health care costs) for cancer in the US were $80.2 billion (Source ). One of the major costs of cancer is cancer treatment, but it also costs us the people we love.
GIVING BACK, PAYING IT FORWARD
As part of his journey through life, Ken has ventured into the literal world of "clowning" -- his character based on a hobo clown, down on his luck but forever optimistic. Ken provides emotional support and prayers for others currently going through the devastating experience of cancer treatments.
Additionally, Ken started a non-profit group called Focus (Forever Optimistic -- Cancer You Suck), which provides emotional and financial support to those cancer patients stuck in the middle, as it were. These are the patients that make too much to get 100% financial assistance, but also make not enough to be able to afford the health care outright.
HOW CAN YOU HELP
Ken and his family are extremely grateful for all the support and prayers provided by friends and family. Ken says having regular contact with friends and family, checking in to see how he and his wife are doing, has really helped them get through the darkest hours and worst part of the ordeal that cancer brings. Let's keep rallying around Ken and his family showing our financial support. Even the tiniest amount helps lighten the overall burden.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Click HERE to read more about Double-Hit Lymphoma
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ROUND 1
Ken had the misfortune of having his initial symptoms present themselves while on vacation in Florida, and the resulting bill for his 25-day stay in the hospital (out of network) after insurance, was more than he paid for his house. Ken and his family are still making credit card and hospital payments from Round 1.
A SECOND OPINION
As part of Ken's quarterly checkups with his oncologist, it was suggested that he get a second opinion on the monitoring aspect of his remission since there was a high risk of a cancer relapse. When Ken sought out the second opinion, a bone marrow biopsy was performed, and in May 2019 the biopsy showed that the lymphoma had returned to his bone marrow in an aggressive way.
ROUND 2
On June 4, 2019, Ken started Round 2 of his treatment which will consist of three (3) chemotherapy sessions followed by a bone marrow stem-cell transplant.
COUNTING THE COST
The financial costs of cancer are high for both the person with cancer, their family and for society as a whole. The Agency for Healthcare research and Quality (AHRQ) estimates that the direct medical costs (total of all health care costs) for cancer in the US were $80.2 billion (Source ). One of the major costs of cancer is cancer treatment, but it also costs us the people we love.
GIVING BACK, PAYING IT FORWARD
As part of his journey through life, Ken has ventured into the literal world of "clowning" -- his character based on a hobo clown, down on his luck but forever optimistic. Ken provides emotional support and prayers for others currently going through the devastating experience of cancer treatments.
Additionally, Ken started a non-profit group called Focus (Forever Optimistic -- Cancer You Suck), which provides emotional and financial support to those cancer patients stuck in the middle, as it were. These are the patients that make too much to get 100% financial assistance, but also make not enough to be able to afford the health care outright.
HOW CAN YOU HELP
Ken and his family are extremely grateful for all the support and prayers provided by friends and family. Ken says having regular contact with friends and family, checking in to see how he and his wife are doing, has really helped them get through the darkest hours and worst part of the ordeal that cancer brings. Let's keep rallying around Ken and his family showing our financial support. Even the tiniest amount helps lighten the overall burden.